70

AREZZO / RECOVERY OF COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH CONSOLIDATION AND STRENGTHENING OF THE “TUSCAN POLYCENTRIC CITY”

Overall aim

he aim of the Local Action Plan falls panies and the whole system.

within the scope of the regional devel- ? PIT (Piano di Indirizzo Territoriale – Direction Plan opment strategies defined by the for the territory, (http://www.rete.toscana.it/sett/ Region of that have their spe- pta/territorio/pit) concerning territorial planning T cific planning tools: and governance.

? POR CReO 2007-2013 Regional Operative Pro- ? PRS (Piano Regionale di Sviluppo – Regional De- gramme (www.regione.toscana.it/porcreo) – the velopment Plan) defining development strategies objective “Regional Competitiveness and Employ- consistent with PIT aims. Such strategies concern ment” is one of the most important European economic, social and cultural issues. programmes: through it, the Tuscan Region sup- ports investment projects of the companies and the public bodies. The overall aim of this pro- gramme is the promotion of a qualified development in the framework of environmental sustainability that could obtain through the strengthening of the competitiveness of the com- PART B IMPLEMENTATION OF CITYREGION.NET 71 RESULTS AT LOCAL LEVEL

Current State of Affairs However, each single city does not reach the necessary “critical mass” to compete with other national and inter- The current state of affairs in Tuscany does not differ national centres. Not even Florence - unlike Bologna, from the general Italian situation that – from an eco- Naples and Turin – reaches the necessary requisites pro- nomical and a social point of view - is characterized by vided for by European standards to rank among the stagnation and progressive loss of competitiveness in Mega Metropolitan European Growth Area. various sectors. Specifically in the economic field we are witnessing: In the light of what is stated above, our strategic goal points at strengthening the Tuscan polycentric city by

? A system that is often based more on profit than means of activities oriented to: on income: reduction of investment from public

and private dealers and “passive” exploitation of ? Boost the attraction of each centre by consolidat- the numerous historical, artistic and environmen- ing and strengthening its leading and distinguishing tal resources that, on their own, are not able to functions (whose territory of reference does not guarantee the current level of welfare for the fu- necessarily coincide with the provincial adminis- ture trative borders) and by fostering investment that can create work and profit.

? Heavy drop in export, specifically of high-quality

products manufactured by small-sized companies ? Guarantee better accessibility to different servic- es by streamlining and developing inter- and

? Decrease in industrial production intra-regional mobility, cutting down economic and environmental costs and reducing linking Such trend has been deepened by the current interna- time. tional economic crisis. Plans for Sustainable Urban Development (PIUSS - Piani Integrati di Sviluppo Urbano Sostenibile) were designed to give an answer to the issues illustrated above. Par- Strategic goal ticularly, the aim of PIUSS was to create an urban district of knowledge through the reutilization of dis- Recovery of competitiveness through consolidation used public buildings and an overall improvement of the and strengthening of the “Tuscan polycentric city”, i.e. a urban environment conceived as an integrated system territory conceived as a sole city made up of deeply in- that can enhance social cohesion (a total of 32 million terconnected strong centres. Euros, 16 of them represent the contribution of the Tus- can Region). Tuscany, indeed, does not have big cities, even though some of them are famous all over the world for their natural, historical and artistic heritage and others can boast great entrepreneurial and cultural qualities as well as a high level of education and production capacity for innovation. 72

Specific objectives

Piuss projects: Target groups

Public bodies: ? Transformation of the local productive system in a Urban District of Knowledge where service activi- ? State ties, education and manufacturing production ? Region could dialogue ? Province ? Town Hall ? The University ? Convergence between cultural and business sec- tors in order to make the business sector more competitive and innovative Stakeholders:

? Requalification of the Urban environment through ? ATAM for the public car park management; the connection with the suburban districts and the ? RFT, TRT for the management of public Town Centre, diversification of current activities transport on rail public system Line Sinalun- ga and improvement and usability, accessability and ? INNOVAZIONE for the road public orientation. transport ? Chamber of Commerce, propulsive and coordination role of the economic category of the territory Mobility projects: ? Economic Categories ? Professional Associations: verification of the total feasibility of the proposed interventions Rationalization and strengthening of the infrastructural system from and to the other centres of Tuscany and with the rest of Italy and Europe, according to: Private subjects:

Realization of important public works within the ? PRML (Regional Plan for Development and integrated plans services management (goods Logistics) yard, airtaxi, exchange car parks, etc.)

? PUM (Urban Plan of Mobility) ? Private companies ? Citizens ? Professional rosters Articulated on two different sub - objectives: ? Voluntary and cultural Associations

? To improve competitiveness of public transport in comparison with the private one

? Realization road infrastructures enlargement on a supra-municipal scale PART B IMPLEMENTATION OF CITYREGION.NET 73 RESULTS AT LOCAL LEVEL

Planned activities ? Medicean Fortress – Restoration of covering open spaces – Destination for shows and open fairs a) MAIN ACTIVITIES OF PIUSS

PROJECTS: ? Palazzo di Fraternita – Restoration and Reuse COMPETITIVENESS AREA – Spaces intended for the “Music” system and exhi- bition activities

? Gold & Fashion Building

– Multifunction Centre for the development of the ? Former S. Ignazio Church Gold and Fashion Sector – Realization of an exhibition, music and congres- – Advanced services, CAD system, Higher training sual area

? Digital Pole ? Piazza Grande – Advanced Integrated services to ICT companies – Restoration of the flooring

? Energy House ? Vie dei Pileati – Praticino Square – Recovery of the former foundry ”Bastanzetti” to – Requalification green areas for events and fairs promote the city and environmental sustainability

and the participation of citizenship in the Urban ? Guido Monaco Square Centre – Restoration and renewal of the nineteenth century main square

CULTURE AREA ? Sabatini Building – Permanent exhibition of means of communica-

? Medicean Fortress tions – Restoration of the entry corridor and paths – Improvement accessibility for the fruition of the monumental unit TOURISM AND COMMERCE AREA

? Medicean Fortress ? A new picture of the City – Restoration and strengthening of the building – City identity and urban scenography work

– Conservative restoration of the structural parts of ? Talents Centre in Via Pellicceria the building work – Restoration and reuse of spaces for micro-con- ventions atelier and hospitality

? Medicean Fortress

– Restoration of the Spina and Moschettiere ram- ? Logge del Grano Palace parts – New covered market of the City – Intervention of reuse for the valorization of the

agricultural and food typical products of the terri- ? Vittorio Veneto Street tory – Requalification of the street as a natural commer- cial centre

? Medicean Fortress – Restoration of the Diacciaia rampart – Reuse of places for exhibition and museum areas 74

SOCIAL COHESION AREA b) MAIN ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE COMPETITIVENESS OF PUBLIC

? Masaccio TRANSPORT: – Reconstruction of the day nursery

? Realization of new infrastructures (railway station

? “Arezzo Factory” Arezzo ) – Youngsters Centre of Masaccio Street

? Re-functioning of the railway line Sinalunga stia

? Alzheimer’s disease – Recovery of Via Garibaldi (surface rail system) building

– A day-care centre for patients affected by Alzhe- ? Finishing of Indicatore goods yard; imer’s disease who are not self-sufficient

? Rationalization and improvement of the public

? Recovery of San Giusto Building service through: – Documentation and Research Centre to promote – A better interconnection between road public rights and opportunities to children, young adults transport and rail transport and families – The rationalization of the routes and stops, etc. – The realization of the exchange car parks

? The Rampart – Progressive transformation of car parks in the his- – Reconstruction of the day nursery toric centre from public use to residential use only – Strengthening of the cycle-lane system

? Sant’Agostino Square – Promotion initiatives aimed at boosting the use of – Requalification of former fish market into a new the public transport Information Point for Youngsters

? House of Culture c) PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR THE – Intercultural Centre to promote equal opportuni- REALIZATION, THE COMPLETION AND ties, actions against racism and inclusion among THE STRENGTHENING OF THE MAIN people from different countries and cultures ROAD INFRASTRUCTURES ON A SUPRA MUNICIPAL SCALE:

? Doubling highway link road

? Doubling and completion of “2 Mari” highway

? Variation to SR71

? Realization of airtaxi system PART B IMPLEMENTATION OF CITYREGION.NET 75 RESULTS AT LOCAL LEVEL

Complementation with other Some examples: interventions – Chamber of Commerce: contribution for the draft- ing of the planning of important works such as the doubling of the link highway, SGC 2 Mari, etc.

? Interventions aimed at promoting attractions in – Goods yard management in Indicatore from the Arezzo: Company A.L.I. Spa – Enlargement of the trade fair business centre – Realization of important public works in the field – Realization of the new stadium for athletics of integrated urban projects (road access to the – Realization of specialized health structure new Court of Arezzo) – Realization of the Teatro Tenda – Recovery and re-functioning of urban sectors (Area of the former Cadorna Barracks) – Realization of the new school pole along the rail- way system Arezzo Stia Innovative character and – Sprawl control methodology – Drafting timetable plan main public services (schools, public offices, etc.)

? Agreement, co-operation between the Region and Local Authorities otherwise the hierarchic re- lationship among public authorities (former national regulations) Financing of the pilot project Main prescriptive instruments: (fundings) – Framework Agreement: Instrument for the collec- tive bargaining with which the State defines together with the Regions the infrastructures and

? Public Financing: the accessibility works and the logistics having – Resources of the State in the State Region Frame- strategic and priority objective. work Agreement (finishing SGC 2 Mari and - Programme Agreement: simplified procedure to feasibility study railway system Arezzo – Sanse- attract interventions requiring co-operation polcro) among Municipalities, Provinces, Regions and – Resources of the Region: it finances only projects State integrated in general planning in coherence with - DPR 616\77, art. 81: simplifying procedure in order regional planning (e. g. interventions foreseen by to adapt urban instruments to the localization of PUM drawn up in coherence with Regional Plan important works – infrastructures pertaining to Mobility and Logistics). the State. - Planning Agreement: simplifying agreement : sim-

? Own resources of the Town Council and the Pro- plifying procedure in order to adapt urban vincial Administration instruments to the localization of important works – infrastructures pertaining to the Region or local

? Private Financing: higher and higher importance authorities. due to the economic crisis and high exchange bet­ ween professionalism and different competences 76

? Next to the co-operation and collective bargain- ing models foreseen by the present regulations: “informal” ways of collaboration - Protocol agreement: document subscribed from all the public and private subjects involved show- ing for each one the commitment undertaken (planning and financing, etc.) and the realization timetable.

Some examples: – The protocol agreement between the Town Hall of Arezzo and the Province of Arezzo for the inter- vention planning on link road (allocation financing engagements, planning, expropriations, etc.) – The protocol agreement for the operators transfer of the fruit and vegetable market in the goods yard in Indicatore (present at the moment in the Town Council structure of Pescaiola set from the PIUSS for the realization of the Digital Pole).

Summary (lessons learnt)

? Investing in interventions planning. Necessary for: – Coherence with regional strategies – Entering public financings and in particular to the regional ones.

? Higher participation private subjects allowing to create a winning synergy between resources and public private professionalism, in the circle of ob- jectives pointed in the PIT.