Rethinking disused places and spaces can transform the city and give new life to areas that were once neglected. This topic was discussed at the Trento Festival of Economics in a panel titled “Regenerating places to regenerate communities: the care of common goods as a tool for participation”. Teresa Pedretti, a partner of the Collettivo Campomarzio, spoke about the participatory path of Super Trento, which aims to redesign the surface freed up by the burial of tracks between Scalo Filzi and Muse. She emphasized the importance of considering the processes of creation and collaboration of common goods as a common good in itself, rather than just managing an asset.
Eugenio Petz, from the municipality of Milano, discussed the use of “collaboration agreements” as an administrative tool to foster co-planning with active citizenship, drawing inspiration from successful experiences in cities like Bologna and Verona. He highlighted the importance of involving citizens who know and live in the area in the regeneration process, leading to the co-use of spaces and activities that administrations may not have considered.
In addition, Renato Quaglia shared the unique example of urban recovery in Naples, where a large empty monastery has been transformed into a vibrant hub with cooperatives, entrepreneurial activities, and educational facilities. This experience demonstrates the potential for urban revitalization in challenging neighborhoods, showcasing the power of private resources, civic organizations, and public-private partnerships in driving regeneration initiatives.
While there are still challenges to be overcome, such as the need to integrate regenerative experiences into public policies, the speakers stressed the importance of leveraging local knowledge, active citizenship, and innovative collaborations to breathe new life into disused spaces and contribute to the well-being of communities. The panel highlighted the potential for reimagining urban landscapes and engaging citizens in the transformation of their cities.