Good practice:

The successful regeneration of the "Caserma Piave" in Belluno

In 2013 , a year after the acquisition of the area by the Municipality of Belluno, the epitome of the former Piave barracks had all the characteristics of an "urban void". The Local Administration recognized the issue a potential specific role in its cultural and social policies, based on solidarity, pluralism, subsidiarity and on the union between environment and culture, as a means of the improvement of the quality of life. The process of regeneration was inspired by the following considerations:
- the area as an asset for the maximization of the positive social impact of
and, at the same time, the activation of maintenance and recovery mechanisms almost "at no cost " (co-management);
- the recovery of existing buildings, not only in consideration of their economic value and conditions of conservation;
- the allocation of properties in innovative and sustainable projects, e.g. culture, social, sport, education, and entrepreneurial support;
- the publication of a notice for the allocation of spaces and subsequent reuse , with the maximum openness to diversified subjects.
The reuse process was based on the "Regulation on Common Goods" (https://www.labsus.org/i-regolamenti-per-lamministrazione-condivisa-dei-beni-comuni/) and lasted from 2013 to 2017, when a common regulation for the use and co-management of the site was released.

The project benefited by 3 main funding sources: A) ANCI public notice "Young Creative ReGenerations", in 2013 ; B) "Periferie Call" (DPCM 25.05.2016), close to 2mln euros started in 2019; C) the private contribution of organizations (volunteering and investments, following the agreement).

If from 2013 to 2016, private organizations were simple “utilizers” of the space, following a common common vision, from 2017 onwards they became “tenants” of the spaces, with specific roles, duties and responsibilities.
In 2019, the Municipality was awarded in the framwork of the "Periferie Call" (DPCM 25.05.2016), which brought to the site more than 2 millions euros.
The Piave Barraks is growing years after years: new associations, new enterprises and new initiatives are located there.

=> the leading role of the Municipality was accompained by an heavy administrative burden: only a strong will and a clear policy vision enabled the success of the operation;
=> the fact that the project is a "continous process" requires strong governance (public) and a strong committment (private)

The regeneration of the Caserma Piave represents a process very useful for other cities willing to recovering former military sites. The crucial issues to be considered relevant for a potential transfer are: 1) the model of private-partnership agreement set up, implemented and actually running in the site; 2) the steps the project performed from 2013 to 2019, with a progressive evolution from an "embrionic" co-management to an "mature" one, actually in place; 3) the fact that fundings (from ANCI and from the Italian Ministry) arrived because of the presence of "concrete, participated and solid" existing plans; 4) the participatory process itself, which enabled a "natural selection" of visions, aims and, finally, actors, leading to a "coalition of will" very useful for the success of the project.