Portugal 
Spain 
Greece 
Vallecrosia, Fassi will be torn down: in its place a shopping centre and new houses
16 October, Riviera 24
The project includes also an area for events
The Fassi area will be demolished and reconstructed. It was agreed during the City Council assembly in Vallecrosia. The approval to start the strategic environmental assessment was unanimous, including also the update of the council urban plan of the area which will have immediate execution.
“The Region has suggested treating the case as an upgrade – explains the Mayor Giordano – the project includes the requalification of the Fassi area which will be torn down and rebuilt. In its place, commercial and residential facilities will rise”. The office for urban planning has immediately started the procedures for the requalification. The general opinion is positive, and the project is backed by the Region. The assessments concerning water supply were made, as well as the tests to see if there are any underground rivers, or wet zones, in the area or whether it’s exposed to elements. The company Rivieracqua has assessed that the piping is compliant and that there aren’t any problems connected with water. “There are no contraindications”, comments the Mayor.
The City Councillor Perri comments: “This is a delicate area; its requalification is a good idea. A demolition and the total reconstruction is the best and it will be faster. Analysing the whole project, we’ve noted that perhaps it lacks common spaces for the community. We’re worried about the little attention toward green spaces. I’d like to understand whether the already existing gardens will be reduced in dimensions. Whereas the project gives great importance to concrete, but I saw the number of parking lots in the plan, so that we can remove those in Via San Rocco. Does the quality of the project lie on the parking lots? The number of parking spaces in the plan is over the limit. I suggested making more gardens, along with better playground areas than those we already have. There will be 500 parking lots that will never fill. We believe that this is not the right way to requalify the area. You don’t need parking lots in front of schools, rather common spaces where to meet. The owners will tear everything down then they’ll start from the commercial area and only later they’ll do the residential part. What does that mean? We can’t go on in this way. It will take ten years and I don’t know the destiny of this project. In the plan, there is also a space for events and we’re a little sceptical about it. The Ottagono bar will move in that area and it will be called Bigauda 2, this is the same that happened in Camporosso. According to the plan, the event area is just beside the bar. Why mixing commercial and event spaces? How to manage all this? The nature of the two establishments are quite the opposites. We hope there will be events every week, otherwise, there will be no benefit in having a venue. Moreover, this area is not covered, hence there will be no events in winter and it’s fenced, so that it can’t be used during the day. What’s the point then?”
The Mayor replies: “The times to finish the project are dictated by the regulation. It’s in the interest of the company to finish the project as they’re responsible for the complete demolition. We have three years to start and two to finish. There are many projects, hence we need the adjoining parking lots. For what concerns the commercial activities, they need to be of high quality. The intention is to improve the territory and to make the most of the event area. It will an “urban park” open all day, with a ballroom, a stage, kitchens, and spaces for beverage vendors. It must be efficient, easy to operate. It’s a 5 thousand Sq m surface and it needs parking spaces. They’re a necessity since there will be no more cars parked on the sides of the streets and the urban traffic will benefit. We’re not going to reduce the already existing green areas”.
Perri, Russo, and Quesada abstained from the vote.
Source: Riviera 24 (by Elisa Colli)
Translator: Cristina Ambrosi