Percorsi partecipativi ed analisi multicriteri: il caso del Contratto di Quartiere di Molassana (Genova)

The paper describes the experience derived from the application of the multi-criteria decision analysis within the “Contratto di Quartiere II” (CdQII) (neighbourhood contract, from here and on) Innovative Urban Programme in the neighbourhood of Molassana, in Genoa. Works (funded by 8MEU approx) was finished in 2013 and featured: • a large number of actors: Ministry of Infrastructures, the regional government, municipal council, the Genoa ex-IACP (Autonomous Institute for Council Housing), planners, the experimentation group, resident citizens, local Agenda 21 • a wide range of works (construction of a civic centre, primary and nursery school, canteen, square and renovation of around 70 lodgings for residential purposes), • innovative and experimental planning solutions, with particular reference to environmental sustainability The works, albeit sharing the same address and locality, differed in terms of use and function, and were likely to generate conflict and positive, as well as negative, effects in a context of scarce resources to allocate. Grouping activity, performed by the experimentation group and the actors in the programme, relied on multi-criteria analysis, in order to involve the citizens. Presentation of these techniques occurred in a public meeting, held after a public workshop aimed at describing the works set out in the “neighbourhood contract”. The following actions in the “neighbourhood contract” were based on this multi-criteria analysis, enabling the resources to be allocated fitting the expectations expressed by the residents. In particular, after processing, “neighbourhood contract” goal’s ranking was outlined as deemed by the citizens. The work was monitored, during progress and after completion, with reference to those goals, at both the urban planning and building design levels. At the urban planning level, panel’s interviews stated neighbourhood’s strong points, which to a large extent related to quality of life, in the sense of peacefulness and safety. Appreciation was also shown for the possibility of car parking and green areas, as per proximity to the woods and hills in the outback, correlated with low levels of traffic and pollution. The weak points of the neighbourhood singled out by the respondents were its lack of green areas, in the sense of outfitted and accessible urban green spaces, followed by ‘few areas for children’ and ‘few initiatives for young people’. These requests indicated a strong demand for ‘outfitted’ contexts that could become places for social gatherings and community’s life. About building design, the three relevant features indicated by the respondents were the luminosity of the housing, followed by peacefulness and hours of direct sunshine. The main problems singled out by the respondents concerned the burden of the costs linked to ordinary household management (expensive bills and management), the lacking size of the accommodation for the families living in them, and the poor management of common areas. Both in the work phase and after closure of the building sites, results were very satisfying: thanks also to the multi-criteria analysis included in the participative program, the works set out in the neighbourhood contract were perceived as real and targeted answers to expressed requests.