Social housing. Yes, that’s right, but…

Whilst we await details of mayoral candidate Majorino’s “very bold and strong” urban planning decisions “to prevent large corporations and major property funds from dictating the agenda”; whilst we await confirmation of the feasibility of Lorenzo Pacini’s ideas, who is calling for a new General Town Plan (PGT) in which all new residential developments “are designated exclusively for social housing, subsidised housing and student accommodation, with prices and rents capped and lower than market rates (and whilst we wait to find out whether the centre-right has any proposal at all on the subject), it is worth taking note of the latest results of the City Council’s proposals on this matter: and they are a disaster. The City Council’s call for tenders to engage developers in social housing projects has once again gone unanswered: only two bids were received. The sites are the same as those in the call for tenders issued months ago – the former Palasharp in Lampugnano, Via San Romanello in Quinto Romano, and Bovisasca – and the reason for the lack of interest, or total disinterest, from developers (whilst interest has been shown in a different type of site, namely the two major projects at Porto di Mare and Zama-Salomone) is always the same: economic parameters that are too restrictive, despite the land being publicly owned. Back in August, developers had already explained to Il Foglio that “on land owned by the council, higher rents need to be set and concessions extended; action should also be taken on urbanisation charges and works offset against costs to avoid operating outside market rates”. The council has tried to amend the rules, but clearly this is still not enough. A simple question: how might the developers respond to social housing plans envisaged at even lower costs by a hypothetical future social-left council?