Pedestrianization “is one of AVS’s priorities not only for the historic center but also in the peripheral neighborhoods to build shared urban spaces, facilitate the circulation of pedestrians and cyclists, enhance and promote existing economic activities, encourage the establishment of new activities. Urban space is a resource to be valorised, to encourage sociality and relationships, guaranteeing security and neighborhood economic models, as well as promoting relationships between residents and building community spirit”.
These are the guidelines of Alleanza Verdi Sinistra, which takes stock of the topic. “To reduce the space used by cars we must overcome the often indiscriminate parking at ground level, to create spaces in the structure, inside dedicated containers, freeing urban areas from a penalizing pressure of vehicles parked and often unused for many hours” he underlines Paolo Silingardi of AVS Modena.
There are three concrete examples: Centro Storico, San Giovanni del Cantone and Musicisti district. “In the historic center we propose to create 240 parking spaces with a mechanized car park inside the current headquarters of the district offices in Piazzale Redecocca – continues Silingardi –. It is a modern building, not restricted, with a significant volume, in which it would be possible to create parking spaces reserved exclusively for residents, to pedestrianize Canalchiaro. The spaces that can be obtained, with an estimated investment of 2.5 million euros, would be able to absorb parking, as well as pedestrianizing Canalchiaro, Via San Giacomo and other surrounding areas. of the residents who currently gravitate to Viale delle Rimembranze”. The San Giovanni del Cantone Ausl building has already been the subject of similar proposals, “and due to its type and position it could become a car park to support residents and visitors of the historic centre: this intervention would also reduce the pressure of parking on the avenues, favoring a redevelopment of the Parco delle Mura”.
The Musicians district, on the other hand, would have great potential “if it were freed from street parking. The present density of economic activities, the social fabric, the proximity to the historic center are positive elements that are penalized by parking, which occupies pedestrian spaces and makes the creation of cycle paths is impossible. The proposal is to identify and acquire a property to be converted for parking into a structure, to be made available to residents”.
To carry out these projects, “which require investments and access to credit, with public funds – for example Cassa Depositi e Prestiti – consolidated and certain revenues are needed, prolonged over time, which allow the return of the invested capital. This will be possible through the reacquisition public administration of the management of car parks in the territory of the Municipality of Modena, surpassing the current concession to a private individual, decided to compensate for the construction of the Novi Park car park – explains Maria Teresa Rubbiani of AVS Modena – A strategically wrong choice, which has tied up revenues of stopping at the creation of a single work, while instead a much broader vision would be necessary, which also takes into account the needs of the different neighborhoods of the city”.
