The completion works of the recovery project of the Cascina Vecchia di San Rocco Castagnaretta headed by the Municipality of Cuneo were completed in recent weeks. This morning, 18 June, the keys to the structure were handed over to the consortium of economic operators led by Open Baladin Cuneo Srl.
Last May 27th, a variation to the concession contract stipulated on September 20th 2022 was agreed and signed, due to the slippage in the timing caused by situations beyond the control of the Municipality of Cuneo, unpredictable work and details that always emerge during the recoveries on historic buildings. The contract was therefore updated on two fundamental elements: the first concerns the 20-year term of the Concession which starts from the date of signing of the modification agreement and not from the date of signing of the original Concession. A second element concerns the fees: the company has already paid the Municipality three quarterly instalments, for a total of 27 thousand euros, even without being able to use the property, as the completion and arrangement works of the external areas are still underway. The new agreement defines that the fee will not have to be paid until the structure is operational (i.e. with a contract for the supply of furniture and activation of utilities), with a deadline of 6 months from signature. The activities envisaged in the offer (cultural, local businesses, etc.) must be activated within 180 days of the start of operations. At that point, the fees will be deducted until compensation and then the payment will resume, according to the methods set out in the Concession contract.
The overall intervention recovered the spaces and enhanced the history of the farmhouse, restoring to the existing rural buildings their ancient function as a meeting, production and commercial centre. In the structure, dating back to the 15th century, the rooms have been recovered and equipped with the most modern technological systems. In one part, cultural and recreational activities will be located, connected to the history of the place, the relationship between man and the earth and its sustainability in a very current interpretation of the concept of museum space. A part, however, is intended for hospitality and commercial purposes always connected to the rural world.
So does the deputy mayor Luca Eveningwith responsibility for public works, e Cristina Clerico culture councilor: “We see the end of this extremely complex and significant project, due to its nature and location. The part of the works carried out by the Municipality of Cuneo has been completed. The Superintendency, in the last inspection, asked to carry out further small interventions, including the restoration of the wrought iron entrance gates to the courtyard, the consolidation of a pictorial work on the external facade and the mitigation of technological artefacts visible from the outside . The Municipality will also create a video surveillance system for the external area. While we make these finishing touches, the dealer can work to prepare the premises for the benefit of the agreed activities. We are convinced that – as happened in Piazza Foro Boario – Open Baladin will be able to do equally well in Cascina Vecchia. Which means that new initiatives will arrive in that portion of the city and you will finally be able to enjoy a building that now returns to embellish the entrance to the city”.
