New appointment to talk about the redevelopment of the historic center. The traders of the Cultural Association of the Historic Center met yesterday inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Pistoia with the councilor for urban planning Leonardo Cialdi and the director Lucia Cheli, together with Gabriele Sgueglia, councilor for commerce, and the president of the Nurserymen’s Association, Alessandro Michelucci. The meeting, a repeat of others and in anticipation of future ones, was an opportunity to compare the requests of some shopkeepers representing the association (which has around sixty members) and the considerations of the representatives of the administration present. All with a view to collaboration to enhance the potential of the historic center in terms of attractiveness and its care. “There is a sense of neglect of the center felt by its visitors – highlighted Tommaso Pasquinelli, the association’s shopkeeper -. For example, we thought of a project that inserts greenery into the centre. In addition to the classic flower boxes, something larger and exclusive that makes furniture”. Antonio Pagnini echoes him again on the traders’ side. “Although the comparison is fundamental, we do not hide our concern because we see the center in a plastered state – said the trader from Via degli Orafi -. The historical period is difficult for everyone. We must bring out the best. There is discontent among both the visitors that among shopkeepers. We need to wake up and also focus on the ‘wow’ factor. When the city offers something, people respond.”
Despite the concerns, the unanimous desire of the traders is to collaborate on what will be the next planning for the historic centre, expiring on 31 December. On the part of the administration there is a desire to listen and participate in the implementation of the projects, also with a view to making Pistoia attractive from the outside.
“Unfortunately we have not yet really addressed the tourism system – admits Cialdi –, such as the accommodation capacity in museums in the hands of three different entities, offered to be brought together in a single one. And despite the cultural heritage it is difficult to promote the city in this way. We have We have made timid attempts but we need more ambition. We also need to create a connection between private and public gardens. In the centre, the idea is for 4 or 5 small green spaces to be created, possibly with the help of the nursery association another park in the city’ with the skills and quality of our nurserymen represented, others given to cultural associations as art spaces”.
And Michelucci himself has made himself available to collaborate “We need proper planning – said the president -. In Pistoia there are beautiful plants. The association can act as a mediator between the administration and each individual company”.
Gabriele Acerboni
