Now the Altessano sports center can be born after 11 years of “darkness” and many months of occupation: thanks to the police and carabinieri who, yesterday morning, showed up at dawn in Strada Altessano 58/A and cleared out the former Circoletto rosso. And the first works began immediately to build a sports facility with a private investment of 1 million and 200 thousand euros.
The municipal structure, on the corner with Via Sansovino, had been abandoned for a long time but then entrusted with a public tender to Centro Sport SSD, the same company that already manages the Robilant sports centre. The problem is that, in the meantime, young people linked to the Gabrio social center have occupied the building and transformed it into the “Iris Versari popular gym”.
«The tender dates back to last July – recalls Silvia Gomiero, manager of the future sports center – We won it in September and the concession arrived in February». But, until now, it had not been possible to start work due to the occupation. Yesterday’s eviction, which began around 8.30 in the morning, finally allowed us to “turn the page”: police and carabinieri found no one inside the building, only the sports materials and equipment needed for the “popular gym”. The municipal technicians then took care of removing them and taking them to the warehouse, arriving shortly after the police. Then the first cleaning works on the building and fields began, the first act of the transformation in which Centro Sport Ssd will invest 1 million and 200 thousand euros: «Thanks to the clearance, the construction sites are now starting – smiles Marco Critelli, president of the Centro Sport company – Our project includes six padel courts in a fixed covered structure, with two that can be uncovered for outdoor play. A tennis court and two beach volleyball courts are added. Then changing rooms, a recreational area, a beautiful green area and a bar-restaurant that directly overlooks the fields”.
The hope is to conclude the construction works between September and October, one season later than the initial forecasts: if the building had been free, the works would have started in February and would have been completed in the summer.
According to the promoters, the project will also be open to the neighborhood: «We have a social project, designed to involve all citizens who want to do sports and be together. We hope to open to the public as quickly as possible, also because we already have important events planned at a regional and international level.”
The neighborhood thanks but takes the opportunity to make another appeal: «Not far away, in Strada Altessano at the corner of Corso Cincinnato, there is a nomad camp – points out Federica Fulco, president of the TorinoinMovimento committee – We have been asking for measures for the restoration of the legality of that area too.”
