Unused private and public buildings: Re-discussing merely empty and truly abandoned situations, with particular reference to the case of Italy and the city of Milan

Abstract

There is much debate today over the problem of unused buildings. This debate is often conducted in alarmed and concerned tones. Our idea is that it is indispensable to reconsider the issue with greater critical reflection and some necessary distinctions: in particular, between situations and aspects relating to public buildings and situations and aspects relating to private buildings; and, within the latter category, between totally natural and legitimate situations and truly problematic ones. To this end, we shall focus on definitory issues, quantitative issues, ethical issues and policy issues. We shall do so with particular attention to the Italian situation, which we believe is especially challenging, and to a specific case study, the city of Milan. However, part of what we shall say also applies to other contexts.

Discussion

“…Enforcing policies that compel owners to comply with their pragmatic duties (that is, the obligation and eventual enjoinment to take action in order to restore abandoned buildings to a safe state) have been the subject of much debate in Italy after some local measures in this regard. 29 Typically, those who oppose these kinds of measures do so because they consider them as a violation of private property rights; by contrast, those who are in favour of these measures consider them as an application of the idea that private property also has a "social function" (Moroni et al 2020). 30 Actually, both sides could be wrong.…”

“…Specifically, on detecting abandonment situations, two additional questions are the following: whether it could be useful to create special local code enforcement divisions; and whether it can be useful to more formally involve citizens and associations to map abandoned buildings and areas. These steps should be part of a general policy approach that clearly entails an unequivocal zero-tolerance approach (Moroni et al 2020).…”

Lessons in Rural Persuasion: Village Infill Development in Bavaria, Germany

“…Many programs aimed at encouraging infill development naturally focus on vacant, empty, or abandoned properties, which are classifications worth discussing. Moroni et al [17] critically examined in the Italian context interest in so-called abandoned buildings. Whether a building is used or not and by whom it is owned play key roles in the interest or pressure to reuse the site.…”

“…Distinctions should be made about empty and truly abandoned buildings, both private and public. As Moroni et al noted [17], the existence of many abandoned buildings is due to a plurality of causes, sometimes cumulative. Local and state policies are able to address some of these causes, but not all (as with national taxation levels).…”

“…What is more, the Bavarian goal of reducing land consumption avoids complex judgement calls on larger differences about the ultimate goals of rural development [8]. (2) In practice, the Bavarian interventions included in the umbrella of the Space-saving Offensive address a variety of market and non-market measures for private and public owners, as well as used, empty, or abandoned properties, as previous researchers have implored per Moroni et al [17] and Hackworth [19]. A broad set of social situations find their place within the bundle of resources, such as the farmer's daughters who diversified and restored the unused barn for a modern village dental practice.…”