Cascina Gatti: neighborhood plan - a 15 minutes city

Neighborhood plans for the 15-MIN CITY

Neighborhood Plan: a 15 minutes city Group 6

Thomas Julien Clopin Edoardo Guerzoni Alexandre Nicot Ramin Talebi Nazanin Ziaei

Master Degree in Urban Planning and Policy Design

Urban Policies Design Studio 2020-2021 Prof. Antonella Bruzzese, Prof. Alessandro Coppola Tutors: Valentina Brambilla, Lorenzo De Vidovich, Antonio Jose Salvador

ABOUT THIS REPORT

Cascina Gatti is a complex landscape to unpack. Conflicts and unsatisfied social needs are a daily issue for inhabitants. Indeed, the neighborhood is characterized by low income people, sometimes unemployed. Consequently, the majority of the population lives in social housing projects from either ALER or the Municipality of Sesto San Giovanni. To make the matter worse, the area is poorly serviced and thus the use of car is a necessity, in turn increasing congestion in such a small neighborhood. Interviews revealed that, during the early months of the pandemic, the lack of shop diversity and density has forced people to shop groceries either North in the Sesto San Giovanni city center or South in the Esselunga mall of Adriano. Still, a critical look of the morphology reveals how Cascina Gatti hides many potentialities, from underused fields and green spaces to vacancies such as the old farmhouse at the core of the neighborhood. Vacancies, which are part of the main problems affecting the area can actually become the pivotal point during the implementation of a 15 Minute City strategy in the neighborhood. Without constructing new facilities, repurposing the ones up until now perceived negatively into new physical landmarks through temporary urbanism could start a process of economic growth, social stability and identity revitalization of Cascina Gatti. Here, a new circular economy approach driven by the local civil society and supported by national and European policies revolving around urban farming and primary production would be able to boost local employment, satisfy grocery needs, cutting down commuting times and rejuvenate local life.

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Table of Contents 1. Cascina Gatti Image ............................................... 4 1.1 Uneven Spaces: Cascina Gatti ........................... 6 1.2 A Demographical Overview .............................. 8 1.3 Mobility Network ............................................... 10 1.3.1 Road Hierarchy ................................................ 10 1.3.2 Public Transport ...............................................11 1.4 Built Environment: A Very Telling Physical Composition ................................................................12 1.5 Retail and Commerce .........................................14 1.5.1 Density and Distribution of Primary Needs .. ..........................................................................................14 1.5.2 Entertainment, Culture and Identity .........16 1.6 Services ..................................................................18 1.6.1 Cultural Offer ...................................................18 1.6.2 Sport and Recreational Facilities ................20 1.6.3 Social Services ..................................................22 1.7 Policy Analysis .....................................................24 1.7.1 Projects ...............................................................24 1.7.1.1 Public Housing: ALER and Municipal Lots ..........................................................................................24 1.7.2 Actors ..................................................................26 1.7.3 2020 Policies and Projects..............................28

4. Feasibility ................................................................70 4.1 Actors .....................................................................72 4.2 Associations .........................................................74 4.3 Job policy ..............................................................76 4.4 Circular Economy ..............................................77 4.5 Feasibility Timeline ...........................................78 4.6 Feasibility Plan ....................................................80 5. Final Critical Learnings ......................................82 6. Bibliography ...........................................................85

2. Defining Problems ................................................30 2.1 SWOT Analysis ....................................................32 2.2 Potentialities .........................................................34 2.2.1 Vacancies ............................................................35 2.3 Fluid Strategic Proposal ....................................36 2.3.1 Re-composition Through Mixed-Use Spaces ..........................................................................................38 3. Towards A 15MC Concept .................................46 3.1 The Neighborhood Plan ...................................48 3.1.1 Concept ..............................................................48 3.1.2 Vision ..................................................................49 3.1.3 Initiate Regeneration ......................................50 3.1.4 Goals and Strategies ........................................51 3.2 Case Studies ..........................................................52 3.2.1 Milan ...................................................................52 3.2.2 Madrid ................................................................52 3.3 The Strategy .........................................................54 3.3.1 Strategic Cycle ..................................................54 3.3.2 Strategic Areas ..................................................56 3.3.3 Pilot Projects .....................................................58 3.3.3.1 Temporary Urbanism .................................60 3.3.4 Strategic Developments .................................62

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CASCINA GATTI IMAGE

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Cascina Gatti: A Demographical Overview Before jumping into our own analysis of the living conditions and the urban morphology of Cascina Gatti, we must first understand the socio-demographical composition of the area. At the very top-right of this page, the total population of Cascina Gatti is being shown in comparison with the rest of the 5 official constituencies of Sesto San Giovanni. According to the ISTAT Census Data (2018), Cascin Gatti has the second lowest total population of the municipality, it would be the last if we do not consider Villagio Falck in the northwester side, which was predominantly a community housing for factory workers now abandoned in most of its parts.

Strikingly, the demographical composition of Cascina Gatti is predominantly old. In fact, the area is among the highest in the ratio number of seniors compared to the rest of the population. To make the matter worse, the low number of families and youngsters make Cascina Gatti a unique place, predominantly inhabited by seniors with no young influx of people.

Source: Comune di Sesto San Giovanni, Ufficio di Statistica su Dati dell’Anagrafe (2018) (this page and top next page)

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On the left, the research also looked at the foreign population of Sesto San Giovanni. It can be observed that, Cascina Gatti, is not home of as many foreigners as the rest of Sesto San Giovanni.

In prespective, Isola del Bosco, the neighboring constituency of our own research area, host as much as the three times the number of foreigners of Cascina Gatti.

Next, the research delved into the educational composition of the site. It emerges that, Cascina Gatti as well as Villaggio Falck retains the least numbe of high-specialized workers, according to Istat (2011).

On another note, it can be seen on the map at the bottom of the page that Cascina Gatti scores the highest in terms of numebr of families offically considered to be currently facing economic hardship. Although the Istat data dates back to 2011, the site visits and interviews with residents have confirmed that, overall, residents were not satisfied by their current economic status.

The type of education and the economic status of residents cannot be overestimated in the 15 Minute City proposal for Cascina Gatti. Indeed, sound economic policies paired with social assistance must be implemented. Therefore, the 15 Minute City project must run on two different scales. Indeed, it is not only a strictly physical planning, but an approach that covers socioeconomic problems as well.

Source: Istat - 8mila Census 2011 - Incidenza dell’occupazione ad alta-media specializzazione (middle) - Incidenza famiglie con potenziale disagi economico (bottom)

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Mobility Network: Road Hierarchy Although Cascina Gatti possess an overall good quality of road network, several main roads with 2x2 lines and side-parking that increase safety for pedestrians, yet the uneven quality of streets pavements makes some areas unsafe for users. The high presence of parking, gas station and large roads contrast with the discontinuity of the cycle lanes and allow us to think that the neighborhood is designed purposefully for cars.

Source: Open Street Map

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Indeed, the lack of a good cycle lane network impacts negatively any 15MC projects. The cycle lane follows Via Carlo Marx in all its entirety, ending in Adriano. Hence, on the one hand, the bike lane connects Cascina Gatti to the southern Adriano in Milan. On the other hand, the lane does not allow for a safe slow mobility within Cascina Gatti since fieldwork demonstrated that, more often than not, users are forced to cycle either on the streets next to cars or on sidewalks.

Mobility Network: Public Transport The neighborhood of Cascina Gatti is located between two metropolitan train lines , M1 in direction to Sesto San Giovanni and M2 in direction to Gessate. Although Cascina Gatti seems isolated compared to other neighborhood from those underground lines, the bus network connects the area to them and to Milan and the need of a metro line does not seem like a pressing need since the low number of residents, and the proximity to both the M2 metro station of Crescenzago and the M1 of Sesto Rondò.

In terms of ground level public transports, Cascina Gatti is serviced by four bus lines. All of them both crosses the North-South and East West transects. Consequently, the area is overall well serviced and gives user the ability to move both inside and outside of the area of study with relative ease. On a side note, research has not be able to look at the frequency of bus rides in the area, which can actually determine the quality of the bus service, overall.

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Built Environment: A Very Telling Physical Composition

On this page, a map of the whole area of research showing the urban morphology of the area. There is a noticeable difference between Cascina Gatti and the city center of Sesto San Giovanni. On the next page, an in depth of Cascina Gatti reveals the built environment compositions. Sheds, groups and ribbons define the neighborhood in term of building composition. These, as we will later see, are predominantly for public housing. Of them, most are either owned by Aler of the municipality.

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This is very telling since it can give a better perspective of the overall composition of the site. Indeed, Cascina Gatti is a predominantly old population, with very few families and kids, of which many cannot afford to own an house and therefore rely on public housing. This is very indicative on what kind of 15 Minute City can be planned for the neighborhood. Housing and communal spaces may well be at the fulcrum of the project. Public housing projects in Italy have been infamously known for the poor quality of living experience they have offered to dwellers.

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Retail & Commerces: A Look at the Density and Distibution of Primary Needs In the past, Cascina Gatti was a predominantly rural area. Now that urbanization has occured, it is easy to not how housing development did not go hand in hand with commercial development.

In fact, the site shows scarcity of commerce of differnt kind. On the map below, the focus is on primary needs commercial activities, such as pharmacies, bars and grocery.

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Compared to Sesto San Giovanni main axis on the northwestern side, also where the Municipality of Milan underground network ends, Cascdina Gatti has a poorer density and quality of shops. Only two medium size supermarkets can be counted, “Il Gigante Supermercati” and “Eurospin” chain shops. Other than that, residents relie either on few ground floor grocery shops run by migrants, or they commute to neighboring Adriano to shop in the “Esselunga” and “OVS” chains.

In terms of locally owned shops, aside from the aforomentioned local grocery stands, a clear lacking is visible. Perhaps, the most known local shop residents is the old lady eggs shop located inside the cascina itself. The research was able to held an informal semi-stractured interview with the woman, who recalled the presence of her business in the area for six generations. Her shop, she said, is among those who have succesfully transitioned from a rural Cascina Gatti to its current urban form. Asides that, two other historical shops are mapped. A family-run bakery in Via Mantovani, near the “Il Gigante” supermarket.

Next, a pastry shop was also identified as an historical shop located in Via Carlo Marx, where most of the high-rise public housing projects are located. Last, no shopping mall can be found in the area as well as no open-air markets, making the availability of fresh food scarse for residents.

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Retail & Commerces: Entertainment, Culture and Identity

The case for commerical density and diversity does not improve when inquiring entertainment and culture-related retails. Again, the clear difference between Cascina Gatti and the rest of Sesto San Giovanni is demontrate an inbalance in locatoin of retail.

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In depth, shops are mainly located in the the eastwest axis in Via Fratelli di Dio, next the old cascina and the Church “Santa Maria Nascente” and in front the new housing estate “Univillage”. The lack of bookstores, cinemas, theaters and other kinds of leisure and retail shows a social life in Cascina Gatti that is deprivated from any sort of leisure activities related to culture and entertainment.

In this sense, there may be a correlation between lack of retails and population. Business-wise, shops positioned within senior communities do not profit as much as those in more mixed and diverse neighborhoods. Similiarly, the lack of leisures and entertainments make Cascina Gatti an undesirable place for young couples to settle in, since the environment does not possess any type of hotspots for leisure activities outside of green spaces.

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In Depth: Cultural Offer As already stated in the prior map on Retail and Commerce Diversity, attractions are few in Cascina Gatti. Such statement is true not only when referring to privately owned businesses, but also about the public cultural offer. Indeed, only one public library is open in the neighborhood, for a total of three in the whole city.

Second, the only exhibition vanue in the area is the Ma.Ge. Magazzini Generali. The space is located very north from the center of Cascina Gatti social life, and de facto, part of Villaggio Falck rather than the former. The area is named after a former storage building now re-converted. Still, research seems to indicate that no event were held in the past year, a lost opportunity of strategical re-use during the pandemic.

Finally, public social centers for the promotion of local identity and social life in the neighborhood were mapped. The Centro Sociale Silvia Baldina, which was closed for few months during 2018 due to some lincenses dispute with Sesto San Giovanni’s mayor Roberto Di Stefano (Lega Nord), seems to have been the one most active during the pandemic. Since the Carl Marx library was shut down due to local coronavirus restricitons, the former offered a community library of its own. Moreover, the space remained “open” even during the March 2020 lockdown and the current red zone restriction by offering on-line activities for people. A spark of vitality in an aging neighborhood.

Source: Comune di Sesto San Giovanni PGT, 2009 Images Courtesy of Centro Sociale Silvia Baldina Facebook Page

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In Depth: Sport and Recreational Facilities When it comes sport facilities, Cascina Gatti is surprisingly equipped compared to other services. Broadly speaking, the area counts five sports fields for polyfunctional use and an indoor swimming pool, currenlty under renovation. Of those, the main facility is the Centro Sportivo “Manin”, which is home of the Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica GEAS Basket, the local female basketball team which plays in the Seria A1 Lega Basket Femminile, the most regarde women basketball championship of Italy. As well as basketball, GEAS also offers rugby, soccer and gymnastic teaching camp for kids and adolescents. During a site visit, the GEAS facility was open, meaning that the center had the chance to operate for professional training even under the current COVID-19 restrictions. A breath of fresh air for many residents who were seen practicing open air physical activies during the fieldwork visit.

Finally, it is worth mentioning public schools that also have sport facilities and gyms inside their buildings for students during and after class hours.

Overall, Cascina Gatti is a place of potentialities when it comes to sports. The abundancy of facilities can be a meaningful symbol of Cascina Gatti social re-birth. The power of sport is often snobbed, yet it can become the new fulcrum for urban planning under a socialization and leisure lens. Under the concept of the 15 Minute City, to have so many facilities spread all around the area allows for new activities and reconversion of sports fields for different use depending on the time and day.

Source: Comune di Sesto San Giovanni PGT, 2009

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In Depth: Social Services Finally, social services are here mapped on the left. Compared to leisure services, they are proportionally higher in quantity and cover a wide array of services, ranging from elderly to minors and even disable people. On a side note, this services are more thank just neighborhood services since the users often comes from outside the area.

To begin with, services for underage people are the most in number and they are all privately owned (PR stands for private).

They are more or less located towards the center-north areas of Cascina Gatti.

Conversely, centers for elderly people are scarse if we considered that almost 1/3 of the population is composed of seniors. Among those two, the Centro Anziani Autogestito “Parpagliona” is managed by the elderly themselves as they try to promote activities for the third age such as debates, cultural and formative meetings and sports in order to contrast isolation and emargination of seniors in the neighborhood, according to the municipality of Sesto San Giovanni Website.

Among health services, the local ASL and guardia medica have been very active during the pandemic. During some informal interviews carried out with health volunteers, the organization stated how precious it has been their work during the early months of lockdown in Italy in order to assist seniors and disabled people. Furthermore, the pandemic actually enlarged their field of reach. From being a local center, they started to cover also the rest of Sesto San Giovanni as well as other municipalities such as Adriano and Precotto in Municipio 2 in Milan and Cologno Monzese.Finally, the local ASL also hosts the Servizio Territorial Asst Nord Milano and a public consultorium for women.

Source: Comune di Sesto San Giovanni PGT, 2009

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Public Housing: ALER and Municipla Lots Without a duoubt, what stroke the most during the site visit was definately the peculiar urban morphology of Cascina Gatti.

The neighborhood revealed itself as a low-income residential urban area in which high-rise buildings were rising over vast open spaces, some of which were parks, and others vacant plots signalling the traces of a rural past.

Today, Cascina Gatti is a residential area in which the role of public housing agencies such as ALER (Azienda Lombarda per l’Edilizia Residenziale) as well as the Municipality of Sesto San Giovanni cannot be underestimated. Indeed, together, they own a sizeable portion of the land, both built lands and green spaces. In the map on the right are both shown the lands and buildings owned by ALER and the local municipality. Typologies vary from isolated sheds to cluster of building blocks.

As a result, both agencies have direct impact in the life of the neighborhood. They are those responsable for the management of lands and the structural integrity of them.

The latter especially, seems to be a recurring issue during the fieldwork inspections. Many buildings (see picture below) have precarious facades and unstable pillars, and residents have long gone lamented a feeling of abandonment by local authorities over the management of houses; as emerged during interviews.

On top of that, many lands adjacent of public housing buildings, which were supposed to be places for recreation, lie abandoned and, even though it’s not unusual to see kids playing there, areas do not meet standard of liveability.

Finally, both ALER and the municiplaity started to be more active towards the management of spaces thanks to a couple of positive initiatives such as the construction of a new state of the art public housing building as well as the requalification of the Parco delle Torri, just north of Adriano, and part of the housing project in Via Carlo Marx. (Both of which will be reviewed in the booklet on a separate chapter.)

Source: Comune di Sesto San Giovanni PGT, 2009

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Aler Owned Land Lot Aler Owned Building Municipality Owned Land Lot Municiapality Owned Building

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Pandemic Cascina Gatti: Actors, Stakeholders and Urban Conflicts

Diving into the urban arena of Cascina Gatti, the neighborhood is unexpectedly active given the old population in the area. Strikingly however, the weaker area of action seems to be the promotin of local identity, while the housing struggle and social life networks seem to have strongest ties.

To begin with, housing is definately the strongest issue-based network of participation. The housing arena is quite transversal; actors include ALER and the Municipality of Sesto San Giovanni (currently Lega Nord is in power), given the high amount of publicly owned homes, with much at stake. Dwellers are united under different networks for housing rights, ranging from supra-municipal organizatoins such as Unione Inquilini and the local Partito Democratico (PD). On a local scale, Associazione Sottocorno is the most active organizations for residents’ rights. Still, UniAbita and the UniVillage housing complex developed by the Sesto San Giovanni’s architects under Studio Magni rapresent the new player in the arena, thanks to the construction of new housing units (see “Pandemic Cascina Gatti: 2020 Policies and Projects” for reference) Conflicts are predominantly present within the environmental and economic development arena of the neighborhood. Rurality is perhaps the main characteristic residents identify with.

They pride themselves for the rich agricultural history of the site and the cascina which gave name to the area. As a result, when it comes to new construction projects on vacant lands, the local networks get activated. For example, the conversition of the old trash dismissal implant in Via Manin into a bio-platform for bioenergy seems to have sparked conflicts between the local neighborhood committee “Comitato Cascina Gatti”, the aforomentioned “Associazione Sottocorno” against the Mayor. Regione Lombardia, Gruppo CAP and Core S.p.A., who manage the site, created a Residential Advisory Board to mediated with residents.

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However, research has shown that, due to conflicts related to the management of the area, the Associazione Sottocorno actually opted out of the advisory board as a sign of protest, which consequently led to Gruppo CAP releasing a press statement.

Secondly, the economic development policies brought by the local municipalities were not welcomed by residents. Most notably, during the summer of 2020, the munipality and McDonald’s Italia agreed to terms for the opening of a new franchise store in Cascina Gatti on a vacant land. What emerges is the priority that residents gave to open spaces over economic profit. The fast food companies promised to hire 50 new local employees, yet risidents protested from the openings and many spoke through social media to show dissent. (Sesto Notizie, 2020) Overall, it seems like residents prefer vacant lots to either be kept in the current state or make only slight natural improvements to keep the area as green as possible rather then commercial development.

Layers of Sociopolitical Networks in Cascina Gatti Supra-Municipal Actors Regione Lombardia Democratic Party (PD) Aler - Parco dell Torri Unione inquilini

Housing

Local Actors Associazione Sottocorno Studio Magni UniVillage

Municipal Actors Comune di Sesto San Giovanni Consorzio Cooperative Lavoratori R.A.B. (Residential Advisory Board) Biopiattaforma UniAbita

Supra-Municipal Actors

Aging and Social Life

Local Actors

Servizio Territoriale Asst Nord Cooperativa Lotta Contro l'Emarginazione Onlus Milano Chiesa Parrocchiale Democratic Party (PD) "Resurrezione di Gesù" Auser Volontariato Associazione per P.A. SOS Sesto San Giovanni (Anpas) l’Invecchiamento Attivo ONLUS Comitato Cascina Gatti Associazione Sottocorno Municipal Actors Comune di Sesto San Giovanni Consorzio Cooperative Lavoratori

Supra-Municipal Actors

Regione Lombardia Gruppo CAP & Core S.p.A. Parco Media Valle del Lambro

Local Actors

Environment

Comitato Cascina Gatti Associazione Sottocorno

Municipal Actors

Comune di Sesto San Giovanni Comitato Rifiuti Zero

In Sesto

R.A.B. (Residential Advisory Board) Biopiattaforma

Identity

Supra-Municipal Actors Municipal Actors R.A.B. (Residential Advisory Board) Biopiattaforma In Sesto

Local Actors Chiesa Parrocchiale "Resurrezione di Gesù" Associazione Sottocorno Comitato Cascina Gatti

Local Economic Development

Supra-Municipal Actors

Coldiretti - Fondazione Campagna Amica Gruppo CAP & Core

Municipal Actors

Comune di Sesto San Giovanni BioPiattaforma Cascina Gatti Associazione Città 6

Local Actors

Comitato Cascina Gatti Associazione Sottocorno Associazione Città 6

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Pandemic Cascina Gatti: 2020 Policies and Projects

Project Name: Contratto di Quartiere II – Parco delle Torri Location: Parco delle Torri Typology: Urban Renewal and Environmental Requalification Actors, Skateholders and Developers: ALER, Comune di Sesto San Giovanni, Ambiente S.p.A. Aim: Securing the green land within the ALER social housing project through the implementation of playgrounds, cameras and refurbishment of buildings facades.

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Project Name: Chiesa Parrocchiale "Resurrezione di Gesù" Location: Via Pisa Typology: Aging and Social Life Actors, Stakeholders and Developers: Chiesa Parrocchiale "Resurrezione di Gesù" Aim: The new church of Cascina Gatti has been working since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to offer help to elderly people and family in needs.

Opponents: Project Name: McDonald’s Cascina Gatti Location: Via Martesana Typology: Economic Development Actors, Stakeholders and Developers: Mcdonald’s Italia, Comune di Sesto San Giovanni Aim: Construction of a new McDonald’s chain shop in Cascina Gatti, claiming to employ 50 local residents.

Opponents: Associazione Sottocorno Project Name: UniVillage Location: Parco della Bergamella Typology: Housing, Urban Renewal, Environmental Requalification Actors, Stakeholders and Developers: UniAbita, Consorzio Cooperative Lavoratori, Studio Magni Aim: The construction of new housing buildings with ground floor projects around a newly refurnsihed local park Opponents: Comitato Cascina Gatti Project Name: BioPiattaformaLab Location: Via Daniele Manin Typology: Renewable Energy and Environmental Requalification Actors, Skateholders and Developers: Comune di Sesto San Giovanni, Gruppo CAP, CORE S.p.A., R.A.B. (Residential Advisory Board) Biopiattaforma Aim: Reconversion of the old city waste incinerator into a bio-platform for the production of renewable energy through sludge production Opponents: Comitato Popolare Descantes, Associazione Sottocorno Although the coronavirus pandemic has left a mark in many cities, exposing their weaknesses, Cascina Gatti saw itself being rejuvenated by different policies and projects promoted by different actors such as the local municipality, ALER, water managemnt regional agency “Gruppo CAP”, private developers and even big fast food chains. What emerges from that is an attempt by developers and stakeholders to change the current landscape of Cascina Gatti by requalifying vancat lands like Parco delle Torri and the local waste implant, holding community events at the local church and constructing new residential mid-rise buildings. Nevertheless, some of these projects did not come without opposition by local activist raging against the construction of a McDonald’s in what was a vacant lot and the new BioPiattaformaLab. Source: Comune di Sesto San Giovanni, 2021

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DEFINING PROBLEMS

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SWOT Analysis: Understanding Issues and Potentialities

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Potentialities As the map illustrates, The biggest area to develop and account as the potentiality is the “Official Parks and Green Open Spaces” and these areas are grafted with the “Community Hot Spots” which includes the hub foods and the restaurant, and these areas can be multifunctional. Secondly there is the “Municipal Vacant Open Spaces” which stands at the second place regarding to the amount of space which occupied and can be used. The Lots that municipality rent to the people and these lands are already there are in this category and this field is only needed to be developed. Community Hot Spots are the attractiveness to absorb people from the neighborhood and gather people to have activities like financial and at the same time physical activity to do urban farming as well. In addition to these categories, There is Private Vacant Buildings and Private Vacant Spaces, These areas requires to negotiate with owners about the project but it can be account as the potentialities even though it is not public.

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Cascina Gatti Strategic Proposal: Transforming Vacancies into resources

Here shown the vacant open spaces of Cascina Gatti. In the southern area, a chunk of the park between Parco della Bergamella and Parco delle Torri is still unaccessbile. High bushes makes it impossible to enjoy the area. Similiarly, in the middle of C.G. we find a open spot just behind Scuola Media Italo Calvino, in between Via Fratelli di Dio and Via Livorno. The area is partially occupied by a small urban orchard, yet the rest is unaccessible due to dirt and high vegetation. Finally, in the north the big abandonde space in Via Carlo Marx, the main artery of Cascina Gatti.

ALER open vacant spaces are also present in big numbers.

Just next to the Parco delle Torri, vacant lots at the base of ALER public housing buildings can be found. Side visit showed how no activities were carried out there. Moreover, in Via Fratelli di Dio 227 is present the main biggest building managed by ALER. At the base a huge gated vacant area is located in which residents usually park their cars.

When it comes to vacant buildings, the only private vacancy is the a part of the industrial complex in Via Manin in the sout-western edge. The area was formally a storage facility, now disused;. A small vacant open space is part of the facility.

Moving on public owned vacancy, what stands out is the actual cascina, which is partially abandoned, while on the other half a local shop is in place. On the northern area, two group of buildings are currently vacant. In Via Sacco e Vanzetti 55, an abandoned building, which was occupied in 2016 and now cleared is present. Secondly, just on thenorthern edge, a small abandoned building lies in Via Parpagliona 105-

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Problem Definition and Fluid Strategic Proposal

­

4.6

4.4

5.0 3.6

4.2

4.8

6.4

3.5

4.0

During the two month-long study of the area

both by fieldwork and data anylisis, several

issues emerged from the study. Those can be

divided into physical, service and commercial,

needs, which will be tackeled in the and social

strategic hypothesis of the 15 Minutes City.

First, physical needs and problems regard the ­ general built environment conditions, from

disconnected urban

tissue to precarious facades as well as a poor cycle lane infrastructure, which covers only a small

portion of the totality of Cascina Gatti road network. Finally, green spaces are mostly underutilized and underserviced, which, along with vacancies are understood as problems that carry a potential value for urban redevelopment.

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7.2

3.2

Second, in terms of services, the mapping showed how both walfare services, although many, were often lacking capacity or underperforming.

Similiarly, users basic needs cannot be fully satisfied due to the low number of commerces and their poor diversification. Leisure has also been accounted stemming from the fact that the lack of entertainment venues impoverishes the cultural scene of Cascina Gatti. Here, vacancies intersects as a potential for new cultural development.

Last, social problems such as housing , political trust, and, again, poor public services needs to be addressed in the following proposal.

To sum up, the strategy aims at developing these three areas of concern contingently. Although problems are many, space of events is one.

Issues Weak Economic Setting

Potentialities

Actions

Stakeholders

Outcome

Community Gardening

No Basic Retail Diversity

Open Air Markets

Lack of Leiusure Provisions

Vacancies to Become Enterntainment Hubs

Inadequate Cycle Lane

Cycle Lane Extension to Cover New Facilities

Claim vacant spaces and underutilized areas in a fluid manner.

Temporary buildings in central venues which can change function based on the time of the day. Moving from temporary markets in the morning to locations for public conferences, meetings and cultural events.

To connect these new places, a restructured bike lane will be implemented. Stemming from the pre-existing one and adding new lines in the most frequented roads to improve accessibility and reachability.

Fluidity is the strategical framework for the development of the 15 Minute City in Cascina Gatti. Just like urban issues are often related, integrated solutions also should be. Different stakeholders co-operate for the overall improvement of the area. The solution is one, merging from all the actions included in the project.

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Fluidity: Recomposition Through Mixed-Use Spaces

The early strategic proposal for a 15 Minute City Cascina Gatti is revealed by the concept of fluid spaces.

The core of the strategy is to create spaces that can change uses bases on time, but also needs of the community. For instance, the abandoned industrial site in Via Manin becomes a indoor market for fresh food in the morning and turns into a cultural hub in the afternoon. Flexibility of uses is central in an area like Cascina Gatti in which different needs overlaps. Here, vancancies are exposed and reclaimed in order to offer a valid space for citizens to address needs and cultivate social life. Last, the area was considered thanks to its proximity to already existing hotspot and to the bike lane which serves the residential area.

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Speaking of slow mobility, the bike lane is expanded and now crosses the new community garden which aims at expanding the already existing local park. Also, fieldwork has shown that “the vacant land in the south-west area is predominantly used by adolescents as a football pitch. As a result, the vacancy has been labeled as an “hotspot”. Moreover, it gives to the space a “sleeping” potential as a new refurbished green spaces since the locals already claimed the area for recreational activities during the pandemic.

Finally, the vacant browfield bordering with the new indoor market, a space in between Cascina Gatti and Adriano, is meant to be a new community center for both societies, crossing borders for a better urbanity.

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Fluidity: Recomposition Through Mixed-Use Spaces

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Fluidity: Recomposition Through Mixed-Use Spaces

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TOWARDS A 15MC CONCEPT

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Concept

Currently, several projects have been carried out in all parts of the world with an urban agriculture approach. Urban agricultural projects are defined and implemented according to the characteristics of each region. As an example, urban agriculture in Cuba first had a political point and then was considered a major approach in the country. Urban agriculture in the city of Detroit is considered as a regeneration approach for the whole city, or in Singapore due to lack of urban agricultural land of the hydroponic system. Numerous projects have also been implemented under the auspices of the World Food Program in various cities, such as the La Paz project in Bolivia, Dakar in Senegal, and Caracas in Venezuela to support low-income households in small gardens.

Image from Parco della Bergalla, Cascina Gatti, 2021. Authors own production.

Aforomentioned cities were able to use urban agriculture approach to turn abandoned land into spaces of prodiction and environmental sustainability. This in turn has led to higher rates of social participatoin in local economic affaris. Urban agriculture in cities did not only reduce unemployment rates, but also had a positive effect on reducing social fragmentation.

Image from Parco della Bergalla, Cascina Gatti, 2021. Authors own production.

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Cascina Gatti: A Threefold Vision

Claiming / Conceptualizing N

The first part of the developmental strategy, aims at re-claiming spaces of vacancy and abandonment. Giving back to the community is the intended objective. Spaces and buildings who now lie underutilized are rediscoverd. A panctual intervention which focuse on temporary-mixed uses.

Activating / Initiating N

Part two of the vision entails the activation of claimed sites. Now reconverted, these spaces becomes hot spots for the locals: satisfing needs, providing employment opportunities and offering social activities.

Connecting / Finalizing

N

Lastly, re-claimed spaces will not reamined scattered areas but will be re-incorporated within the Cascina Gatti rurban ecosystem through the improvement and the enlargement of the current cycle lane. The final objective is thus to recapture fragmented spaces through an integreted requalification, making space lively and coexisting.

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Initiate Regeneration The map at the bottom explains where and how the initiation process will be taking place. A pivotal role will play the pre-existing urban farms (light green). Although limited in size, they will be expanded adding new fields in the proximal green spaces. Also, vacancies are shown here in yellow. Apart from industrial vacancy on the South-East area of the map, all the others are open space vacancies, meaning unwalkable bush fields and small landfills. Finally, some are adjacent area to social housing units, previously mapped and discussed. The primary and secondary school “Italo Calvino” has been mapped since it can be a potential space for activating urban farming social policies thanks to its proximity to tiny orchard in Via Fratelli di Dio. Central in the Cascina Gatti landscape, the old farmhouse is also a partial vacancy that can be exploited for redevelopment. Giving its central location, it can represent an identity landmark for inhabitants once re-activated.

Open and Green Spaces Current Urban Farms Vacancies Primary and Secondary Schools Vacant Cascina Current Bicycle Lane Industrial Sites

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Goals and Strategies 15 Minute City Goal

Procedural Dimension

Substantial Dimension

Empowering people to the economic benefits of agriculture

Economic Wealth and Human Capital

Increase the neighborhood's relative access to wealth Grant agricultural and urban products at reasonable prices Employment through direct and indirect farming activities

Local Economy Development

Achieve self-sufficiency in products

Local lenders investment Providing low-interest loans Establish a local council for urban farmers Access to primary sector economic activities Favor development of spontaneous businesses

Social assistance agency for citizens’ needs Agricultural education in schools as extra classes Install and support social gardens

Reduce travel costs for food transportation

Spaces for agricultural-urban volunteering

Sell surplus products

Social Sustainability

Rehabilitation of agricultural lands

Strengthening producer - consumer relationshiop Strengthen the vitality of the residents

In a space like that of Cacina Gatti, establishing a 15 Minute City policy is a hard task. It requires different social and economic policy to be aligned. In fact, the main issues of the area are the high level of unemployment and productivity as well as the lack of food shops. That means few food choice opportunities paired with a scarcity of fresh products. That is why food and local economic production are crucial for a coherent 15MC that can fill local needs. Moreover, a 15MC strategy must encompass all aspects of daily life. Not only economics but also leisure must be provided. Thus, urban farming plays a twofold role of production and entertainment by strengthening neighborhood vitality.

Image from Parco della Bergalla, Cascina Gatti, 2021. Au- Image from Parco della Torri, Cascina Gatti, 2021. Authors own thors own production. production.

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Case Studies: A Locally Rooted Project Aligned with Milan and EU Strategies Not only In line with the challenge addressed in the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact to make urban food systems more inclusive, resilient and diverse, the Third place project seeks also to improve multiple aspects of Cascina Gatti in order to achieve the 15 minutes city : - To improve the urban entrepreneurship context of Cascina Gatti : by fostering the creation of innovative firms and social enterprises with eco-responsible principles : The project will include spaces for entrepreneurs and SMEs. At an entrepreneurial level, the Hub will promote development projects involving SMEs and ‘startuppers’.

- To provide the lacking services of Cascina Gatti (in order to be a 15min city) : health services can be periodically organized, entertainment places such as café, restaurant and cinema to promote intergenerational and eco-responsible interactions - To serve as a network core/knot for the different stakeholders of urban agriculture and the 15 minutes city in Cascina Gatti (local association, urban farmers, municipality, employment institutions, entrepreneurs…)

- To Improve the identity of the neighborhood : by providing spaces for the upcoming stakeholders of the 15 minutes city in Cascina Gatti (urban farmers, local associations such as SottoCorno, Municipality of Milan and Sesto San Giovanni…)

As a result, besides its potential to increase food availability, while assuring food safety and improved eating habits, the project aims to develop the neighborhood in a way that will attract investment, job opportunities and enterprise creation in an area where unemployment is high.

The program will include several initiatives, including meetings with many local institutional actors, social and civil stakeholders, and project partners, who will directly or indirectly contribute to the realization of the third place actions over the duration of the project.

The Concept The Aims The project’s aims were shared during meetings and in the site visit, in a clear, logical and enthusiastic A LOCALLY way by all stakeholders. The main aim can be expressed as “the creation of an third place dedicated to the theme of the 15 minutes city and the urban agriculture, capable of providing resources and addressing issues that can allow the neighSOCIAL borhood of Cascina Gatti to be a 15MC but also to be offer innovative ECONOMY responses to the issues formulated in the Food Policy of the City of Milan”

ROOT

Benchmark To achieve such a project, it is important to witness what has been done in a similar context across the world. 3 different projects give interesting insights of the challenges the Via Mannin Innovation hub will face : -La cite fertile, France : Privately managed on a public owned location, la cite fertile is a good example of a Third place from private/public partnership. Very similar in the composition (event hub, incubators, SME, entertainment places…), it is a temporary project from 2018 to 2022, it will be an “eco-quartier” (ecologic neighborhood).

- Open Agri : Aligned with local and EU policy, the Open Agri project is very close to what the third place wants to achieve, with important differences however. OpenAgri is not locally rooted, focused on innovation of the agri-sector and is entirely from the public sector.

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-

4 city districts social and soli key industries

KEEP THE PROJE LOCALLY ROOT

- Mares de Madrid : The mares de Madrid project takes place in 4 different areas in Madrid. Focused on social economy, It faced several challenges such as the choice between a national scale project or a locally rooted project.

The information gathered with the benchmark increases the feasibility of the third place project. Aligned with Eu and Local policy like the Open Agri project, The third place gives more space for private/public partnerships like “la cite fertile” in France, and will stay locally rooted as the Mares de Madrid Project considered.

The Approach (+ feasibility concerns) The third place connects 3 dimensions Sustainability: promoting eco-responsibility, locality, urban farming can play a key role in achieving sustainable cities; Opportunities: incubators, coworking spaces, SMEs can give the dynamism needed to address the unemployment issue of the neighborhood without residents having to go out of the city 15 minutes city : the 15MC is a multidimensional policy challenge, including several aspects of ecological, social and public health, economics, spatial and city planning strategies.

Constraints and feasibility - Via mannin innovation hub project is located on a privately owned location, it is then important to include a strong public/private partnership to allow the project to happen - As the project, the location has a very important size hence funds will be needed : private investors must find the project attractive - To receive local and EU scale funds, it is important to be aligned with the policies of each institutions - Which scale for the project? Local, regional, national? Whatever the level, it is important to keep the project locally rooted and beneficial for Cascina Gatti, which is an interesting challenge for the 15 Minutes city - The location of the building is quite far from the rest of Cascina Gatti, it is a weakness but also an opportunity to connect areas of the neighborhood that seems fractured, promoting at the same time slow mobility with the newly built cycle lanes Third places aren’t common in Italy, especially not known among an aging population. Communition and awareness are key to include the population of Cascina Gatti into the process.

TED PROJECT ALIGNED WITH MILAN AND EU STRATEGIES PROJECT FEASIBILITY

« ACTIVATING » NEIGHBORHOODS

in Madrid idarity economy in

ECT TED

-

PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDING

Cascina Novedo (Milan) Open Innovation Hub on Peri-Urban Agriculture

AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION ALIGNMENT TO LOCAL AND EU POLICIES

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Strategic Plan Cycle: A 15MC for Local Growth and Food Self-Sufficiency by Filing Urban Voids The strategy for the introduction of the 15 Minute City concept in Cascina Gatti is a revolving, rather static, process of implementation. Of course, a starting point is set through expand current in order to make it available to the public as well as being productive. However, a fixed ending point has not been conceptualized. This is so because, thorugh the implementation of a circular economy, the economic, human and social capital will continuously be reinvested into new initiatives generating social profits for the Cascina Gatti community of residents.

In order, the first step is the aforementioned repurposing of vacancies into new urban farms. These public farms, through initiatives and events, will start to involve the local community, ranging from kids to adults in working age. Moreover, intergenerational exchange of skills is favored given the pre-existing individual orchards. Without distort the urban orchard initiative for seniors, they will be asked to join the program sharing and teaching urban farms newcomers. Third, the expansion of greenery does not limit to urban farms, but it’s a more general tactic in order to offer ner, viable open spaces for residents. The final strategy for the urban farming initiative is the achievement of a vegetable self-sufficiency, filling the local need of commuting to Adriano and Sesto San Giovanni for fresh food given the low number of local food shops in the neighborhood.

The achievement of self-sufficiency is crucial for the next phase. Alongside open spaces, physical vacancies will also be repurposed, installing a holistic culture of re-use of spaces. Indeed, the new site projects of Via Manin and the local cascina will be both part of a transformation process which will make the abandoned sites part of Cascina Gatti social life.

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Then a bike lane will be added to the neighborhood. Cascina Gatti is a very car-oreinted neighborhood in which bikes are predominantly used for leisure activities. Nonetheless, the strategy aims at reverting the trend by creating a new integrated path that would cover the main axis of the area becoming a valid alternative to a car-centric community. Also, the bike lane is purposefully designed to serve, throughout its natural path the new pilot projects.

Finally, socially speaking, the plan develops a circular economy approach to improve economic and employment opportunities of young inhabitants. As seen before, economic hardship is a very sensible theme in Cascina Gatii. Thus, community urban farming and the new hotspots for the neighborhood would involve inhabitants in all different aspects, not only for leisure activities, but most importantly in the managerial and productive side of things. In order to that, a new cooperative will be set-up.

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Strategic Areas

To propose strategic actions in the area, strategic areas are identified first. These areas often have specific characteristics of the Cascina Gatti or suitable potentials for development. Therefore, they include hotspots, local markets, vacant lands or buildings, farmlands and so on. Accordingly, four main strategic areas of Cascina Gatti for our future intervention were identified. Also, these four areas were prioritized according to the importance of development. The first area was selected in the center of the neighborhood, the second in the north, and the third and fourth areas in the southwest and east of the neighborhood.

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Priorities

1. The area in the center of the Casgina Gatti is first prioritized for several vacant lands that are good potentials for areas in proximity with hotspots and the only existing bike lane and one urban farm.

2. North east area is considered for the second important strategic area with the possibility of a proposed bike line which is passing by several proposed projects in vacant lands and buildings.

3. The southwest of Cascina Gatti has another important hotspot near the existing bike lane, local markets, and urban farms which have a border with Adriano neighborhood for our connecting goals.

4. The last area is located in the southeast which inclued the factory near the urban farms and green areas that is suitable for mixed use development goals.

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Pilot Projects: Why and How Does the 15MC Happens?

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In order to initiate the intervention, four areas have been identified for strategic redevelopment. Each area carries its own physical and social identity, thus a different outcome. In order, the centerpiece of the strategy is Parco Della Bergamella. It was previously an illigal orchard now formalized by the municipality and hosting the local senior community. Here, the orchard will be expanded from the existing one to host community gardens alongside the pre-exisiting ones. Then Parco Delle Torri, just west of Bergamella, is a bordering park with Adriano, the project repurposes the old vacant area into a new functional park, erasing borders with the Milanese neighborhood. Third, the old cascina in the middle of the study area will be refurbished in order to host activities for the circular economy and becoming a physical landmark of local identity. Finally, the abandoned industrial complex in Via Manin, the South-Eastern area, will undergo a series of physical renovations including a new research area and a marketplace of local-grown product from the urban farms in Parco della Bergamella, signalling a connection between places of intervention. Last a new bike lane will be implemented to connection among the new areas of the 15 Minute City Cscina Gatti

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Temporary Urbanism in Cascina Gatti : the example of “la cité fertile” in Paris, France

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Image from Google Earth, 2021

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Strategic Developments

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Strategic Developments

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Strategic Developments

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Strategic Developments

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FEASIBILITY

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Initiating the 15MC: Actors & Partners Actors

Agriculture

Circular Economy

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Foremost, urban urban redevelopment broadest Foremost, redevelopmentwill willsee see array ofarray actors.ofInactors. fact, participation will come from broadest In fact, participation different sectorsdifferent of society.

Bothofthe Lombardia will come from sectors society.

Region the Municipality of Sesto San Giovanni Both the and Lombardia Region and the Municiwill of play a crucial role. Urban be exclusipality Sesto San Giovanni willfarms play will a crucial velyUrban on public land in order to cut down role. farms will be exclusively oncosts. pub-Moreis already thedown case, costs. the municapility licover, landasinitorder to cut Further, will waterthe forcase, agriculture.

In terms will of private asprovide it is already the municipality stakeholders, theyagriculture. are multipleInasterms the role provide water for of they pri- serve.

Coldiretti, and Giovani Confagricoltura vate stakeholders, they are multiple as thewill roleprovide expertise employing farming techniques assisted they serve. in Coldiretti, and Giovani Confagriby local associations.

Second, Concoltura willneighrbohood provide expertise in employing fcooperative will instead the put in place farming techniques assistedsupervise by local neighborof the new “Cooperativa Finally, researhood associations.

Second,Rurgatti.”

Confcooperative chers fromsupervise the Politecnico Poliedra will instead the put di in Milano place of- the initiative as well as the Future Food researchInistitute would new “Cooperativa Rurgatti.”

Finally, knowledge anddiexpertise the theme of ersprovide from the Politecnico Milano on - Poliedra urban farming, community. initiative as well sustainability as the Futureand Food Institute would provide knowledge and expertise on the theme of urban farming, sustainability and community.

The circular economy is a fundamental step for the success of the 15MC project in Cascina Gatti. As such, the scheme involves different The circular economyscales. is a funfamental step for the actors across different Everything starts success of the the involvement 15MC projectof in Cascinalocal Gatti. As locally, with different such, the scheme involves differnt associations, responsible for the settingactors up of scross differnt scale.

Everything starts locally, with the the cooperativa. They will be supported by difinvolvement different local from associations, responsiferent private of actors, ranging the Camble for the setting up of the cooperativa.

They pagna Amica Coldiretti initiative for bringingwill be supported by different private ranging from agrarian production to cities, theactors, international the Campagna Coldiretti initiative for brinONG Slow Food,Amica which will provide assistance ging agrarian production to cities, the international in the marketization and awareness campaign ONG which provideFinally, assistance in and theSlow local Food, chamber of will commerce. the marketization and awareness campaign since the circular economy aims at providingand the localand chamber fo commerce. aFinally, since the circuskills job opportunities, threefold partlar economy aims at providing and poljob oppornership with the E.U. vocationalskills training tunities, a threefold partnership with the E.U. icy, the Italian Servizio Civile Universale and vocational the traning the and Italian Servizio Civile finally local policy, Istruzione Formazione Universale and finally the local Professionale from Lombardy RegionIstruzione will be and Formazione Professionale from Lombardy Region established. will be established.

Funding

Community

Urban Renovation

Financially speaking, funding will intertwine both private and public investors local and european.

From the ground up, the Municipality of Sesto San Giovanni will allocate part of its annual city budget to the activation of the project, and the Municipality of Milan will also participate, given the proximity of the case study with Adriano. Moreover, the Fondazione Cariplo will provide the money need to reactivate the old cascina and loan the money for the leasing of the factory. Simultaneously, Campagna Amica will provide funding for the new marketplace initiative. On a bigger scale, the UIA (Urban Innovative Actions) from the E.U. provides a strong supra-national partnership for the new urban farms as well as repurposing vacant facilities. The concept is not new to UIA since it has already partnered with the Open Agri initiative in Milan. Last, the Recovery fund from the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance will support social initiative.

Community building is among the pillar objectives of the concept. Here, remaining locally rooted is fundamental. All actors come from the metropolitan area of Milan and cover different aspects social capital building. Hence, the different Cascina Gatti associations, ranging from elderly support to local associationism and even sport clubs thanks to GEAS Basket. This is to say that the new community of Cascina Gatti, framed through a peaceful cooperation with the Municipality of Sesto San Giovanni (it has not been the case for the last years) . Given the fragmented society of the place, actions will have a particular social capital building strategy in mind. All actors will cooperate under the flagship of the new cooperative for a more united neighborhood.

Finally, a specific set of actors will be responsible for the technicalities of the new urban redevelopment of Cascina Gatti within a 15 Minute City framework.

This will include the architecture and urban planning department at Politecnico di Milano as well as Architetti Senza Frontire for the repurposing of new facilities. Moreover, Impatto Zero, a private architecture firm for sustainable building which is already known in the Milanese panorama thanks to its collaboration in the Open Agri initiative. Finally, the Milano Bicycle Coalition will provide knowledge, funding and sponsorship for the new slow mobility project of Cascina Gatti, connecting the different pilot projects.

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Associations

Impresa di C Cooperativa “Gatti RUr Community Welfare

Aim

Pursue socio-economic benefits for members of the Cascina Gatti’s Community.

Provide employment opportunities, vocational training and new places for social engagement

Governance

“Open door” governance to involve all memebers of civil society into partecipating and designing new spaces. A bottom-up approach for community-first actvities. External stakeholders will also participate providing technical expertise and funding

Proceeds & Member Dividends

Profit devoted to broadening the scope of interventions to new spaces. From the initial intervention in Parco delle Bergamella and the cascina, through profits new projects will be activated

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Shareholders'

- Cascina Gatti Neighborhood - Associazione Sottoc - Cooperative Riunite Casc - GAES Sesto San Giov - Comune di Sesto San G

Powers & D

Managing the projects su farms, hubs and external r stakeholders and finance in local and european cal calls. Finally, employ and activities for inhab

Comunità rbani Cascina Gatti” & Social Economy

' Board

d Commettee corno cina Gatti vanni Giovanni

Duties

uch as urban relations with ers. Take part lls for project d grant social bitants

Regulations

Art. 117/2017 “Terzo Settore”

Legge 381/1991

“Disciplina delle Cooperative Sociali”

Art. 2511 Codice Civile “Società Cooperative”

Legge Regionale N.36/2015 art.11, comma 1

Financing

- E.U. funding - Sesto San Giovanni city budget - Private investors

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Multi-Scalar Job Policy for Employment in Cascina Gatti

Job Policy

European Skills Agenda for Sustainable Competitiveness, Social Fairness and Resilience (2020)

The European Skills Agenda sets forth goals for employability for E.U. citizens: upskilling (improving existing skills) and reskilling (training in new skills) to be achieved within the next 5 years. Using the EU budget as a catalyst to unlock public and private investment in people’s skills. The program regards STEM and Vocational Training for a strategic national upskilling action.

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Servizio Civile Universale

Istruzione e Formazione Professionale - Regione Lombardia

The Istruzione e Formazione Professionale policy initiative from Regione Lombardia offers a wide array of courses and diplomas for those carrying a middle school diploma and beyond. It main aim is to provide a technical/agrarian foundation for young inactives by offering different specializing paths geared towards a degree certificate and future employment.

The Servizio Civile Universale promoted by the “Dipartimento per le Politche Giovanili ed il Servizio Civile Universale”. The call is aimed at citizens from 18 to 29 yrs old, which are deemed unemployed or “inactive”. According to INAPP, the S.C.U. provides higher employability for those who joined the program. Around 60% of former volunteers found a stable jobs within two years.

Circular Economy MUNICIPALITY

LOCAL FARMERS

LOCAL INHABITANTS

NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS

FUNDING

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

CONSUMERS

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Feasibility Timeline

VIA MANIN_INNOVATION HUB

PARCO_DELLA_BERGAMELLA PARCO_DELLE_TORRI

CASCINA_RURGATTI

Step 4

Agri_Edu Employment Hub Bike Lane Expansion

Urban_Food Hub & Indoor Greenhouse

Ciclofficina & Bike Lane Expansion

Step 3

Bike Sharing & Lane Expansion

Community Center & Bike Lane Expansion

Market Stands & Km.0 Restaurant

Step 2

Playground & Rest Area Installation

Market Stands & Events Venue Establishment of Social Farming Community Lots

Via F. di Dio Orchard Expansion Regardening of the Park

Via Manin Renovation

Step 1 Cascina Renovation

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Soil Prep for Urban Farming

On a second phase, the new social farming community lots as well as new playgrounds and rest areas will be established for production and socialization.

Later, the new Via Manin Hub will first open to the public, hosting the first local event promoting the activities of the newly formed Cooperativa “Gatti RURbani - Cascina Gatti.” Consequently, the cascina, now refurbished, will host the new restaurant employing local forces and promoting a local economy through the new Coldiretti market stands.

Finally, the Parco della Bergamella is in full force and the new community service would become a place of encounters for locals. Similarly, the cascina is starting to produce profits and human capital fo the circular economy, the new ciclofficina is installed while the construction of the new bike lane is underway to provide a new slow mobility road network which can easily the new hotspots with the rest of Cascsina Gatti public life. Via Manin innovativeness is brought to light through the new Urban Food Hub and hte Indoor Greenhouse for research, scientific events and awareness programs on the socio-economic benefits of local, sustainable agriculture.

The strategic proposal for a 15 Minute City in Cascina Gatti underlines four different pilot projects.

Here, it is shown how these four scenarios will undergo a series of changes in order to establish a circular economy for local employment as well as providing new leisure spaces within the neighborhood.

On a linear time frame, we observe that projects, although glued together by the same objective, will have a development of their own. This is due to the difference in nature but also to feasibility concerns. As a result, during the first phase of implementation, while both Via Manin and the central farmhouse will start a requalification process (the facilities cannot host events as of now), both areas in Parco della Bergamella and Parco delle Torri will undergo a series of regardening of distressed spaces so to favor a green pavementation in order to make those areas more accessible.

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Feasibility Plan

Feasibility Plan

Action 2. Heritage Renewal

Action 1. Urban Orchard Expansion

Cascina_Rurgatti

Parco della Bergamella_Parco delle Torri_Via Fratelli di Dio_Via Livorno

Actions

Forecasted Costs

Actions

Forecasted Costs

New Community Farming Lots

120/140.000 € per Ha

Funcitional Work

150.000 €

Agri_Edu Center

150.000 €

Furnishing

8.000 €

Irrigation System

4.500 €

Marketplace

18.000 €

Wooden Facility x 5

15.000 €

Restaurant

50.000 €

Equipments x 5

1.000 €

Cicloficina

3.000 €

Workshops and Materials

5.000 €

Workshops and Materials

5.000 €

Human Capital & Consulting

20.000 €

Human Capital & Consulting

30.000 €

Bike Lane Extension

1.500 €

Bike Lane Extension

1.500 €

Communication Campaign

5.000 €

Communication Campaign

5.000 €

Management Costs per Year

30.000 €

Management Costs per Year

40.000 €

Total

352.000 €

Total

310.500 €

Estimated Revenue per Year

54.000 €

Estimated Revenue per Year

70.000 €

Estimated division of expenses

SOCIAL Project Name Parco della Bergamella Parco delle Torri Cascina_Rurgatti Via Manin_Innovation Hub

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Fresh Food Provision Very High Low Moderate High

Food Education High Moderate High Moderate

I Research

Employment

High

Moderate

Low

Low

Skill Cre

High

Moder

Low

Very High

Very H

Very High

Very High

High

s

Action 3. Industrial Renewal Via Manin_Innovation Hub

Actions

Forecasted Costs

Lease Agreement

350.000 €

Furnishing

25.000 €

Marketplace

20.000 €

Urban Food Hub

35.000 €

Indoor Greenhouse

25.000 € per Ha

Workshops and Materials

10.000 €

Human Capital & Consulting

30.000 €

Bike Sharing & Lane Extension

25.000 €

Communication Campaign

5.000 €

Management Costs per Year

60.000 €

Total

545.000 €

Estimated Revenue per Year

85.000 €

IMPACT Identity

Open Neighborhood

High

Very High

rate

Moderate

Very High

Very High

High

Very High

High

Very High

h

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

eation

h

Cyclable Neighborhood High

The feasibility plan showed on the left provides a detailed description of costs, revenues and The feasibility showed on the left provides a benefits of theplan projects undertaken.

Specificaldetailed description costs, revenues and benly, Action 1. targets of urban farms.

The estimated efits of the projects undertaken.

Specifically, cost is the sum of the Parco della Bergamella,Action 1. targets urbanand farms. estimated cost Parco delle Torri two The samller orchards in is di Diodella andBergamella, Via Livorno.

Costs theVia sumFratelli of the Parco Parco delle would expansion, refurbishment and di Torri andcover two the smaller orchards in Via Fratelli irrigation orchards.

Thewould Agri_Edu Dio and ViaofLivorno.

Costs coverCenter the exand therefurbishment human capital and to kickstart theofinitiative pansion, irrigation orchards. have also beenCenter listed. and A gross also to The Agri_Edu the revenue human has capital been estimated out of USalso Data on listed.

2019 urban kickstart the initiative have been A gross farming revenue for small businesses. revenue has also been estimated out of US Data on Second, refurbishment the businesses.

Cascina 2019 urban the farming revenue forofsmall requires, alonside structural work and put in Second, the refurbishment of the Cascina resafety, the construction of arestuarant and marquires, alongside structural work and put in safety, ketplace with all the material needed to run the thebusiness construction of a any restuarant andFurther, marketplace and make revenue. the with all the material needed to run the business small ciclofficina for an integrated sustainable and make any revenue. Further, the small ciclofmovement. ficina for Action. an integrated sustainable Finally, 3 is the most complex movement. and thus Finally, Action.

3 is the most complex and thusisrerequires more time. Firts, a lease agreement quires more time.

First, a lease agreement is needed needed since ownership would no be practical. since ownership not be practical. leasHence, leasingwould the property through a Hence, deal with ingthe thedifferent property owners through would a deal with the different be beneficial.

Refurnishment to host theRefurbishment new Urban Food owners would be beneficial. to host the Indoor Greenhouse extensive theHub newand Urban Food Hub and theand Indoor Greencommunication campaign are listed since theare house and extensive communication campaign latter is needed to reach inhabitants. listed since the latter is needed to reach inhabitants.

Expenseswillwill divided among different Expenses be be divided among different fundfunding parners.

UIA will provide money ing partners. UIA will provide moneyforfor requalification works works while requalification while thetheMunicipality Municipaliwill cover management expenses. On the privaty will cover management expenses. On the te side, funding actors would pay based on private side, funding actors would pay based affinity of actions to their own welfare. onLast, affinity of actions to their own welfare. social benefits have been classified into 3 Last, social benefits been classified into 3 macmacro-categories:have environmental, professional, ro-categories: environmental, professional, and and communitarian.

Each action will profit communitarian.

Each action moretheone more one or the other side.will Forprofit instance, or new the other side.

For instance, the new cascina will cascina will be impactuful in terms of berenewed impactful in terms identity identity andof forrenewed skill creations yetand lowfor skill creations yet low environmental impact. environmental impact. On the flip side, newOn theorchard flip side, new orchard be of high installations willinstallations be high in will terms and identity, moderate for in envornment terms of environment andwhile identity, while modjobs. the new post-industrial hubhub is is erate forLast, jobs. Last, the new post-industrial expected to have a very high professional expected to have a very high professional impact but in moderate terms of and butimpact moderate terms ofinidentity andidentity environmenenvironmental impact. tal impact.

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FINAL CRITICAL LEARNINGS

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Why and how the 15 min can be relevant and at which conditions?

The concept of the 15 Minute City was first introduced by Carlos Moreno in 2016, yet idea became popular when Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, used as part of her re-election campaign during the municipal election of Paris in 2020. In a time in which Paris was heavily affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the 15MC brought numerous merits. In such a dense city, promotion of slow mobility and disfavouring car usage to access primary services were excellent means to solve issues of the likes of air quality, health, local economy underdevelopment and attractivity in the French metropolis. However, unlike most cities where the 15MC concept succeed like Milan, Paris, Ottawa or Seattle, Cascina Gatti does not check all the boxes to achieve the concept, hence its etiquette of a “could be there” space. In fact, Carlos Moreno’s vision of the 15MC brings the advantages of the village into the big city, which is to say proximity of services and localism.

However, density is key, Cascina Gatti is closer to a village than a city and it appears challenging to apply the 15 Minute City concept given the circumstances. As a result, although the 15 MC does show its criticalities when applied outside of big metropolis, like in the case presented here, it still proves the potential of addressing issues and being a fertile soil for innovative participatory processes, new local economy and network of actors. But in order to do so, the success of the concept depends on how specific issues are being answered: identity, accessibility, unemployment are key factors contributing to the success of 15 Minute City policies in Cascina Gatti. How should change be made to make this concept functional and feasible in our landscape? Cascina Gatti is a very interesting environment in which social dynamics are sometimes closer to a rural town rather than a city neighbourhood. Its physical isolation from the centre of Sesto San Giovanni, abundancy of vacant lands, old semi-industrial complexes, aging population, underused green spaces all result in a decaying neighbourhood. In that sense, classic solutions (green space provision, commerce opening, mixed-used buildings…) that are usually proposed in dense cities cannot be the answer. In fact, fund provisions here is scarce and adaptation to the needs of an aging and unemployed population is fundamental. Therefore, relevant 15 Minute City policies for small, peri-urban localities should find a way to address multiple issues at once, they must receive multiple funding and be delivered in an innovative way that allows a bottom-up approach by modelling a new management governance able to create a cycle of growth and perpetual opportunities which can start a domino effect on the area revitalizing physical and socio-economic dynamics of spaces.

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Regione Lombardia (2015). “Legge Regionale 6 novembre 2015 , n. 36.” Regione Lombardia. Retrieved from http://normelombardia.consiglio.regione.lombardia.it/NormeLombardia/Accessibile/main.aspx?iddoc=lr002015110600036&view=showdoc Romain Frutier. (n.d.) “La Citè Fertile.” Lollypop Communication. Retrieved from https://citefertile.com/ wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dossier-Mixte-LR-copie.pdf Rotary 2080 (n.d.). “Progetti orti urbani.” Rotary Club. Retrieved from https://www.rotary2080.org/ files/11/Progetto_OrtiUrbani_final%20(2).pdf

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