2nd PEER REVIEW SESSION IN ROME 10 - 12 JULY 2013

The Peer Review meeting started with a guided site visit in the outskirts of East Rome in the area of Tor Sapienza, where the target area of the RE-block project, the Morandi housing estate is situated. The tour started by visiting the new but empty, unused railway station and the connected unused parking lot. Passing the industrial area by, which several years ago provided employment for the people living in its vicinity, but now operates with very limited capacity, the group pulled through the residential area of detached and semidetached houses populated with middle class people. After visiting the legally set up gypsy settlement which is steadily growing by those families which occupy the unused land next to the gypsy settlement, the group took a short walk in the traditional centre of the area, the main street of Tor Sapienza, which is still a lively commercial street with shops. There is a market in walking distance to the main street which is not very popular among the residents, and there is only a small number of shops running their business there. Having popped in the home of asylum seekers the group finally arrived to the Morandi housing estate. 

Initial ideas for the LAP of Tor Sapienza/Morandi was discuss next day with an extended circle of stakeholders such as representatives of Ministries and regional authorities involved in the meeting. The initial ideas of the LAP were structured around the following key issues:

•          Public Space (renewal of Tor Sapienza main axes, renewal of Morandi service area, relaunch renewable energy in the Morandi blocks, handling informal living in the Morandi service area)
•          Social inclusion (engaging young people, assisting early school leavers and their families, improving the services provided by local associations)
•          Local Economy (training and counselling for SMEs, managing local labour market, generating new micro enterprises in recycling and urban agriculture)

It was also indicated how integrated approach can be applied in tackling each development issue with reference of the others.

The LAP intervention area

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