Overcoming an impasse or innovating urban policy? The role of social activism within conflictual urban regeneration processes in Southern Italy

ABSTRACTThis paper investigates the role of self-organization initiatives within conflicting urban planning processes. It draws on the debate developed around the use of the concepts of ‘trading zone’ and ‘boundary object’ in planning studies and focuses on a single case study: the regeneration of the Rossani barracks in Bari, Southern Italy. This long process is paradigmatic of current urban regeneration processes in relation to the plurality of actors involved and the projects developed. It allows for a general reflection on the implementation of solutions belonging to different strategic viewpoints, enabling impasses to be overcome even when actors remain in conflict.KEYWORDS: Urban regenerationsocial innovationtrading zoneboundary objectconflictual planning processes AcknowledgmentsThanks to Giovanni Laino for his initial suggestion to frame this process using the trading zone perspective and to Angela Barbanente who read a draft version of this paper. Thanks also to the editor and an anonymous referee for their helpful comments. Figures 1 and 7 credits to Patrizia Pirro. Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 credits to Michele Cera.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1. Among others: Healey (Citation1997); Innes (Citation1995); and Forester (Citation1989). In particular, it has been acknowledged that people from diverse backgrounds co-exist in spaces where they live and work, as they often share common concerns for the development of these places, ‘even though they do not share a “moral order”, or many of their other relations, with their neighbours’ (Healey, Citation1997, p. 124).2. Bari (which has about 320,000 inhabitants) is ranked ninth in terms of population among the 16 Italian cities with a population of more than 200,000 inhabitants. Its master plan, approved in 1976, is the second oldest among those of cities of its size, after Catania’s plan, which was approved in 1969 (Calace, Citation2021).3. This allowed the author to access several informal documents and to take part in formal and informal meetings of the decision-making process in the 2014–2019 period. Afterwards, in 2022, this paper was updated through carrying out interviews, consulting official documents and doing press reviews.4. From 2010 to 2012 the public institution tasked with conserving Italy’s heritage recognized the historical-architectural value of the complex of buildings through giving it protected status.5. The project included the restoration of around 80,000 cubic metres of buildings, and the construction of around 100,000 cubic meters of new buildings for commercial galleries, restaurants, offices, living spaces. An underground car park with 1000 spaces was also included in the project.6. These concerned, for instance, the noise during events organized in the barracks.7. I was deputy mayor in the municipality government from July 2014 to June 2019. Hence July 2014 is a watershed moment in this story for me, as I became an actor in the process.8. A national government consultancy charged with supporting local administrations in implementing urban projects.9. According to Mayer (Citation2013, p. 11), these groups include: ‘radical autonomous, anarchist and alternative groups and various leftist organizations; middle-class urbanites who seek to defend their accustomed quality of life; disparate groups that share a precarious existence, whether in the informal sector, in the creative industries or among college students; artists and other creative professionals which may cut across these backgrounds; frequently, local environmental groups that fight problematic energy, climate or development policies, and finally, but in Europe so far rarely present: the marginalized, excluded, oppressed, people of color’.10. Even the dialogue between different groups of social activists was not easy. They do not have shared values, even though they coexist in the same space and share the use of some boundary objects.Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by the IUAV University of Venice [Fondi per la ricerca 2020-linea 1a].