“Genoa opens 32 areas to investors: the challenge of urban regeneration begins.”

An important large-scale urban regeneration initiative has officially begun in Genoa, aimed at redeveloping and enhancing abandoned or underutilized industrial areas. The goal is to restore the attractiveness of these spaces by promoting economic growth and improving urban quality both within the affected districts and in the surrounding areas. The initiative also introduces innovative tools designed to encourage investment, including the possibility of applying temporary changes in property use designation, a measure that significantly expands opportunities for businesses and economic operators.

At present, 32 areas are involved, most of them privately owned, distributed across Valpolcevera, Valbisagno, Val Varenna, Val Cerusa, Val Leira, and Sestri Ponente. The sites were identified through a survey of abandoned industrial zones carried out by the municipal administration during the first months of 2026. Additional properties belonging to the maritime state domain in Genoa Sampierdarena and Voltri, reported by the Port System Authority, are also included.

The project clearly defines the limits of permitted uses: medium and large retail structures exceeding 250 square meters, as well as activities incompatible with urban regeneration and territorial planning objectives, will not be allowed within the designated areas. The aim is to ensure coherent, sustainable, and high-quality development.

Announced by Mayor Silvia Salis during the Spediporto assembly, the project has already completed its first formal step with the approval of the resolution by the City Council Executive on May 7, 2026. The measure will be reviewed by the City Council Commission on May 27 before being submitted for final approval by the municipal council.

The program offers a broad range of incentives for investors, including reductions in urbanization charges and construction fees for interventions on existing buildings, incentives for demolition and reconstruction projects compliant with urban planning regulations, and the possibility of combining these benefits with those provided under Simplified Logistics Zones and regional state aid schemes. Added to this is the option of temporary land-use designations, intended to support experimentation and the reactivation of spaces without requiring amendments to the city’s Urban Development Plan (PUC). In particular, the temporary change of use designation represents a strategic tool to facilitate the establishment of small businesses, startups, and innovative enterprises wishing to invest despite limited resources.

The initiative has already attracted considerable interest, with proposals ranging from the construction of sports facilities to the development of high-tech industrial hubs. Regarding the residential sector, attention is focused on solutions such as student housing and shared living models capable of responding to emerging social needs.

Through the Genoa Business Unit structure, the municipality will organize a presentation event for the city and potential investors on June 8. The initiative will represent a first opportunity for dialogue between the municipal administration, area owners — mostly private entities — and interested operators, with the goal of building a structured discussion and encouraging the realization of the development opportunities offered by the project.

In this context, Genoa confirms its position as a city capable of attracting capital and investors by promoting high-impact projects. A dynamic ecosystem that contributes to creating new jobs, strengthening innovative sectors, and accelerating the city’s economic transformation in a competitive and sustainable direction.