The treasure of confiscated assets in Palermo, between assignments and failures

In the city, the heritage of assets confiscated from the mafia remains one of the most substantial in Italy. According to data from the Municipality updated as of January 31, there are 1,094 properties transferred to the municipal assets, including apartments, villas, commercial spaces, warehouses, and land. Part of these is allocated to social or institutional projects, while many are used for housing emergencies.

"We are finalizing the call for the assignment of about 200 assets to the third sector - explains Asset Manager Brigida Alaimo - many are immediately allocated to housing emergencies, but there are also land and commercial spaces. The goal is to quickly reintegrate them into circulation, also to contain management costs." The call will close in June, but the administration is ready to reopen it: "In the last two years, we have assigned about a hundred assets and we will continue. New properties have arrived, and there are five large structures included in recovery programs linked to the Pnrr." However, criticisms are not lacking. "A non-improvised management is needed - observes Emilio Miceli, president of the Pio La Torre Study Center - the heritage is enormous but the system needs revitalization. The real issue concerns the confiscated businesses: about 94% do not survive." "At thirty years since the law on the social reuse of confiscated assets - states the Pd councilor Mariangela Di Gangi - several villas included in the call have not received project proposals. It is a paradox for the city symbolizing the fight against the mafia." The problem would particularly concern properties that require costly interventions: "The minimum concession of six years has discouraged the third sector. With longer durations, up to 18 years as provided by the regulations, many projects would be sustainable." The councilor also reports delays in the rankings: "At over a year since the deadline of the call, those for offices and warehouses have not been published. Without certainty on assignment times, many associations risk losing important funding."