Gardone Riviera Parking Project Rejected Amid Controversies and Cost Concerns
The open-air parking lot in front of the Grand Hotel di Gardone Riviera (1 billion euro expenditure, 140 parking spaces, of which around sixty would have remained private) has been canceled, and the Region has revoked the grant already allocated to the Municipality: a Frisl fund of 900 million euros, to be repaid over 20 years, at installments of 45 million euros each, with the obligation not to modify the original projects and to start construction immediately.
The preliminary study, drafted by architect Giorgio Fortini, head of the technical office, raised concerns from the hotel owner, Franco Mizzaro, who was supposed to make the area available: the parking spaces were too limited, with a central corridor of only five meters (which should be six to allow maneuvering); both the access from 45 bis and the exit to the underground level were too narrow; it was necessary to differentiate the public and private entrances.
Criticism and proposals on traffic management and planning
The opposition criticized the project. “We believe that, in the agreement to be drafted with the srl connected to Mizzaro, very precise clauses should be included to balance costs and profits,” explained Guido Armellini from Forza Italia. “Assuming the value of the 2,000 square meters of land at 200,000 lire per square meter, the total amounts to 400 million lire. Based on this actual value, the Grand Hotel ownership would receive 60 covered parking spaces, equivalent to two billion lire.”
“I considered the price of 30-35 million lire each, the same as the parking lot recently built under the elementary school yard. On one side of the scale, 400 million; on the other, 2 billion! If these are not discrepancies and imbalances, then what are they?” Two proposals were put forward: impose a restrictive affixture on the 60 covered parking spaces to remain with the Grand Hotel srl, so that they cannot be sold separately from the hotel rooms.
Furthermore, study ways to involve the company in some public interventions, limited to Gardone. For example, the construction of an underpass, the decoration of Piazza Marconi, or the expansion of the port.
Comments from the civic defender
The civic defender, Vittorino Zattoni, also intervened regarding the matter. His comments: “Even though recent agreements with Salò have provided new parking spaces (Savoy and Valle Fiorita streets) that, together with those existing in via Brusada, seem sufficient to meet demand, there is a need to expand parking areas along the lakefront strip.”
“From Barbarano to Fasano, tourists are not sufficiently informed about the offerings (free or paid). The Esso area is fully booked during a short summer period or special evenings: there are wide possibilities for utilization at various levels, including an underground pedestrian link to the lakeside promenade, avoiding dangerous crossings and the removal of trees or structures.”
The proposed parking on the Grand Hotel property risks becoming a positive solution for private interests, depriving Gardone of an important green lung, with additional traffic congestion, given Mizzaro’s request to enter and exit from 45 bis.
The cost-benefit analysis has not been thoroughly examined either. Architect Fortini has resumed work, making a series of modifications to the original drawings: new parking space distribution, different location for the underground ramp, and entrance from the Gardesana street.
However, the Region, frustrated by delays, rejected everything. “The changes made,” the officials of the Unità organizzativa piani e programmi urbanistici wrote, “constitute a substantially different project from the one approved for funding. Therefore, we consider revoking the 900 million euro contribution.”
The Municipality had spent about 70 million lire (appraisals, work contracts for reinforced concrete, fire regulations, safety, incentive quota for the technician). Moreover, in the 2001 budget forecast, it decided to include another large parking lot in Piazza Camerini, near the previous one. Cost: 3.5 billion lire, with half funded by private revenues and the rest from European Community funds (the so-called “Objective 2,” money for depressed areas).