Gardone Rivière Sets Auction for Six Land Areas to Raise €232 Million

The municipality of Gardone Riviera has decided to auction six areas, which are part of the so-called relics—pieces of land acquired over time but lacking practical use and abandoned. “Since there are requests from private individuals, we will put them up for auction,” said Mayor Alessandro Bazzani. “To be truthful, someone wanted to purchase the summit of Riolet, which resembles a wedding cake. We consider it inalienable; therefore, we did not include it. We intend to enhance it as a rest area.” These are the areas that will be sold. In Gardone Sopra, on via Arche, across from the “Primavera” cooperative, 1,300 square meters of public green space, already urbanized (starting bid 39 million). In Morgnaga, behind the “La famiglia” cooperative, 1,043 square meters, same designation (31 million); additionally, a small olive grove on a slope of the former Gibertini villa, 352 square meters, at 18 million. In S. Michele, behind the sports field, 639 square meters in zone C1 (19 million). In Tresnico, 8,110 square meters of woodland and meadow, near the Erculiani craft area (81 million). In Supiane, 1,475 square meters of green space, already urbanized (44 million). Total estimated at at least 232 million, with the hope of fetching a higher sum at auction. “This is the second operation we have completed, after transforming land previously granted in surface rights to the popular cooperatives, which were recently sold in ownership for about 300 million,” the mayor recalled. In total, the municipality expects to collect approximately half a billion euros. The topic was discussed during the approval of the preliminary budget, which reduced the IMU on primary residences from 5 to 4.5 per thousand. This is the biggest new feature of 2001. The tax on second homes will remain at 6. “Despite the reduction, the total municipal property tax will remain unchanged,” explained Tax Assessor Eugenio Musciotto. “Our controls have allowed us to recover 410 million in evasion.” The annual revenue hovers around two and a half billion. Tariffs for water, sewage, and waste will remain unchanged. Collection will begin in restaurants and hotels. The percentage allocated to separate waste collection has reached 34% (goal is 50%), with the rest sent to the incinerator. The 400 million euros in annual rents from the “La stalla” restaurant, the “La terrazza” sports center, municipal housing, property used by the Comunità del Garda, and assets from the former resort company (Casino, cinema, restaurant, boat service, and area upstream of the 45 bis) have passed into municipal ownership after a lengthy dispute with Salò. These will be allocated 60% to tourism activities and 40% to building maintenance. Parking meters will generate 37 million, and fines for traffic violations 160 million (a detector will be installed at the traffic light). Investments: the most substantial involves a large parking lot in Piazza Camerini, in the embankment in front of the Grand Hotel. Cost: three and a half billion euros, half from private revenues and the rest from European Community funds. This is a credible but challenging project. The rest of the planned expenditure amounts to 2.16 billion euros, divided as follows: urban furnishing of Tresnico (€250 million), via della Pesa (€222 million); amicable agreements for acquiring areas (€263 million); extraordinary maintenance of municipal assets (€140 million); ports of Casino and Gardone Sotto (€110 million), or other properties (€75 million); construction of the Rio Torto sedimentation basin in via Arche (€50 million); parking area on Ghio in Morgnaga (€66 million); expansion of the lot at “Villa delle Rose” in Fasano (€100 million); upgrading of the aqueduct in via dei Colli (same amount); waste collection area improvements (same amount); sidewalk repairs on Corso Zanardelli (€200 million); minibus purchase (€93 million); expansion of the school cafeteria (€40 million); pedestrian crossing lighting (€50 million); etc. “A calm budget, lacking attention to current dynamics,” commented Alfredo Mantica, leader of the opposition. Regarding the senator of Alleanza Nazionale (National Alliance), he emphasized the need for agreements with neighboring towns to foster better relations. Mayor Bazzani also cited the covenant with Salò regarding local police and numerous staff relocations.