Municipality Weighs Purchase vs. Lease of Palazzo Marchetti
Will it no longer be advantageous for the municipality to purchase the historic Palazzo Marchetti instead of having it in use for thirty years and paying around 10 billion lira, only to eventually be evicted or renew the exorbitant rent, which is likely to be increased?
This question is posed in an interpellation by the Patto councilors, Severino Bombardelli, Alessandro Campetti, Alberto Crepaldi, and Mario Matteotti. Their «curiosity» goes beyond that. They want to know the name of the professional tasked with the restoration, estimated at 7 billion lira, who will be appointed by the owners, while the hefty fee will be paid by the municipality.
The appointment and reasons for the renunciation
Recognizing the scope of the renovation work for the 16th-century building, Mayor Veronesi was asked why he did not specify the name of the architect responsible or at least decide on the selection criteria.
The interrogators refer to the memorandum of understanding signed on June 29 of last year between the mayor and the two heirs of the late colonel Marchetti, who became the owners of the palace upon his death. The document will become operational within three months, that is, by September 29, with the final agreement signing.
Clauses and costs of the agreement
«Besides the restoration at the municipal entity’s expense — commented the Patto representatives to the newspaper — there is another highly burdensome clause. It concerns the termination of the lease agreement for the restaurant located on the ground floor of the palace, which will expire on April 30, 2002.
From that date until the municipality takes possession, it will have to pay the property owner the loss of rental income from the restaurant, amounting to about 6.5 million lira per month, adjusted according to ISTAT. Over thirty years, this sums up to 2 billion 340 million lira.
Not everything ends there. The municipal coffers will also need to compensate the restaurant owner for the loss of goodwill, which could be valued at several hundred million lira.
Future commitments and expenses
With such a significant commitment from the public sector — conclude the interrogating councilors — the private owners have even reserved the right to specify the technician entrusted with architectural design and project supervision, estimated at 7 billion lira.
If no unforeseen problems arise, the municipal expenditure to turn Palazzo Marchetti into a cultural and institutional venue will exceed 300 million lira per year over thirty years. The clarifications requested seem necessary and urgent.
