Renzi's rehousing plans for earthquake-stricken region

Renzi sets out a plan for reconstruction, with help from Renzo Piano

 ROME -- Matteo Renzi has set out a plan for the re-building of the earthquake-hit towns and the temporary re-housing of the homeless, consulting top Italian architect, Renzo Piano.

 The Prime Minister has declared that the temporary tent solution must be disposed of as soon as possible, and not take longer than a month.

 The established plan is to transfer victims from the tent situation to hotels and apartment complexes, and to build basic wooden houses within three to four months, as a sturdier solution while the wait for the complete reconstruction of the towns ensues.

 The same temporary wooden house strategy was used after the earthquake in the Aquila region of 2009, and this are by far considered the best solution in relation to the requests of the mayors of the region: not to keep the towns waiting empty-handed for the reconstruction of the area.

 Renzi has put the ex-governor of the Emilia region, Vasco Errani, in charge of this process, and has called in the prolific Italian architect, Renzo Piano, for consultations on the matter.

 The Civil Protection Service’s technicians are already finalizing the plans for the wooden construction project, in order for the tent-dwellers to be relieved from their precarious situation as soon as possible, with a great awareness of the imminent arrival of the colder seasons.

 Within a few weeks it will have to be decided whether the wooden containers should be brought into the targeted areas straight away, or whether the victims should be transferred to hotels and other apartment complexes in that zone in the meantime. Renzi has said that “the decision will be left up to the people.”

 The funds for the reconstruction process have already been allocated, and come to 1.2 billion euros overall, an estimate made by various companies with experience in this area.

 In the meantime, forms regarding temporary scholastic solutions will be completed. Sergio Pirozzi, mayor of Amatrice, said that Wednesday, he will meet with the minister, “and we will need to tackle this situation properly, in order to guarantee that the young people return to school.”

 nkd