Modena urban planner proposes 1,500 new affordable homes

Urban planner Ezio Righi has proposed a solution to the housing emergency in Modena, suggesting the construction of 1,500 new homes. Righi proposes utilizing 3 percent of public land, totaling approximately 117 hectares, to facilitate this development.

According to Righi, the current regional law allows for such construction. He estimates that the prices for these new residences could be at least 25 percent lower than current market rates. While urban regeneration remains a primary policy goal, Righi argues that such projects often involve long timelines and may not provide the urgent responses required by the current housing crisis.

Regarding the availability of housing in Modena, Righi noted that while the 2021 census identified 12,000 homes not occupied by resident families, many of these are occupied by non-resident workers or students, are undergoing renovations, or are located in unsuitable areas.