{:en}A youth hostel, the new headquarters of the multi-purpose cultural center and a large public park available to the people of Lovran and tourists. This is what will be located within the area of the ’Colonia Marina Città di Torino“ on Aurelia Street in Loano, the subject of a memorandum of understanding between the municipal administration of Turin and that of Loano. The document was signed today in the Hall of Congregations of the civic palace in the Piedmontese capital by Loano Mayor Luigi Pignocca and Turin City Councilor for Education Federica Patti.
The City of Turin owns a number of land and buildings on the territory of the Loano Municipality, most of which are unused. The main one is a three-story building, surrounded by a large garden, which until 2016 housed the “Educational Laboratory on the Mediterranean Environment - City of Turin” and, during the summer months, the City of Turin summer colony. Specifically, during the three-year period 2013-2016, from October 1 to May 31, more than 3,000 and 300 children were welcomed in weekly shifts to experience direct contact with the marine environment and the surrounding area.
During the 2016/2017 school year, the City of Turin decided to discontinue sojourns and educational activities for pupils, but the Turin municipal government has every interest in reintroducing this route among its educational projects.
The municipal administration of Loano, for its part, has been working for some time, in synergy with local associations, on the implementation of a European youth-friendly community development project that includes the opening of a youth hostel. In the plans, such an accommodation facility should encourage the influx of “youth” tourism to the city. In addition, it is the intention of the City of Loano to bring together “under one roof” the associations that are part of the multipurpose cultural center and now occupy various spaces within the Kursaal Palace. Lastly, it is the administration's intention to expand the area of public green space in the residential area west of the city by making a new public park available to Loano residents and tourists.
In view of these complementary needs, the City of Turin and the City of Loano signed a memorandum of understanding under which the Turin municipal administration grants the Lovese municipal administration the use of the former colony areas.
“The agreement with the City of Turin will bring great benefits to both parties,‘ explains Loano Mayor Luigi Pignocca, ’On the one hand, our Piedmontese friends will be able to restart the educational activities that for various reasons have been interrupted over the past few years. On the other, our city will have at its disposal important spaces that will allow us to give a great new ”home' to our associations and, above all, to inaugurate another accommodation facility that will allow us to further expand the offerings of our territory.".
“The opening of a new hostel,‘ the first Loano citizen continues, ’will allow us to intercept younger tourists. Those same young people who, in addition to appreciating our many events, our fantastic sea, our cultural and artistic treasures and the clubs that give life to our ”movida,' will certainly not miss the opportunity to also try the many sports attractions offered by our Loano Outdoor. Lastly, the construction operation that will be put in place by the City of Turin will allow for the elimination of two buildings that, at this time, are in suboptimal condition. In short, a major operation that will benefit our entire city.".
“Starting from the respective needs of the two cities, and with the common goal of agreeing on a future use of the property that takes into account the public interest of both communities, a collaborative and constructive dialogue has developed,” says Education Councillor Federica Patti, "thanks to which we can announce today that the administrations have reached an agreement that is satisfactory for both localities. Turin makes areas of the colony available to the City of Loano for tourism and cultural purposes. At the same time, the possibility for schoolchildren to return to use the facility at specific times of the year is safeguarded.".
According to the program agreement, the main building will be home to the new youth hostel (the management of which will be outsourced through public bidding) and the new multi-purpose cultural center. The park surrounding the building will be made “public” and will thus be made available to citizens. The costs of adapting and transforming the building will be borne by the City of Loano, as will those for maintenance.
The City of Turin will be guaranteed the availability within the hostel of 74 places for pupils from elementary school in Turin and Piedmont who will take part in educational stays in the period between October 1 and November 30 and between February 1 and May 31 each year. The City of Loano agrees to provide (through the hostel operator) food service for the students and to carry out custodial and concierge services, security, cleaning, and to assume the burden of utilities during the entire stay.
The City of Turin will retain the concession of a portion of the beach, which may be given to the Anffas association or other parties.{:}
