One House for €1: Case Studies on the Governance of Abandoned Properties in Small Villages

The study aims at analyzing the Italian initiative “Case a 1 €”launched in 2009 for the preservation of abandoned goods, in Gangi, a smallvillage near Palermo. The Municipality has put for sale the ruined houses for thesymbolic prize of 1 €. As this initiative has been imitated by other municipalities inItaly and thus become a model, my intention is to explore how it works based ontwo different levels of investigation, in terms of: 1) contractual schemes (partiesand respective rights and obligations) and 2) policy choices, comparing proposedand achieved goals by the administrations and the parties. Some relevant issuesarise after 12 years: is the initiative an appropriate answer for the management ofabandoned properties, both private and public? Is it an effective instrument toundermine the idea that such properties are a burden? Can they become a resourcefor collective, social and economic development? Is it a model to regain culturalidentity revitalizing the small, abandoned centers, promoting inclusion, participation and environmental sustainability? I will use both inductive and deductivemethods, examining and comparing some case studies in Sicily, among thosemunicipalities that adopted this policy (Cammarata, Sambuca, Gangi, Itala,Salemi, Regalbuto, Mussomeli and Saponara). In order to investigate level 1), I willidentify the contractual frames and documents provided online by the Municipalities administrations. To find answers on level 2), I will analyze (when available) the number of goods transferred from private parties to Municipalities and ofthose finally assigned to the final buyer. I will interview the administration’s civilservants and the final buyers to understand if their expectations (private andcollective) have been satisfied.