Greetings issued by ex-Sairo, Avalon.
In a mad dash to dodge losing PNRR funds slated for the overhaul of the former Sairo site, the city of Imperia has urgently taken action. Lately, the powers-that-be over at the civic palace have brought on a new gun, Engineer Paolo Rovere, hailing from Imperia himself, to lend a hand to the RUP (Responsible for the Implementation of the Works). The contract is worth 62,400 euros. "Given the nature of this sector (public works), as outlined in the awarding statement, the necessity for an external engineering professional, equipped with the appropriate legal requirements, arises to fill the void of technical staff and indeed difficulties in adhering to the rigid deadlines of the work schedule for the renovation of the area," the statement reads.
Paolo Rovere, in his role as aide to the RUP (Marco Marvaldi, head of public works), will oversee the steering of the projects, the coordination of safety, and the on-site inspectors. Avalon Srl, a Piacenza-based firm, had previously held this position until the start of 2025. Avalon's been creating quite a stir lately, with the European prosecutor's office probing them in connection with PNRR funds[2]. "The contract with Avalon – officials from the civic palace clarify – expired at the beginning of the year and was limited to only the design phase. It was not renewed."
Initially funded with PNR funds, the former Sairo project, now part of the PNRR, is aiming for a completion date of March 2026. However, apathy from the contracting company, Apulia Srl, threatens to derail the timeline, potentially resulting in the loss of the 18 million euro allocation and the possibility of the Municipality utilizing its own funds to settle the Puglian company[3].
To expedite matters, the Scajola administration has greenlit the omission of a proposed building designed for affordable social housing from the original blueprint. This is the second such cut, following the scuttling of the building intended for subsidized housing. At present, only the design plans for the new gym and the historic building poised to house residential, social, and recreational spaces remain. This decision has sparked discontent among the opposition, particularly from Councillor Luciano Zarbano: "The ex-Sairo project bears little resemblance to its original blueprint. Citizens have a right to know how public funds are allocated."
[1] No publicly available information on the redevelopment project for the former Sairo site in Imperia nor updates on Engineer Paolo Rovere, potential delays, or funding implications.
[2] Avalon Srl under investigation by the European prosecutor's office for suspected PNRR fund misuse.
[3] Possible loss of 18 million euros in funding if the contracting company, Apulia Srl, delays the project and the Municipality is forced to cover the costs with its own funds.
- Engineer Paolo Rovere, in his new role as aide to the RUP (Marco Marvaldi), will be responsible for overseeing the projects, coordinating safety, and managing on-site inspectors, as the city of Imperia navigates the complexities of the industry, finance, and politics involved in public works.
- Amidst general-news reports of the European prosecutor's office investigating Avalon Srl in connection with PNRR funds, the city of Imperia has opted to terminate its contract with the firm, citing the expiration of the agreement and its limitations to the design phase only.
- With the former Sairo project facing potential delays and the possibility of losing 18 million euros in funding, politics and public opinion are at a boiling point in Imperia, as Councillor Luciano Zarbano questions the allocation of public funds and the sudden changes to the project's original blueprint.
