A Decision Support Evaluation Framework for Community-Based Collaborative Urban Regeneration Processes

Abstract

The current debate on urban regeneration highlights the significance of social innovation and the reuse of cultural heritage to develop new economic and entrepreneurial models, creating value chains and benefits for communities. International and European directives, such as the European Agenda 2030 and the New European Bauhaus, advocate for inclusive and sustainable urbanization, encouraging participatory and circular urban regeneration processes. This study presents a decision support framework for community-based collaborative urban regeneration processes, focusing on the urban area of Reggio Calabria in Southern Italy. In this region, some cultural assets have been reactivated and made accessible, while others remain inactive, underutilized, or abandoned. The research aims to explore how to effectively enhance cultural heritage and promote urban regeneration through a collaborative network strategy. By employing multicriteria analysis, involving the selection and definition of specific criteria and indicators for each site, a priority map is created to facilitate the implementation of regeneration processes. The application of this approach in the urban center of Reggio Calabria demonstrated its effectiveness in revitalizing unused or abandoned cultural heritage, transforming it into a catalyst for urban vibrancy and vitality.