L'impatto socio-economico degli spazi accessori di una residenza per studenti nel centro storico di Napoli

The historic centre of Naples is characterized by the presence of Universities “Federico II" and “L’Orientale”, with a large number of students coming from outside Naples, who represent 30% of undergraduates students total amount. The supply of sleeping accommodation in the student houses covers only 2% of the demand; therefore the residential market meet the remaining students demand. Not very comfortable big old apartments, that cannot be transformed, have always been let to university students, so that the most ancient part of the historic centre of Naples has become a kind of university campus. The negative implication of this very often hidden market is that the student is unable to obtain a certificate of domicile with the consequence of giving up a set of facilities. On the other hand, many are the students expressions about the neapolitan hospitality. The student is welcomed in the daily life of the neighbourhood and not considered an alien body. The historic centre of Naples is a main tourist attraction for its historic, architectural and artistic heritage and the traditional artisanship, but also and especially because it has maintained its character of living city, with its inhabitants and activities, and has not turn into just a huge museum. In recent years, the number of visitors has increased until 12 millions in 2015. Old apartments were renewed and transformed in holiday lettings or b&b, neighbourhood stores gave way to commercial activities such as restaurants, cafés and souvenir shops. Due to mass tourism, the socio-economic phenomenon known as gentrification has taken on a different character: the main facilities for the inhabitants disappear and with them even the inhabitants aside from their economic position. The above shows two needs: a student house in the historic centre to make up for the removing of bedding accommodation for students, so preserving the campus character of the area; facilities for students to share with the inhabitants to guarantee the relationship with the university population, in order to preserve the historic centre from low income social classes ghettoisation and from the risk of an excessive tertiarization. From the economic viewpoint, the income of a student house can be lower than that yielded from other uses, v/s renting security, because of the low market supply, tax exemption or relief and the access to public loans; moreover, other revenues can result from the common spaces for students, inhabitants and maybe tourists. The shared use of the common space can be of interest for the Government because of its externalities in terms of social cohesion and urban safety, being the student house a “vital element” that helps to preserve the diversity of the area due to the combination and mixing of uses.