MODENA, 17 March 2026
Construction crews began excavation work Monday morning at the former Manifattura Tabacchi site on Via Belle Arti, marking the start of a €47 million mixed-use development. Mayor Gian Carlo Muzzarelli confirmed the project will deliver 180 residential units by late 2028. The development sits 400 metres from the Piazza Grande UNESCO heritage zone.
The project, backed by Emilia Sviluppo Immobiliare and two regional investment funds, represents one of the largest urban infill schemes in Modena since the pandemic slowdown. Workers will first complete deep foundation piling across the 12,000-square-metre plot before erecting reinforced concrete frames for three interconnected buildings ranging from five to eight storeys. Our correspondents in Modena observed heavy machinery arriving before dawn, with security fencing already enclosing the perimeter. According to figures that could not be independently verified, the contractor has committed to sourcing 60 percent of building materials from suppliers within Emilia-Romagna. Local bar owner Signora Patrizia Galli, whose premises overlook the site entrance, mentioned that truck movements had already altered her morning delivery schedule. The Associazione Costruttori Edili di Modena welcomed the investment, noting that it would create an estimated 340 direct construction jobs over the 30-month build phase.
When we spoke with Davide Montanari, site director for lead contractor Costruzioni Reggiane SpA, he outlined plans to install tower cranes within three weeks and begin formwork assembly by mid-April. Montanari stressed that noise mitigation barriers would shield neighbouring apartment blocks on Via Bonacini, though he acknowledged that some disruption was unavoidable during the excavation stage, which involves removing approximately 18,000 cubic metres of soil for the underground parking structure. The timeline remains unclear for completing utility diversions, as negotiations with Hera Group over sewer realignment are ongoing. Italy's National Institute of Statistics recorded a 4.2 percent rise in construction output across the northern regions last quarter, suggesting appetite for new development remains strong despite elevated borrowing costs. Modena's centuries-old tradition of ceramic tile production means local expertise in cladding and finishing trades is readily available, a factor developers say influenced their choice of location.
Environmental compliance has emerged as a focal point. The Regional Environmental Protection Agency required a revised stormwater management plan before granting final permits, pushing the groundbreaking back by six weeks from the original January target. Green building standards mandate that the finished complex achieve LEED Gold certification, necessitating high-performance thermal insulation, photovoltaic canopies over the courtyard, and electric vehicle charging points in all 210 parking bays. Residents of adjacent buildings have expressed mixed feelings; some welcome the prospect of new retail and café space at street level, while others worry about years of dust and traffic. A public consultation held last October drew 87 attendees, according to municipal records. Whether the promised affordable housing quota of 15 percent will materialise at rents genuinely accessible to young families is a question several neighbourhood associations intend to monitor closely.