DECISION MAKING MODELS FOR A SUSTAINABLE REUSE OF PORT AREAS: THE CASE OF PESCARA

The paper describes the main strategies for the socio-economic and environmental development of Pescara city, with particular focus on the regeneration of the port area. The renewal and transformation process of port cities requires to analyse the overall urban system and also the recent orientations on regional and national transportation strategies which put port areas as gateways of infrastructure networks in the world. Nowadays increasing attention is paid to the redevelopment of port areas as opportunity to set up new facilities and to experiment new lifestyles. Starting from the indications of the Strategic Plan for Pescara in 2020 and the territorial planning in Abruzzo for the 2007-13 period, the paper describes some relevant alternatives for the regeneration of the port area. The role of port areas in an international context is described, outlining a framework for comparison with case studies referring to cities in the Mediterranean and northern Europe. We propose an application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process as evaluation approach to support the complex decision-making about the suitable functional solutions which can transform the port area of Pescara in an effective driver of development and competitiveness for the city. In conclusion we outline some methodological considerations and research perspectives based on the use of network models with reference to the Analytic Network Process methodology to decisions.