After a brief break, we’re back in Rome, on the site of AS Roma's new stadium. Unfortunately, new obstacles have emerged for the project. The dispute over evictions is still unresolved, and now the conversation has turned to a forest… that might not even exist (?).

Europa Verde demands the project’s cancellation

No construction project should override forest protection. The Pietralata stadium project, already widely contested by local residents, must be canceled, and Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, whom we’ve urgently appealed to, should intervene to protect the landscape, say Europa Verde spokesperson Angelo Bonelli and Filiberto Zaratti from the Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra. They stress that the wooded area is legally protected, which should come as no surprise since it was included in the 2012 amendments to the Pietralata zoning plan. However, city officials have largely ignored it, arguing that the 14-hectare area is degraded and in need of revitalization. We expect the City Hall and its Mayor to take the only wise and consistent action: withdraw the project and recognize the local committees’ efforts, conclude Bonelli and Zaratti.

© AS Roma

Officials claim the forest is just a “project concept”

In a twist, archived city administration documents show that the presence of the forest has been documented for years. This could halt permit approvals since the area is protected and was even intended to become a Pietralata park. These plans are outlined in the 2012 zoning amendments for the District of Pietralata, a critical urban development instrument. Forest police investigations are ongoing, and while agronomists from the Capitoline administration found no official forest, city experts identified around 800 trees and shrubs in the area, some of which exceed 25 cm in diameter. Photos taken on October 24 show dense vegetation, with experts reporting numerous plant species and animal life, such as porcupines, foxes, and various birds.

The Urban Planning Department responded, stating that documents labeling the area as forested are merely project concepts. Even though plans closely match the current state of the land – a visible forest, confirmed by the Corriere photos – they argue that it does not reflect the actual landscape. The department further claims that the 2021 Regional Landscape Spatial Plan never recognized the area as a forest, thus confirming no restrictions apply. Councilman Maurizio Veloccia, echoing this stance on social media, stated, The stadium project is moving forward.

© AS Roma

AS Roma fine-tunes project details

On October 17, Mayor Roberto Gualtieri met with AS Roma officials, including representatives from Capitoline, responsible for the Pietralata stadium project. Despite a delayed deadline to submit the final project due to the recent resignation of AS Roma CEO Lina Souloukou, the club intends to complete all necessary documentation by the end of the year. During the meeting, several visualizations and a video were shown, showcasing the new structure with surrounding areas inspired by classic and ancient Roman architecture.

To improve access to Tiburtina station, the club is negotiating with Ferrovie dello Stato to build pedestrian bridges outlined in the project. There have also been consultations with local authorities to construct a vertical, monolithic arch, similar to the one at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. However, security clearance is needed to proceed with construction. Any unapproved project element will require revisions, especially to the Curva Sud section.

© AS Roma

Residents persist in legal battle over evictions

In early October, work resumed on the site designated for the new AS Roma stadium. Although the area was handed over to contractors for geotechnical surveys, the legal dispute over Pietralata remains unresolved. The land intended for the stadium continues to face legal challenges, as residents evicted from via degli Aromi on October 22 filed complaints seeking clarification on the matter. This opens a new front in the legal battle as residents seek to protect homes and structures facing demolition. Complaints cite non-compliance with regulations issued by the Civil Court in Rome.

Several months ago, the Seventh Civil Section ruled in favor of a resident’s appeal, ordering Roma Capitale to immediately halt evictions and allow certain residents access to properties. This decision was based on the resident's right to remain in the property despite previous eviction orders from the city. Although the suspension of evictions was not granted as requested by residents, a Council of State judge acknowledged the issue’s complexity. This has allowed the city to proceed with handing the land over to builders, though the public prosecutor has raised complaints following the Civil Court’s order. The judge was set to rule on September 12, but the hearing was postponed to November 7. AS Roma is hopeful that this matter will soon be settled, allowing work to continue without further disruption.

© AS Roma