Ahead of the Winter Olympics, Milan Wins Gold in Gentrification

With less than two years until the Winter Olympics arrive in northern Italy, Milan is undergoing a transformation as dramatic as any athletic competition. New rail lines, luxury developments and polished public spaces are reshaping the city’s skyline. But as cranes rise and construction accelerates, critics say Milan is also winning an unintended “gold medal” in gentrification — displacing long-time residents and redefining entire neighborhoods in the name of global prestige.
The 2026 Winter Olympics, jointly hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, were billed as a catalyst for sustainable growth and urban renewal. City officials promised improved infrastructure and economic opportunities. Yet for many locals, the benefits have come at a steep social cost.
A City Remade for the World
In districts such as Porta Romana and Scalo Farini, former industrial zones have been converted into sleek residential complexes, cultural venues and corporate offices. Olympic villages, once promoted as affordable housing for athletes and later for residents, are increasingly tied to private investors and high-end real estate projects.
“Milan is becoming a city for tourists and executives, not for families,” said Elena Rossi, a community organizer in the Navigli area, where rents have surged by more than 30 percent in five years. “People who lived here for decades can no longer afford their own neighborhoods.”
According to housing advocacy groups, property values around planned Olympic sites have climbed faster than in any other Italian city. Landlords are converting long-term rentals into short-term tourist accommodations in anticipation of the Games, further shrinking the supply of affordable housing.
Infrastructure or Investment Opportunity?
Supporters of the redevelopment argue that Milan is finally catching up to other global cities in terms of modern transport and urban design. New metro extensions, renovated train stations and pedestrian-friendly streets are widely praised by business leaders.
“The Olympics give us the chance to modernize,” said a senior official from Milan’s urban planning department. “These projects would take decades without international investment and visibility.”
But critics counter that modernization has become a code word for profit-driven development. Public funds earmarked for Olympic preparation have flowed into partnerships with real estate firms, creating what some activists call a “two-speed city” — one polished and wealthy, the other increasingly marginalized.
Who Benefits?
The neighborhoods closest to Olympic venues are seeing the sharpest changes. In Porta Romana, where the Olympic Village is being built on former rail yards, trendy cafes and luxury apartments have replaced workshops and small family businesses.
Local shop owner Marco De Santis said his rent has doubled since plans were announced. “They tell us this is progress,” he said. “But progress for whom? My customers are disappearing, replaced by people who don’t live here, only pass through.”
Students and migrant workers have been hit particularly hard. Milan already struggles with housing shortages due to its large university population. The Olympic construction boom has intensified competition for rooms and apartments, pushing many to move to distant suburbs.
Lessons from Past Olympics
Urban scholars note that Milan’s experience mirrors patterns seen in other Olympic host cities. From Barcelona to Rio de Janeiro, major sporting events have often triggered waves of redevelopment that benefit investors while displacing vulnerable residents.
“The Olympics accelerate trends that are already underway,” said Professor Lucia Ferraro, an urban studies expert at Bocconi University. “Milan was already becoming more exclusive. The Games simply poured fuel on the fire.”
Ferraro added that promises of long-term social housing frequently fall short once the event ends. Olympic villages are often sold to private developers rather than converted into affordable homes, despite early pledges.
City Hall Defends Its Strategy
Milan’s municipal government insists it is aware of the risks and is trying to balance growth with social responsibility. Officials point to new public housing projects and rent-control experiments aimed at easing pressure on low-income residents.
“We are not blind to the challenges,” said Deputy Mayor for Urban Development Giulia Bianchi. “But refusing investment is not an option. The task is to guide it in a way that serves the whole city.”
She acknowledged, however, that market forces are difficult to control once international attention turns to a city. “The Olympics create expectations. Investors arrive quickly, and regulation takes time.”
A Cultural Shift
Beyond economics, many residents say Milan’s identity is changing. Once known for its working-class neighborhoods and local markets, the city is increasingly shaped by luxury brands, corporate towers and short-term visitors.
“You feel like a guest in your own home,” said retired teacher Paolo Mancini, who recently moved out of the Brera district after his landlord sold the building. “The soul of the city is being replaced by a postcard version of itself.”
Street art collectives and grassroots groups have begun organizing protests and public discussions about the social cost of the Olympics. Their message is not opposition to sport, but concern over who gets to remain in the city once the spotlight fades.
A Golden Future or a Divided City?
As Milan races toward the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, the contrast between shiny new developments and growing social tension is becoming harder to ignore. The city may emerge with world-class infrastructure and global recognition, but it also risks becoming less livable for those who built its communities.
The true legacy of the Games will not be measured only in medals or visitor numbers, critics argue, but in whether Milan can remain a city for its residents as well as for the world.
For now, the cranes continue to rise, the streets grow more polished, and the price of belonging climbs higher. In the competition between global ambition and local life, Milan appears to be winning — but at a cost that many fear will last long after the Olympic flame is extinguished.