A project spearheaded by leading luxury brands to redevelop the high-end shopping district has led to a standoff with the city authorities, less than a year from municipal elections.
As summer arrives a little early, there are the usual scenes of tourists window-shopping on Milan's chic Via Monte Napoleone, while inside the boutiques of Dior, Fendi and Prada, sales assistants cater to the needs of a wealthy clientele. Despite the appearance of business as usual, however, tensions have been mounting between city hall and MonteNapoleone District, the association that represents the luxury goods companies with premises on the high-end shopping thoroughfare.
At issue is a project,
