Cooperativa Unitaria Abitare Milano emerged in May 2019 from a partnership between Consorzio Cooperative Lavoratori (CCL), tied to Confcooperative, and Delta Ecopolis, linked to Legacoop. These groups, active in Milan for 50 years, formed the cooperative to pool resources for housing projects without public funds, targeting affordable options amid urban pressures.
Unlike Abitare Società Cooperativa, which traces roots to 1894 mergers of Niguarda, Unione Operaia, and Dergano builders, Unitaria focuses on new developments. It operates as a residents' cooperative, where members negotiate directly with landowners, builders, banks, and officials to cut intermediary costs. Located at Via Giulio Natta 19 in Milan, it handles free-market and subsidized builds.
Its flagship is the ARIA project on Milan's former Macello site, southeast of the city center. As part of a Redo Sgr-led consortium, Unitaria will deliver 200 of 1200 apartments in subsidized ownership and rental, integrated into Europe's largest social housing initiative. Members choose projects per initiative, retaining cooperative ties post-purchase. Earlier, CCL and Delta backed Cohabitat Lambrate's 50 units at 75 euros per square meter annually. Unitaria eyes further city site regenerations for accessible homes.