The private real estate of historical centers play a crucial role in development’s dynamics, because their efficient utilization contributes to the competitiveness and prosperity of the territory that they belong to. These real estate in state of decay and quite often under contested ownership, represent an impediment to the implementation of dedicated development plans. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the discussion on the historic centers and to suggest tools and preliminary procedures in support of the local Councils in facing up the problem of the unused private real estate, within a structured enhancement process. Will be used two approaches: one related to legal aspects of the problem, where have been clarified the available legislative instruments , the other which highlights the importance of the assessment process and its contribution in defining instruments used to set up development plans, with specific attention on the feasibility and sustainability of the investments involved in the recovery of these historic areas, eventually with the contribution of private funds, nevertheless the need to evaluate the benefit the private investors will receive in return from their investments.