Malmi is one of the suburban regeneration areas. Borough Liaison Kirsti Kallansalo says that the effects are already visible, even though the actual construction and renovation projects have not yet begun.
There is a lot going on at Malmi and at the same time. Kirsti Kallansalo, Borough Liaison of the northeastern major district, wishes that the residents of the area would understand the spotlight Malmi has entered. Malmi is one of Helsinki's suburban regeneration areas in addition to Malminkartano and Kannelmäki, Mellunkylä and Meri-Rastila.
In practice, suburban regeneration means that old residential areas will be renovated, and new apartments and services will be built in them. Development in the area also serves to prevent segregation.
Suburban regeneration measures will be implemented for several years. Kallansalo is not worried that Malmi would be forgotten after the project or that the effects of the projects would remain temporary. Much that is visible and tangible has already been done, with more to come. For example, Malmi will have a brand-new health and wellness centre and a school campus. The Ala-Malmi park and Ylä-Malmi market square will be renovated.
Kallansalo says that the people of Malmi have naturally been informed about the suburban regeneration at residents' meetings and other events. Perhaps its concrete significance will gradually become clearer as the measures become more widely apparent in the area.
In addition to large construction projects, the suburban regeneration includes small experiments. So far, Malmi has attracted older people to move more systematically than usual, for example. Greenery has been added to the Ylä-Malmi market square through the so-called placemaking method, where urban spaces are developed together with residents and other users. The children attending Malmi’s Puimuri kindergarten planted edible herbs and flowers for pollinators at the end of the Malminraitti street. New smart lighting has been installed in Ala-Malmi park.
Experiments can be used to test what kind of things work well and which of them should be included in future basic improvements.
-The comfort of the market squares is really important for the residents and there is a lot of talk at joint events,” says Kallansalo.
She herself also expects that the market squares will be put in order at the end. The idea is that the Ylä-Malmi market square will become a self-sufficient place for residents. They can implement their own ideas, whether it's a cleaning day flea market or a day dance.
In a Borough Liaison’s work, the suburban regeneration means, among other things, that Kallansalo visits the area more often than usual and that Malmi's affairs take up a larger share of her working time than before. The suburban regeneration is also visible in the fact that cooperation with the city's various industries has intensified at Malmi.
The aim of the suburban regeneration is to increase and develop the participation of the areas’ residents, which is also an important part of the Borough Liaison’s work in other ways. Kallansalo says that she fervently reminds residents of the possibilities of participating. The results will be visible gradually as more and more residents join the common events and activities. In addition, residents get the feeling that people are genuinely interested in hearing out their ideas.
However, getting Malmi residents to talk has not been difficult previously either. According to Kallansalo, the residents of the area have a strong identity. Malmi is the centre of northeastern Helsinki. It is a transport hub as well as an area that brings together services to a compact area in a very comprehensive way – as if it were a city within a city.
-People are proud of Malmi, and their own hoods are well known.
Participation is supported by free meeting places, such as market squares and Malmitalo. In the suburban regeneration, they will all be repaired even better.
The renovation of Malmitalo will begin in the early 2030s. Malmitalo is dear and important to the residents of the area. The library is in very active use, and residents are welcome to participate in the planning of the house's programme. The repertoire includes films, children's events and jazz.
Active residents make the Borough Liaison’s work easier, but there is a strong desire to do things together and make Malmi an even better place to live in and enjoy.
-The Malmi network is very active. It brings together residents, organisations, businesses, the church and the city. For example, many people hear about projects in the area for the first time in the network meetings. Meeting memos are very widespread.
Another type of model that improves participation is the Malmi Coffee event. These coffee meetings deal with issues raised by residents and organisations. The city representatives will listen to and discuss the issues that may arise. Their task is to convey the voices of the Malmi people.
According to Kallansalo, the team spirit supports the further development of the urban reform, but the joint events have also provided ideas that can be implemented right away. At the end of May, there was a community cleaning campaign with flea markets. The giant Christmas tree desired by the residents will be delivered to their own market square by Christmas.
-Construction and renovation take time. There is also a need for small projects that can be done quickly. They help people see that their own actions and ideas matter.
Kallansalo thinks that realism must be kept in mind when planning and implementing reforms and ideas. Work and implementations always have their price tag. It is therefore important that residents are also provided with financial information. The OmaStadi service for participatory budgeting has been very helpful here.
Text: Kirsi Riipinen
