Having been suspended for more than a year, street construction will resume this spring in the Kruunuvuorenranta area of Laajasalo. The new streets will be built in the former harbour area and the northern section of the so-called Stansvikinkallio area.
The City of Helsinki suspended the work in November 2023 as a protected streamlet, i.e. a small natural waterway, was discovered at the edge of the worksite area. This required the construction project to be re-planned.
Around the same time, two local associations applied for a suspension of the street work on nature value grounds. The Regional State Administrative Agency ordered the City to restore the streamlet damaged in the preparations for the street work, and the ELY centre rejected the associations’ other demands.
An appeal against the ELY Centre’s decision was submitted to the Administrative Court, which decided in favour of the City. The Supreme Administrative Court of Finland recently decided not to grant the applicants leave to appeal. The City will also ensure the preservation of the streamlet, allowing the construction work to resume.
Five new streets to be built in the new residential area
The construction project involves building five new streets and municipal infrastructure in Kruunuvuorenranta. The project will begin in the early spring with clearing and tree felling work, as some of the streets extend to the edge of the forested area.
The project involves building Varisluodonkatu, Kaivoskallionpolku, Stansvikinkallionpolku, Stansvikinkallionkuja and a section of Stansvikinkallionkatu as new streets. In addition to this new construction, the construction of Pitkäluodonkatu, which began last year, will continue.
The aim is for the streets to be completed in stages during this and next year. Street surfaces will be finished later.
The streamlet will be restored and the plans for the beach will be modified
The protected streamlet located near the worksite will be restored in the spring. Because the builders were unaware of the streamlet, they ended up running over it with a forestry machine in the autumn of 2023.
The street plans for the area have also included Stansvikin rantakatu, the planned route of which goes near the streamlet. In order to preserve the streamlet, the City will not build the street in accordance with the original plan.
A lighter plan is being prepared for Stansvikin rantakatu to enable the preservation of the streamlet. The plan for the nearby beach is also being modified. The updated plans for Stansvikin rantakatu and the beach will be presented to the Urban Environment Committee this autumn. Their construction has not been scheduled yet.
The Committee will also be presented with a draft plan concerning the nearby Stansvikinkallio detailed plan area in the autumn. The current plan is being reviewed with regard to the section of it that features no plots reserved for construction.
Services to be provided along the streets from 2027 onwards
Currently, Kruunuvuorenranta has roughly 6,400 residents. Upon its completion in the 2030s, the area is expected to have roughly 13,500 residents. The new streets and municipal infrastructure will facilitate the construction of housing and services.
The school and daycare centre of the area, as well as youth, playground and sports facilities, will be located in a building complex that has been named the Kruunuvuorenranta multi-purpose building Helmi. Its construction has been delayed due to the suspension of street work. The City has modified the implementation plan for the property, enabling construction to begin this spring.
The school, the daycare centre and the youth and playground facilities will be completed in the summer of 2027. If the street construction proceeds as planned, the sports facilities will also be completed the same year.
The block next to the multi-purpose building is planned to feature a library, retail stores and other commercial services. Their schedule will depend on when the private builder is ready to begin construction.
