The City of Helsinki has chosen Malmi, Malminkartano-Kannelmäki, Meri-Rastila and Mellunkylä as its urban regeneration areas. The aim of urban regeneration is to prevent the segregation of residential areas.
Eeva Mynttinen, the special planning officer coordinating the regeneration, explains why it is important to invest in the neighbourhoods.
"We see potential in these areas. They have a strong local identity, diverse services, good transport connections, and local nature where people like to spend their time. We also want to develop these areas because their residents are more disadvantaged and feel less secure than in other parts of Helsinki. The public premises also require renovation. Our aim is for all neighbourhoods in Helsinki to provide opportunities for a good life," Mynttinen says.
We will build more in the neighbourhoods, improve public premises, and invest in new service premises, sports parks and recreation areas. These areas will have various events and the comfort of their urban spaces will be improved already this summer.
We will build an outdoor pool next to Malmi Swimming Hall. The swimming hall will also expand with two fitness swimlanes, a multi-purpose pool and a cold pool, and three gyms.
The area will also have a new hospital and a health and wellbeing centre.
The renovation of Filpus Playground will continue, and the pre-construction of the Pikitehtaankorttelit blocks will begin.
Malminkartano will have a new school, daycare centre and library. We will also develop the surrounding park area.
We will build a new comprehensive school in Kannelmäki.
We will continue the Malminkartano community cultivation project that started in summer 2023.
We will renovate Kontula Metro Station. The renovation project on the shopping centre is underway, and the Kontula House is being planned. The building will have a library, youth services and cultural services.
The Laakavuori Community Centre is planned to include a daycare centre, a school, youth services, an adult education centre and sports services.
We are planning for Mellunmäki Metro Station to become a lively urban centre and the terminal station for the Vantaa light rail line.
We will bring a green and active pop-up space to Mellunmäki square for skateboarding, among other activities.
The area around Meri-Rastila Market Square will become a new local hub which will include a community centre, in addition to diverse housing and commercial services. The architecture competition for the community centre is underway.
We will repair the Meri-Rastila road and start renovating Haruspuisto Park.
We will renew the residential buildings by demolishing old buildings and constructing new ones.
We will make the Meri-Rastila Market Square and its surroundings more lively in the summer with spatial art and furniture.
This article was published in the Helsinki-lehti magazine on 5 June. The magazine will be delivered to all Helsinki homes. The digital edition is available online.
