Urban Environment Committee will discuss organising the concept competition and the sale of the buildings in its meeting on 18 March.
New activities alongside farm activities
The competition is aimed at entrepreneurs in agriculture and tourism or groups of entrepreneurs with experience in the management of livestock farms and similar business activities.
The competition will be held to find a high-quality and feasible proposal where the farm animals and the buildings in the area are sold to a buyer who will renovate the buildings. The proposal may be based, for example, on farm tourism, accommodation and restaurant activities or recreation. The objective is to make the services in the area more diverse.
Environmental education or services based on the cultural history of the area are also possible, but farm operations must be included in the new concept.
The plan is based on the premise that the operation of the Haltiala Farm will continue unchanged until a new business owner takes over. The animals of Haltiala Farm will be transferred over to the winner of the concept competition as part of the sale.
Name
Anu Hämäläinen
Haltiala Farm: Frequently asked questions
A) Why is the City organising a concept competition?
Haltiala Farm and the surrounding area have great potential to develop into an area that offers better services to the residents of Helsinki. An entrepreneur or other operator may be able to develop new kinds of activities and services in the area.
With the concept competition, the City is looking for the best idea and concept for the development of the area. The price of the buildings is not subject to competition. The winner of the competition will buy all the farm buildings.
B) Will livestock farming continue in Haltiala?
Yes, the farm will continue its operations even if the operator changes.
C) What kind of new activities and services could be offered in Haltiala?
Farm tourism, accommodation, more extensive restaurant services, environmental education or recreation activities, for example. The saunas in the area could be opened to the public. New buildings can be built to replace buildings that have burned down.
D) Why can the City not continue to run the farm?
According to the City of Helsinki's real estate strategy, the City will be selling the buildings in the Haltiala Farm that are unnecessary to the City. At present, the buildings in the area make losses when the rental income and the costs incurred by the City are taken into account.
A) What animals live at Haltiala Farm?
The farm houses cows, sheep, goats and chickens. At the moment, the farm has about 60 animals. In the concept competition, the new operator is required to have experience in animal husbandry or the running of a similar farm.
B) What will happen to the animals at Haltiala Farm?
The animals of Haltiala Farm will be transferred over to the winner of the concept competition as part of the transaction.
C) Why were the Highland cattle put down?
The fours Highland cows were old and in poor health. Veterinarians had been monitoring their condition for some time and decided to put them down to prevent suffering. Putting down the animals is not connected to the Haltiala Farm concept competition.
D) What will happen to the outdoor routes and ski tracks in the area?
Recreational routes and ski tracks around the Haltiala Farm will remain in use by residents.
E) Can residents continue to pick flowers and peas in the fields?
Residents can continue to pick sunflowers and peas in fields owned by the City.
F) Can residents continue to move about freely in the area?
Yes. There may be some restrictions on movement in and around yards in existing residential areas.