According to the Swedish Urban Centers Association, the importance of centers as trading places has decreased. Experiences and events are coming to the farm.
The city of Lahti is planning an experiment in which the main street next to the market square would be temporarily turned into a pedestrian street. Many residents and some of the decision-makers have shot down the plan before an official presentation of the experiment has even been made.
Elävät kaupunkiskestat ry has already given its recommendation a year ago, according to which pedestrian centers should be strengthened. In Lahti, various options have been presented to improve the comfort of the city center, but one after another they have been knocked down. In many other cities, the centers have been rebuilt with a new faith to meet the modern needs of the city dwellers.
After the pedestrian street plans were published in Etelä-Suomen Sanomat last week, a furious discussion by the townspeople followed. On discussion boards and at coffee tables, some people from Lahti wonder why the townspeople are constantly being bullied with new plans that \”are going to destroy the center of Lahti once and for all\”. Others, on the other hand, would just as strongly like to get \”more vitality and comfort without cars\” in the city center.
– Unfortunately, the discount space in our city center can be touched. I don’t see that Aleksanterinkatu Läpiajo as one-way brings any added value anymore. The argument that it was better before doesn’t fly any more.
In McCarron’s opinion, it is not only about Aleksanterinkatu, but comfort should be increased in the entire center.
– You can also ask if the market square has to be like Stalin’s parade square forever. It looks like it was designed for military marches.
In Lahti, it is difficult to find political support for reforms
The discussion about the pedestrian street experiment that raged in Lahti for a week has resulted in the fact that almost none of the political decision-makers has started to support the idea, except for McCarron. Instead, many decision-makers have given the idea a complete rejection.
– I don’t recommend a walking street for Aleks and I wouldn’t even try it.
– If the pedestrian street on Aleksanterinkatu is too big a change, the pedestrian street can be tried on another street with a smaller size.
In a pedestrian mall, the pedestrian is king
Lahti is not alone in thinking about the attractiveness of the city center. All cities are thinking hard about how people would return to spending money and services on the city’s parade grounds.
Tampere has compacted its urban structure, and spectacular investments have been made in the city center, such as the trolley
Lemminkäinen says that he admires Kuopio, which has determinedly implemented its vision. Now Kuopio has Finland’s largest walking center. Toriparkki can accommodate almost 1,300 cars, which is half as many as in Lahti’s toripark.
The importance of the centers as places of trade has significantly weakened
According to the report published by the Living Urban Centers Association, the centers are getting back on their feet after difficult times. The decrease in international tourists, the strengthening of online shopping and the increase in remote work have taken people away from the centers, but the centers often also have services that are not available elsewhere.
According to a report published at the end of last year, cultural, sports and event offerings in the centers attract people, creating demand for service companies in the center. The survey commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment included eight cities: in addition to Lahti, Helsinki, Hyvinkää, Kuopio, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Tampere and Turku.
One emerging phenomenon is recycling shops for high-quality accessories. According to Pokko Lemminkäinen, the restaurants have held their ground through difficult times. Each city should also find its own image event.
– Pori Jazz, Helsinki festival weeks, Kotka sea days. Lahti should also ask itself what its image event is. I guess it’s not the Salpausselkä Games anymore, says Lemminkäinen.