The commerciality of the event arena planned for Helsinki’s Suvilahti and the decision-making process of the project annoy many, especially skateboarders.
The large entertainment center planned for Suvilahti in Helsinki worries and angers the current users of the jagged area.
In Suvilahti, there is a popular skate park built as a taluk job.
Herva is the chairman of the association of supporters and friends of Suvilahti skate park and the surrounding area.
In his opinion, decision-making power is concentrated in Helsinki in such a way that the citizens do not get to discuss what they want from the city and what they are entitled to receive.
– We are suddenly inventing a commercial activity in an area where there is a completely different kind of activity. Yes, everything goes according to the law and correctly on paper, but is it correct? Herva criticized.
Herva hopes that the skatepark could stay in Suvilahti.
Before May Day, the Helsinki City Council approved a plan change that enables the construction of a large entertainment center as well as a hotel and office space in Suvilahti.
– Is it always necessary to go commercial head first? Is there any possibility to listen to more townspeople before decisions are made? Jaatinen ponders.
In his opinion, the area is currently surprisingly pleasant, especially in summer. The music event Flow Festival will leave Suvilahti after next summer.
The disappearance of free urban space has been noticed on social media, and skateboarders have received a lot of support, for example on the photo service Instagram.
A temporary skate ramp is coming for skaters, says the city
The total building rights of the planned area are huge, more than 47,000 floor square meters, but at the same time, according to the city, the aim is to create a pleasant walking city and a downtown-like, human-scale environment in the area.
Regarding the skate park, the city announced yesterday, Thursday, that Suvilahti’s DIY park will have to be demolished to make way for construction. A new, permanent skate park can be built in the area vacated by the Hanasaari power plant in the late 2020s.
Before the construction of that skate park, a temporary skate ramp will be built in the former parking area of \u200b\u200bthe Heleni power plant in Hanasaari. Its useful life is estimated to be five years, the city of Helsinki states in its announcement.
– From what I’ve seen on social media, the arena has perhaps evoked a bit of negative feelings. What kind of culture would come here, would it be mainstream production?
– I haven’t looked carefully at the plans for what the entertainment center would look like, but it can’t be worse than the current one, he points to the parking lot.
*You can discuss the topic until 23:00 on Saturday, May 6.*