The municipal leaders elected in the April elections have a lot of work ahead of them. They must ensure that enough new homes are built in the municipalities. They must also take care of transport connections, renovations and timely dialogue with builders.
Candidates across party lines who participated in the Construction Industry RT election panel shared their views on the great importance of the built environment to the vitality and development of a city. The panel was held in Helsinki on Tuesday, March 11.
The panel discussion was attended by Espoo residents Tiina Elo (green), Helsinki residents Eveliina Heinäluoma (sd.), Mai Kivelä (iron.), Jussi Lindgren (ps.), Terhi Peltokorpi (middle) and Marcus Rantala (r.) and from Vantaa Sakari Rokkanen (collect.).
The panelists agreed that housing construction needs to be accelerated, as a shortage of affordable housing is looming. According to VTT, more than 35 new homes are needed annually, compared to around 000 completed last year – the fewest since the recession of the 20s.
Heinäluoma noted that Helsinki grew by almost 11 new residents last year, but only around 000 apartments were built. Rokkanen mentioned that around 4 new residents moved to Vantaa last year, while housing production has almost frozen.
Kivelä pointed out that Helsinki has not achieved its housing production target. He reminded of the multiplier effects of the housing shortage, one of which is related to the availability of labor. The city of Helsinki alone has 40 employees, many of whom have a need for affordable housing.
Planning in full swing – “some of the regulation is certainly unnecessary”
Many of the panelists hoped for a smoother planning process. The decision-makers' task is to ensure that the planning reserve is available to enable construction. In Helsinki, there could even be a threat of the planning reserve dwindling, Heinäluoma said.
Vantaa has plans ready, but Rokkanen says that the progress of projects needs to be better monitored in the future. He called genuine dialogue with partners a panacea that can accelerate urban development.
“We need to sit down with the builder and discuss how the city can help in this economic climate.”
The city defines its most important goals, but is prepared to be flexible in other areas, Rokkanen reflected. Flexibility could include, for example, lowering land use fees or easing parking space requirements.
Heinäluoma agreed with Rokkanen. The City of Helsinki should consider with developers and private investors already in the planning phase how to make demanding hybrid projects financially viable so that they can be implemented. As an example, Heinäluoma mentioned the development of station areas in Helsinki's suburbs.
Elo emphasized the importance of zoning as a tool by which the city guides construction. However, some of the regulation is certainly unnecessary, he reflected. He named a major challenge as how to simultaneously maintain proximity to nature, increase dense construction near good public transport connections, and achieve climate and nature goals. This requires cooperation between municipal decision-makers, officials, and construction companies.
Would a stimulus package targeted at renovation work?
The panelists running for municipal councilors also supported renovations, in addition to housing construction. By renovating, municipalities take care of their important assets.
Lindgren came up with the idea that Helsinki could even afford a stimulus package aimed at renovations. In addition to municipal properties, he highlighted broader infrastructure such as water supply networks and speculated that technical networks contained a repair bomb. Lindgren described the care of real estate as a patriotic act.
Renovation construction ensures high-quality indoor air in public buildings, such as daycare centers. According to research, good indoor air is an attractive factor in municipalities.
Elo highlighted Espoo's successful "Schools in Good Condition" program, which has prevented indoor air problems in schools and the very expensive "avoidance mode" situation. Elo added that the repair is also an environmental act.
Heinäluoma and Rantala recalled the City of Helsinki's investment cap as a bad solution. Restricting new and renovation construction led to a bad outcome. Rantala stated that the renovation debt that arose during the investment cap is now being paid.
Rail construction finances itself
Maintaining and increasing the attractiveness of municipalities requires, in addition to housing and renovation construction, functional public transport connections.
Elo spoke about the close connection between housing construction and transport infrastructure projects and emphasized that public transport also plays a key role in building a sustainable city. The Jokeri light rail system has significantly improved the accessibility of Otaniemi in Espoo, among other places.
“More tracks mean more good cities,” he summarized.
Kivelä emphasized that the construction of rail infrastructure and the electrification of traffic are important both for climate reasons and from the perspective of urban amenity.
Rokkanen highlighted the lessons learned from the Vantaa tram project, which could also be utilized in other municipalities. In Vantaa, a rail connection and land use were planned simultaneously. Taking other construction into account already in the route planning ensured that the city would cover its share of the construction of the Vantaa tram with the income from land sales and land use compensation.
The Viikki–Malmi light rail line, which is currently being considered by Helsinki decision-makers, also received attention from the panelists. According to Heinäluoma, it is an important individual project, as a new district will be built in Malmi for 25 new residents.
Peltokorpi stated that cooperation between municipalities will be required in rail projects in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area in the coming years.
The panelists, who are running for council seats, reflected on the fact that a sustainable and vibrant city is created through building and repairing. The discussion expressed an understanding that cities cannot cope with their task alone, but must engage in genuine and forward-looking dialogue with their construction partners.
Text: Tiina Örn
Photos: Merja Vuoripuro