Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2018 | Page 36

Downtown Dynamite
Hämeenlinna is seeking to redefine and
reinvent its shoreline – and give a big
boost to the city centre
Retooling the city centre is very much on the agenda of many cities, but Hämeenlinna has an ace up its sleeve:
the largely undeveloped shorelines. The beautiful Vanajavesi Lake is located right in the middle of the city and
provides plenty of opportunities for ambitious waterfront construction.
T
imo Kenakkala, Mayor of Hämeen-
linna, says that the future success of
the city hinges on downtown develop-
ment: as the appeal of city centre increases,
the entire community benefits. The crown
jewel, so to speak, in all of this involves
redeveloping the shores.
“What is crucial in this process is that
we are actively engaging in a dialogue with
various stakeholders in order to develop the
shores,” Kenakkala says, adding that the
main idea is that all the partners commit
to the effort and make sure that the dream
becomes a reality.
”As a result, we expect to get a unique,
attractive package that boosts the appeal of
the Hämeenlinna city centre as well as the
surrounding city.”
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According to Kenakkala, Hämeenlinna
already has important “selling points” such
as inexpensive housing, solid municipal ser-
vices and great leisure-time activities that
people appreciate. ”Located along the Hel-
sinki-Tampere corridor – in fact, right in the
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