Residents want smooth connections and well-functioning local services in Hatsinanpuisto in Leppävaara – residents’ event was full of constructive discussion about the detailed plan for Inkerinsilta
A Meet the City event was held on 7 August 2023 concerning the Inkerinsilta plan being prepared for Hatsinanpuisto in Leppävaara. The event was intended for residents interested in the development of the area. Meet the City is organised by the City of Espoo and it is a new way for city residents and city employees to meet and hear each other. The meeting does not focus on presentations given by experts; instead, the idea is to meet others and have a conversation. At the event held at the Sello Library, the discussion was good and constructive.
What aspects of the plan alteration for Inkerinsilta interested the residents the most?
The residents who came to the event were interested in the new plans for the area and the schedule and process of the plan. One of the themes that sparked lively discussion was how to move around in the area and how accessible the area will be. The residents wanted the area to have comfortable and functional access routes and parking space for those who use cars.
The area’s connections to services were seen as challenging. There could be more local services and reaching them could be easier. During the evening, the participants discussed whether there could be more things such as cafés and kiosks in the area.
In addition to connections and local services, residents were also interested in the volume of construction planned in the area. The volume of construction being planned is equal to the volume in the currently valid plan.
How is the planning area connected to the general development of the Leppävaara region?
The residents wondered how the buildings planned for the area will fit the other buildings in the Leppävaara region. The currently on-going Leppävaara idea competition concerning the northern side of central Leppävaara was brought up. The participants of the event considered it important that the projects would not be planned completely separately; instead, the appearance of the buildings should be somewhat similar, for example.
Residents clearly want to make the Leppävaara area more harmonious. The layering of the building stock was seen as a positive, as long as effort is made to ensure that the buildings stay in good condition and do not fall into disrepair.
Another wish concerning the alteration that arose during the event was that the construction of family apartments be increased in the Vermonniitty area. Other alterations that the participants hoped for included maintaining transport connections to Tapiola even after the Jokeri Light Rail opens to traffic.
What was the atmosphere at the event like?
The atmosphere at the event was positive and full of curiosity. The discussion between residents and city planners was lively and insightful on both sides. At the event, opinions and thoughts important for the preparation of the plan were collected.
Would you like to give other feedback to the city?
During the event, people expressed their regret for how it is sometimes difficult to predict the development of areas. For example, when you are waiting for new promised local services, a long waiting time can sometimes feel frustrating.
During the event, people were inspired to discuss the nomenclature of the area. The prevalence of the name Inkeri in the local place names was seen as a positive and people expressed that they wanted it to continue.
Review the Inkerinsilta materials and the detailed plan materials
The participation and assessment plan and the preparatory material will be publicly available until 14 August 2023 on the plan’s webpage. Until then, the parties concerned can give their feedback on the preparatory material. Instructions can be found on the plan project website. The website also contains the materials for the preparation phase.
Announcements on the progress of the planning work will be provided through the plan project website and the City of Espoo town plan announcements. A convenient way to stay up to date on the planning isto subscribe to our regularly published Have Your Say Now newsletter.