Harry Harkimo plans to build up-market neighbourhood in Sipoo, east of new Helsinki border

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Entrepreneur Harry Harkimo is planning to build a luxury seafront housing development in Sipoo, just east of the coming municipal border with Helsinki.
      The first move will be to change the present name of the area, Storören to Sipoonranta ("Sipoo Shore").
      At a press conference at the Helsinki Arena on Wednesday, Harkimo noted that the present Swedish-language name might pose a problem for Finnish-speakers.
     
The idea for a new housing development came to Harkimo while driving in the area.
      "It occurred to me that there is no place between Porvoo and Helsinki where it would be possible to stop in a boat and get services. I called my sister and she said that Storören would be a good place", Harkimo said.
     
The EUR 100 million project comprises about 150-200 dwellings in detached and semi-detached houses and small apartment houses on the seashore.
      Harkimo estimates that living space in Sipoonranta will cost about EUR 4,000 per square metre.
      All of the houses and apartments are to have a sea view.
      In addition to homes, Sipoonranta will have a marina and services for boaters. The area already has a yacht club and a canoe club. "This is the first phase in building a new Sipoo. It is a project that is in line with Sipoo's strategy of growth", said Sipoo's municipal mayor Markku Luoma.
      He also noted that the project would bring Sipoo tax revenues.
     
Luoma said that he is tired of answering questions linked with the upcoming annexation of large areas of the west of Sipoo by Helsinki. However, it seems that Sipoonranta, which is to be built very close to the new municipal border, is intended to serve as something of a response to those who have doubted Sipoo's ability to zone its own territory.
      "There's no point in Helsinki imagining that it can take even more from the other side. We have to show that Sipoo is also capable", said Harkimo, a Sipoo resident himself.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki gets go-ahead to annex southwest Sipoo (15.1.2008)
  PM Vanhanen leans on Chancellor of Justice guideline in Sipoo annexation question (14.6.2007)
  Centre Party fears Sipoo border shift proposal sets bad example (13.6.2007)

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