Plans for residential homes for long-term homeless disrupted
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Plans to provide supportive residental accommodation for long-term homeless persons in Helsinki’s Mäkelänkatu were disrupted when the Finnish market research company Taloustutkimus, owned by MP Eero Lehti (Nat. Coalition), bought a property in which the planned rental apartments were supposed to be located.
Initially the Finnish Blue Ribbon, a Christian-based welfare organisation, had made plans to turn the property into 50 units of supportive residential accommodation. The project was approved by the Helsinki City Board in March.
Taloustutkimus is located in the neighbouring building on Lemuntie 9. The real estate company of Lemuntie 9 has opposed the planned supported homes, arguing that the personnel of Taloustutkimus go to the tram and bus stops through the yard of Mäkelänkatu 56.
The real estate company believes that the units of supportive residential accommodation could risk the availability and well-being of employees.
Jorma Soini, the Managing Director of the Finnish Blue Ribbon, is very angry about the new situation, saying that people can naturally buy anything they like provided that they can afford it.
”But as far as local Members of Parliament are concerned, I call for unanimity regarding the abolishment of homelessness in the province. It is a major task for all of us”, Soini continues.
The project was mentioned in the letter of intent signed by the City of Helsinki and the state, pertaining to the abolishment of long-term homelessness. Half of the costs for the project would have been covered by the state.
At present, the letter of intent is being handled by the City’s Social Services Committee.
The building on Mäkelänkatu 56 was owned by Polarvi Oy, a housing company in Oulu, which is the property of investor Tapio Vikeväinen.
Vikeväinen says that he had initially agreed with the Finnish Blue Ribbon on the building of residential homes, and the plans were already far advanced.
However, he explained he believed that the project was about to be watered down, and at the same time, he had not managed to find tenants to rent the empty premises. Hence he accepted the offer made by Taloustutkimus.
According to Vikeväinen, there is an excess supply of office premises in the city, and only around 40 per cent of the building had been leased.
While agreeing that the property would have offered good premises for supported homes, Vikeväinen said that he had invested a lot of money in the planning.
Managing Director Juha Aalto from Taloustutkimus admitted that the plans for residential homes will not be carried out, as the company will use the property for offices.
The owner of Taloustutkimus Oy Eero Lehti denies that the purpose of the deal was to prevent the building of supported apartments, saying that the company needs premises for its subsidiaries.
Initially the Finnish Blue Ribbon, a Christian-based welfare organisation, had made plans to turn the property into 50 units of supportive residential accommodation. The project was approved by the Helsinki City Board in March.
Taloustutkimus is located in the neighbouring building on Lemuntie 9. The real estate company of Lemuntie 9 has opposed the planned supported homes, arguing that the personnel of Taloustutkimus go to the tram and bus stops through the yard of Mäkelänkatu 56.
The real estate company believes that the units of supportive residential accommodation could risk the availability and well-being of employees.
Jorma Soini, the Managing Director of the Finnish Blue Ribbon, is very angry about the new situation, saying that people can naturally buy anything they like provided that they can afford it.
”But as far as local Members of Parliament are concerned, I call for unanimity regarding the abolishment of homelessness in the province. It is a major task for all of us”, Soini continues.
The project was mentioned in the letter of intent signed by the City of Helsinki and the state, pertaining to the abolishment of long-term homelessness. Half of the costs for the project would have been covered by the state.
At present, the letter of intent is being handled by the City’s Social Services Committee.
The building on Mäkelänkatu 56 was owned by Polarvi Oy, a housing company in Oulu, which is the property of investor Tapio Vikeväinen.
Vikeväinen says that he had initially agreed with the Finnish Blue Ribbon on the building of residential homes, and the plans were already far advanced.
However, he explained he believed that the project was about to be watered down, and at the same time, he had not managed to find tenants to rent the empty premises. Hence he accepted the offer made by Taloustutkimus.
According to Vikeväinen, there is an excess supply of office premises in the city, and only around 40 per cent of the building had been leased.
While agreeing that the property would have offered good premises for supported homes, Vikeväinen said that he had invested a lot of money in the planning.
Managing Director Juha Aalto from Taloustutkimus admitted that the plans for residential homes will not be carried out, as the company will use the property for offices.
The owner of Taloustutkimus Oy Eero Lehti denies that the purpose of the deal was to prevent the building of supported apartments, saying that the company needs premises for its subsidiaries.
Helsingin Sanomat