The northern part of Verkkosaari and Kalasatama will expand in the coming years.
The City Council has approved a preliminary agreement for the sale of a plot of land, which will allow the Kalasatama waterfront area to expand in the future. New housing is planned for the northern part of Verkkosaari for an estimated 500–750 residents, Yle reports.
Verkkosaari includes the Verkkosaari Canal north of Red, near Hermannin rantatie by the sea. Overall, plans for the northern part of the area include housing for 3,600 residents by the end of the 2020s.
The northern part of Verkkosaari is undergoing rapid development
The lot will be sold, in accordance with a preliminary agreement, to NSF V Fin NewCo 10 Oy, a project company established for this purpose. Kalasatama Project Manager Tuomas Hakala from the City of Helsinki describes the land sale in a Yle news report as major and significant for the development of the entire area. Construction in the northern part of Verkkosaari is expected to begin in 2026.
According to him, under the terms of the land sale, privately financed owner-occupied and rental apartments must be built on the site. No more than half of the residential building rights may be allocated to rental housing. In addition, commercial spaces are to be built on the lot.
The lot in question is located in the northern part of Verkkosaari, right by the sea. The southern part of the lot has been zoned for floating homes and a seaside swimming area, while plans call for a marina on the northern side of the lot.
The Kalasatama area continues to grow
Over the past year, projects completed in the northern part of Verkkosaari have included HOAS’s project featuring over 100 student apartments and Asunto Oy Helsingin Verkkosaarenranta, developed by the Avain Yhtiöt Group’s Asunto Oy Helsingin Verkkosaarenranta. Services in the area are being gradually expanded; for example, the Verkkosaari Daycare Center began operations in the spring of 2023. The first residents moved into the area in early 2024.
The Kalasatama area will be developed as a whole over the coming years. In August 2024, a new tram line was put into service a new tram line, which runs from Nihdi to Pasila and further improves the area’s transportation connections.
Construction in the area will continue into the late 2030s. More detailed information on the zoning and development of Kalasatama’s various sections can be found the City of Helsinki’s website.