Editorial|Editorial
In Helsinki, the development of the night district is being planned. It could be located, for example, in the Vallila industrial area.
Summery Helsinki is not quiet. Events, terraces and night parties have caused not only joy but also sorrow for some townspeople this year. Especially Vallilan Machine shop noise in the area has sparked discussion during the summer. The roof terraces, which have become common in Finland as well, are capable of causing far-reaching noise.
When talking about noise, a distinction must be made between disturbing and harmful noise. Harmful noise levels are defined by health authorities, and everyone has the right to a healthy living environment. The limit of disturbing noise, on the other hand, is more difficult to determine, and that limit is often the issue when the noise disturbs, for example, the neighbors of a restaurant. You don’t have to put up with noise all the time, even if it isn’t harmful to your health.
However, the inner city of Helsinki is a place where voices also organically belong. There is noise from bars, terraces and concerts, which occasionally disturbs those living in the inner city. The city cannot be developed primarily under the conditions of preventing such noise nuisance, especially if the restaurant and event industry, which has been disciplined by the corona virus, is really to be revived. Fortunately, there are also still very quiet residential areas in the inner city of Helsinki.
In the city center, nightlife has sometimes already had to give way to other livelihoods. For example, Helsinki’s oldest gay club DTM, which has become significant over the years, had to stop its business on Mannerheimintie because of the noise. The core of Helsinki has become quieter, and it is increasingly difficult to attract shops to the area due to, among other things, the rise in popularity of online shopping. If you want to keep the city center lively, you shouldn’t chase restaurants away.
On the other hand nightlife may be more regionally concentrated in the future. Helsinki has stated that the city wants to contribute to the creation of the so-called night district. However, the city is not actually establishing a special new district, it is about creating operational opportunities for private companies. In the same area, for example, several restaurants and, for example, late-open shops or cultural facilities could operate. The restrictions could be looser in the night part of the city.
The Vallila industrial area has appeared in discussions as a possible place for a night district. The area is likely to be developed under the terms of business and cultural activities, although apartments can also be built. There are already residential buildings near the area, which means that the limits of noise tolerance should be pushed there as well. In any case, it would not make sense to place such an area anywhere other than near very good transport connections.
From the night district we dream of an attraction factor for Helsinki: after all, the club culture is even a tourist asset in many European capitals. However, Helsinki is not a particularly attractive tourist destination for young backpackers, because in addition to its inconvenient location, there are hardly any affordable hotels and hostels in the city. When construction costs have risen even further, building them is not very attractive to investors. Before the corona pandemic, tourism in Helsinki grew, but the city’s brand has been based more on high-quality hotels and organizing conferences.
Of course, young people from other parts of Finland will always flock to Helsinki. Tens of thousands of new students start their studies in the capital region every year. Such a crowd already has purchasing power. The night city could be a closer focus for student life than before.
The editorials are HS’s positions on a current topic. The articles are prepared by HS’s editorial department, and they reflect the journal principle line.
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