Tampere Tops EKK Downtown Vitality Ranking

Tamperelainen reports that Tampere’s stronger downtown has made the city more attractive to shoppers and businesses, helping it top a spring vitality ranking. Helsinki took silver and Espoo bronze. The ranking measures the total number of shops, restaurants and services in a centre, subtracts vacant retail space and relates the result to the city’s population.

The Elävät kaupunkikeskustat (EKK, “Lively City Centres”) study found that vitality has recovered in many large cities over the past three years, with Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Vaasa and several smaller centres posting gains. Weekend trade is strong: 58.2 percent of outlets in Helsinki serve customers on Saturdays, and Tampere follows at 55.3 percent. Porvoo has the fewest vacant retail units, at 6.2 percent. Commercial density is highest in Helsinki (7.41), followed by Tampere (5.17), Turku (4.81) and Kuopio (4.02). Dense, often car-free downtown residents have become key consumers; Helsinki’s downtown population density approaches 10,000 residents per square kilometre, while Tampere and Turku are both above 8,000. EKK has compiled these vitality calculations since 2011, and about half of Finland’s 108 cities have taken part over the past 15 years.