The renewal of Vaasa city centre awarded

The Finnish city centre interest organization Elävä Kaupunkikeskusta has awarded the Vaasa promenade centre as the best city centre renewal in Finland in 2006. The big parking hall under the market place has made the Vaasa city centre very attractive, also in wintertime. The renewal of the city centre has strengthened the role of the inner city as a significant centre in the Vaasa economic region.

The parking hall under the market place makes it possible for the shops' customers to come by car to the inner city. The nice promenade centre with a street heating system, trees and statues harmonize with the market place environment. The street environment is very well designed in detail with e.g. waste-baskets and bicycle stands.

The development of the centre area in Vaasa was started already in the early 1990's, as there were experiments with promenade areas in the centre, and the plan of the parking hall under the market place was accepted.

Since 1997 the Vaasa business center association has played an active role in the development of the city centre in Vaasa.

The association is marketing the city centre in many ways, e.g. with different kinds of happenings. The real estate and shop owners have also acted in order to develop the city centre in Vaasa.