Kesko Corporation has announced that it will build a new shopping center in the area of the current K-citymarket in Itakeskus, eastern Helsinki. The centre, to be built phase by phase, will have a special focus on food, enjoyable leisure time and encounters. The plan of the area also enables housing construction.

The first phase of the shopping centre will be completed at the end of 2017. The floor area will be 26,000 square metres and the capital expenditure will be about 100 million. The property to be built first will house a new K-citymarket and several restaurants, cafes and areas for meeting other people as well as services for spending time together and enjoying leisure.

The aim is that as soon as the first phase has been completed the construction will continue with the demolition of the current K-citymarket property, followed by the construction of the second phase of the centre. The construction of the whole shopping centre will take several years and the capital expenditure will be hundreds of millions of euros. When planning the new shopping centre, special emphasis is placed on its good accessibility and pleasant outdoor areas.

The City of Helsinki will build a new connecting road to the area from the Itavayla highway from the Marjaniementie roundabout. In addition to car, the new centre will have easy access by bus, metro, bike or on foot. Kesko has a strong local plan for the area under development, which enables the construction of 8,400 square metres of floor area for housing in addition to commercial services.

The construction project of the shopping centre will start in late winter, when the old office building located between the Lyypekinaukio square and the Itavayla highway will be pulled down to be replaced by a temporary car park. The commercial premises of the first phase of the centre will mainly be built on the car park of the current store and will also house the new K-citymarket. The food store of the current K-citymarket and the Alko shop located in the property will serve customers as usual during the construction of the new property.