Helsinki puts historic port buildings up for sale in Jätkäsaari

The city of Helsinki is selling two protected historic port buildings in the urban Jätkäsaari district, including a rare telephone kiosk and a massive waterside warehouse with cranes, reports Finnish broadcaster Yle.

The buildings, designed by architect Lars Sonck, are among the last remaining original structures in the Western Harbour area, now surrounded by dense residential development and port operations. The city is seeking buyers who will preserve their cultural value while adapting them for modern use.

Last remaining warehouse back on the market
One of the properties for sale is the L3 warehouse, the last empty storage building of its kind in the area. Located near the Verkkokauppa retail site, the over 10,000-square-metre structure is protected, meaning any modifications require approval from the Finnish Heritage Agency.

The city relisted the warehouse after investment firm Cobbleyard, the winner of a concept competition, withdrew from the purchase. Cobbleyard had planned to develop the space into gyms, cafés, exhibition areas, and offices but faced challenges securing a main tenant due to uncertainties caused by ongoing port tunnel construction.

The warehouse and its cranes were previously offered for €1, with the land priced at €4.2 million. Potential buyers can now submit bids to lease the plot, with an option to purchase later.

Finland’s only protected telephone kiosk included in auction
The second property is the 1930-built Sonckin talo (Sonck House), a former port service building being auctioned along with its iconic green telephone kiosk—Finland’s only protected kiosk of its kind. The building, long known locally as Würthin talo after a tool shop that operated there for decades, must remain partially open to the public under conservation rules.

While the ground floor must stay accessible, the upper floor can be converted for private use—though not for residential purposes. The city plans to renovate the surrounding asphalt area and plant trees.

The auction has already drawn strong interest, with bids reaching €24,000. However, the city has set an undisclosed minimum price to ensure the protected property is not sold below its value. “Offers started coming in even before the auction was announced,” said Maarit Kontio, a sales negotiator for the city.

Local calls for public services in historic spaces
As the city sells off its last port buildings, some Jätkäsaari residents have urged that the spaces be repurposed for community needs. The L3 warehouse, in particular, has been proposed as a site for a larger library and youth facilities—demands repeatedly raised in participatory budgeting. The current small library in the former Huutokonttori port building has outgrown its space, while locals have suggested adding a grocery store to the area.