Kokkola to appeal ruling over protected service station repairs

Kokkola plans to seek leave to appeal to Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court after a lower court overturned a €20,000 fine imposed over repairs to a protected functionalist-style service station, Yle reports.

The Vaasa Administrative Court ruled that the repair requirements set by the city’s Building and Environment Committee did not clearly specify the work required or its scope. It also found that some of the need for repairs had not been established. However, it said a condition survey supported repairing the building’s facade plaster and painted surfaces.

The committee will consider the city’s appeal application on Wednesday. Its proposal is to seek the reversal of the ruling, arguing that the repair obligations were sufficiently clear and specific.

The city says it is not responsible for assessing repair work in detail, as the owners are responsible for the building’s condition, repairs and repair planning. The owners have been told to repair the roof, facade and metal flashings to prevent water from entering, and to renew the plaster and paintwork.

Kokkola says the fine was justified to ensure the protected building is maintained and its architectural heritage values are not lost. The administrative court’s decision was not unanimous: the judge who presented the case proposed rejecting the owners’ appeal, which would have left the fine in force.

The building is part of a service station and commercial property designed by Kalle Karnela and completed in 1952. It is protected under the local detailed plan. The owners have repeatedly sought permission to demolish it and build an apartment block on the plot. In September, the city committee rejected their latest application for an exemption to demolish the building.