The joys of living in Lasnamäe - And it’s not as you think!

The joys of living in Lasnamäe – And it’s not as you think!

Lasnamäe is a much maligned area of Tallinn. Let’s be honest, it has a bad reputation. Areas like Kopli have had a renaissance in recent years.

Is it now the turn of Lasnamäe?

Crime rate to be concerned about?

Firstly much of Lasnamäe’s negative image is based on the high crime rate in the 90’s. This is now largely a forgotten statistic, you are no more likely to be the victim of an incident in Lasnamäe than Merivälja. Crime statistics across Tallinn have been dropping for years, So all areas can be considered reasonably safe these days.

A perceived negative? The proliferation of soviet style housing blocks.

However these blocks do have a strong sense of community. With many blocks having well run community associations and tended gardens with renovated roofs and reclad walls. These apartments can be easily modernised as they all work on the same basic layout. The companies that provide such services usually have experience and can provide fairly exact quotes. It’s worth noting that it is not unknown for new builds to come with issues such as leaky roofs, poor insulation and bankrupt building contractors. So there is a good argument to keep these older style blocks going rather than build new ones. One by one these old soviet blocks are being refurbished inside and out. The gentrification of Kopli, which is further distance from town, provides the model and example for the direction Lasnamäe is going.

At the moment these apartments are affordable but we predict as general apartment prices are on the rise. The areas closest to town such as Pae offer good value for money. Being reasonably priced and 5 minutes walk to Kadriorg Park and a short bus ride to the centre of town.

Closer to nature and sense of community.

A local joke is that living in the end of Lasnamäe closest to the town centre is that you might live there but you don’t have to see it. We think this is a little unfair. The far end of Lasnamäe has some beautiful nature trails.

The entire area revolves around Laagna tee, which is well-connected to shops, transport links, and entertainment facilities. The communal charity and local cooperation project MTÜ Lasnaidee is a prime example of how communities collaborate to enhance the environment. They have created some lovely communal gardens in Pae and Laagna, while also working to bring communities together. There are also new park refurbishments, such as Tondiraba, which has been completely redeveloped. As well as some notable community youth centres such as NoorteKeskus.

Don’t dismiss Lasnamäe.

In conclusion, Many people have stories about growing up in Lasnamäe, and many look back with fond memories about how it used to be, even if it was a little rough around the edges. However, that version of Lasnamäei is long gone. Consequently, we think Lasnamäe deserves a second viewing; it actually has a lot going for it.