Finland’s Espoo City Seeks Buyer for Historic 16th-Century Lillhemtans Farm

According to an official press release issued on Monday, the application process has already begun and will remain open until January 29, 2027.

The city aims to find an operator willing to renovate the historic buildings and introduce activities that respect the area's cultural and historical significance.

Under the detailed local development plan, the property is designated for service-related buildings. Facilities serving local residents, associations and organisations, as well as workspaces, may also be established on the site.

The buyer will be selected through an open, two-stage application process. Both individual applicants and consortiums consisting of multiple operators are eligible to participate.

During the first stage, applicants must submit preliminary designs and project plans outlining how they intend to develop the property. The proposals will be assessed based on their quality and suitability for the culturally and historically valuable surroundings.

Candidates selected for the second stage will be invited for interviews. Following an assessment of their applications and interviews, the most suitable candidates will be asked to submit property-specific financial bids.

The applicant offering the highest price for the buildings will be proposed as the buyer and will also be required to sign a land lease agreement.

The City Board's Business and Competitiveness Subcommittee will make the final decision regarding the sale of the buildings and the leasing of the plot.

Ownership of the land may eventually be redeemed after the renovation and alteration work on the buildings protected under the detailed plan has been completed.

The property covers approximately 7,200 square metres and currently contains no unused buildings.

Historic Farm Dating Back to the 16th Century

The history of Lillhemtans farm dates back to the 16th century. The framework of its present main building was constructed in the late 18th century.

In 1917, the farm became the property of Finnish politician Väinö Tanner, who carried out extensive renovation and expansion work on the main building. The property acquired much of its current appearance during that period.

The City of Espoo has owned the farm since 1981.

The property consists of a main building, an outbuilding and a storage building. The main building and the outbuilding are protected under the detailed development plan and must therefore be preserved.

However, the buildings are currently in need of renovation.

According to the building register, the main building has a floor area of approximately 290 square metres.

Through the sale, the City of Espoo hopes to secure the preservation of the historic property while giving it a new purpose that benefits the local community.