Bus route now serves Lahekalda
Since August, city bus route 44 has served Lahekalda. Previously, the nearest bus stop was more than 600 metres from the apartment buildings. The new connection, which reaches the edge of the neighbourhood, makes everyday travel easier for nearly 500 families.
The Paekalda stop was added to route 44 through cooperation between Merko, the Lasnamäe District Administration, the Tallinn Transport Department and Tallinn City Transport. Merko built the infrastructure for the stop at the entrance to the neighbourhood.
According to Indrek Tarto, Head of Merko Homes, the amenities a developer creates within a neighbourhood are important, but so is being able to get to school or work without a car. “Having a bus stop close to home is a highly valued addition. Residents have been waiting for it since the first Lahekalda buildings were completed in 2020. As the community has grown, the need for a convenient public transport connection has become even more important,” said Tarto. He praised the cooperation with the city in improving residents’ quality of life.
Lahekalda is a secluded residential neighbourhood on the Maarjamäe plateau, between Kadriorg and Pirita. Being able to reach home by public transport reduces the need to use a car, supports the area’s peaceful atmosphere and provides much easier access to destinations in both the city centre and Lasnamäe.
“The surrounding environment needs to keep pace with the growth of new residential neighbourhoods, and access to public transport is a key part of that. The Lahekalda community has grown considerably over the years, and residents’ feedback clearly showed a need for better transport connections. Adding the Paekalda stop to route 44 gives residents a convenient, fast connection to both the city centre and Lasnamäe. This is the kind of practical improvement that makes a neighbourhood a good place to call home,” said Miroslav Berezovski, Head of Lasnamäe District.
Two apartment buildings with a total of 105 homes will be completed in Lahekalda this autumn. At that point, approximately half of the apartments planned for the neighbourhood will be complete. The next building, at Paekalda 13, is due for completion in autumn 2027. Designed by architecture firm PLUSS, it will contain 50 apartments ranging from one to four rooms. Sales began yesterday.
Merko has opened Lahe Pood, a 24-hour convenience store in Lahekalda, invested in parcel lockers and provided facilities for maintaining bicycles and other light vehicles. The apartment buildings are surrounded by courtyards with areas for relaxation and activity. The neighbourhood also has an outdoor gym, an avenue of swings, a stepping-stone path, a community garden with shared planters and a greenhouse with a bookshelf.
More is planned for Lahekalda. The first section of Lahekalda Park, with seating areas, swings and a basketball court, will be completed this autumn. Once finished, the neighbourhood is expected to comprise approximately 25 apartment buildings with more than 1,000 homes, along with several buildings offering shops and services.