On March 26, the cornerstone was ceremoniously laid for the new modern residential and commercial center rising at the Papiniidu 50 property in Pärnu. Built on the site of the former Mai Cultural Center, the nearly 16-million-euro development will bring new life to the area. During the cornerstone ceremony, an extraordinary gift was also presented to the Pärnu Rowing Club – three new Filippi rowing boats.

“For us, this is not just about erecting buildings, but a contribution to raising the quality of life in the city of Pärnu and the Papiniidu area. The historical location of the Mai Cultural Center deserves a modern, comprehensive solution that serves the community. Papiniidu 50 is a place where comfortable homes, essential services, and a well-thought-out urban space come together. We are sincerely glad to be able to bring this vision to life together with our strong partners,” said Marko Kull, Member of the Management Board of the developer Millerhawk.

Welcoming the birth of the new center on behalf of the city of Pärnu was Deputy Mayor Valmar Veste. “The Mai area has been an important part of the city of Pärnu for decades. Homes have been built here, generations have grown up here, and a strong, close-knit community has formed. At a time when rather bleak and uniform panel blocks were rising here, the goal was to provide living space quickly. Today, however, we are moving in a different direction – we are creating an environment that is modern, well-thought-out, and cozy,” stated Valmar Veste.

“This very project, the cornerstone of which we laid today, is not just a new building. It is a step forward in the development of the entire area – something that helps make the living environment higher in quality, more human-friendly, and modernized. We are contributing to making Mai not just a place to live, but a place where people want to live,” Veste added.

The anchor tenant of the new commercial center is is Estonian retail chain Selver. According to its CEO, Kristi Simonsen, they only open stores in areas with clear growth potential. “The new Papiniidu residential and commercial center fully meets these expectations. The store being built here will become the home store for local people, offering the quality Selver is known for – a wide and diverse product range, high-quality private label products, goods from domestic small producers, a comfortable and modern shopping environment, and excellent service. Pärnu is a strategically important area for Selver, where we have been operating since 2002, and the new store will help us further strengthen our position in a highly competitive market,” said Kristi Simonsen, Member of the Management Board of Selver AS.

The construction works, characterized by more complex than usual geological conditions and the simultaneous construction of two buildings on a single plot, are being managed by Tallinna Ehitustrust as the main contractor. “The construction period is long, and many obstacles will need to be overcome along the way. Those who must pull together are the client, the builder, the tenants, the homebuyers, and also the local community. We will only succeed in all of this if we are in the same boat,” noted Kaido Somelar, Chairman of the Management Board of Tallinna Ehitustrust.

According to Lehar Kütt, Head of Corporate Banking at Coop Pank, the financier of the development, the bank finances projects that move life forward in various parts of Estonia. “As a domestic bank, we can make our contribution to breathing new life into such an important hub for Pärnu, which is being realized in cooperation with several esteemed partners.”

The festive cornerstone laying ceremony culminated in a surprise for the local sports community. Developer Millerhawk, anchor tenant Selver, and main contractor Ehitustrust made a joint gift, presenting three top-tier Filippi rowing boats to the Pärnu Rowing Club. The gift was gratefully accepted on behalf of the community by Andrei Jämsä, Member of the Management Board of the Pärnu Rowing Club and bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

The nearly 11,200 m² development includes an eight-story apartment building and a three-story commercial center. The sale of the apartments is handled under the developer Millerhawk OÜ’s residential real estate brand, Avalon. The commercial center’s anchor tenant is Selver, alongside which Südameapteek and the Fitness 24/7 sports club will also open their doors. The new commercial center is designed as a modern building featuring first-floor parking, offering convenience and accessibility.

The residential building is planned to have 40 one- to four-room apartments of various sizes, with the higher floors offering a view of the sea. A special feature of the apartment building is a nearly 170-square-meter shared roof terrace with a seating and grilling area; additionally, the apartments have balconies and loggias.

The first new homes are scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of next year, but the commercial center will open already this November. Greenmetrix OÜ, part of the Millerhawk group, is helping the commercial building development to acquire a LEED certificate.