The public will have one last chance to object to the construction of the Žižkov railway station
The crucial phase of the development of one of Prague’s largest brownfields, the acquisition of a change in the zoning plan, is now heading to the finals. A public discussion of the proposed change, which will enable residential and commercial construction on the current railway and industrial plots, will be held online on 16 February.
From then on, the public will have seven days to comment. This is the last opportunity to intervene in the future shape of the development. On Wednesday from 7 pm, the city will present a background study to the public at the Center for Architecture and Urban Planning. They will broadcast the presentation online.
Several developers plan to build in the 33-hectare area of the former railway station. Land there is owned by Central Group, Sekyra Group or Penta. They all need Prague to turn the land into a fashion of so-called mixed construction.
Will there be only expensive apartments?
“I believe that the change of territory will be approved by the end of 2021 to the satisfaction of the inhabitants of Prague 3 and investors. . located.
The city district also intends to make a few comments in the process. For example, the City Hall fears that the current layout of the development will bring an excessive traffic load to Prague 3. “We are also bothered by insufficient guarantees of publicly accessible greenery and a lack of public facilities,” says Matěj Michalk Žaloudek (Greens), chairman of the town hall committee for territorial development.
The town hall expects that the locals will also comment on the design of the development in the station area.
“People are worried, for example, that the new district will be full of unavailable investment flats. We probably won’t deal with that in the zoning plan, but it’s an important thing. It would be ideal if the municipality agreed on a proportion of municipal housing in individual projects, “states Žaloudek.
According to him, the locals are also worried about the planned Jarovská Street, which extends the current Malešická Street towards Českobrodská Street, which is to ensure the future connection of the district with the Prague ring road.
“Without it, however, all traffic would flow through Jan Želivský, Koněvov and Basel Square. In addition, it is a city street with one lane in each direction, a tram and a bike path with plenty of crossings. It will therefore not be a motorway junction, “explains Žaloudek.
However, Prague 3 is also bothered by the way in which the municipality informs the public about the change in the zoning plan. “Some thirteen days to comment on one of the largest developing territories in Prague is not enough for the public to get acquainted with such a proposal and send comments to it, which need to be consulted with the law in order to have some weight,” he thinks. Stomach.
However, according to Deputy Mayor for Territorial Development Petr Hlaváček (United Forces for Prague / TOP 09), it is set correctly. “If the Greens of Prague 3 have any reservations about its course, then I ask what they did for it in the four years that the Greens held the position of deputy for territorial development in the previous coalition,” they reject criticism of the Hlaváček district.
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According to him, the city is now also negotiating with individual investors on forms of participation. Individual developers should contribute to the construction of schools, kindergartens and other public facilities through financial contributions. “We will allow the change of the zoning plan only when we have enough funds from investors for infrastructure so that the future district can function well,” adds Hlaváček.
The process also concerns the northwestern tip of the complex, where the developer Central Group intends to start the first stage of construction of the Park District project. However, this part has an exception to the building closures and the City Hall of Prague 3 no longer plans to comment in any way so that it can start building as soon as possible.
“Currently, approval processes are underway for the first two units, which have about 750 apartments. I firmly believe that we could obtain a building permit and start the first stage this year, “says Central Group spokesman Ondřej Šťastný.
School in the station building
In about a year and a half, the investor intends to apply for permission for further stages along the former station building, which is now a listed building. It is to become the center of the new district. The building could start to be rebuilt in about three years, and the optimistic outlook is that it will be completed in about five years.
The facade of the station building will house the National Film Archive, the northern part is to belong to the city, which is planning a museum of architecture and housing. The southern part is largely owned by the developer Sekyra Group, which counts on commercial space, a gallery and also an elementary school.