The former Budějovice barracks have been partially cleared, it will become a neighborhood

České Budějovice - The former barracks in České Budějovice in Čtyři Dvory, from which a vibrant center with apartments, shops, and leisure activities will emerge, are already about half cleared. Specialists from the 15-hectare area have removed all the hazardous and municipal waste that had accumulated there over the long years of disuse. This was reported to ČTK by the secretary of the mayor of České Budějovice, Milan Brabec.
    The dilapidated area near the Vltava and Máj housing estates, home to over 40,000 people, will be transformed into a multifunctional complex for nearly three billion crowns, complete with a square, offices, schools, and greenery. According to the secretary, it is now necessary to obtain zoning and building permits. The first houses could start to be built here as early as 2008. Historically valuable brick buildings from the 19th century and the greenery in the barracks have been preserved.
    “In addition to demolishing old buildings, we leveled the entire area with new soil - for example, there was an original tank crossing that reached a depth of up to five meters. We had to move 40,000 tons of material, and there are still 5,000 tons of concrete recycling waiting to be transported on site,” said project manager Václav Meškan from PMD, which, together with MANE Holding, forms the Consortium of Companies for the Čtyři Dvory area.
    The consortium plans to create an area comparable to the center of a typical district town over the next 20 years. About 85 percent of the area will be designated for housing, so 3,000 to 4,000 people will find a new address there. The work is divided into four five-year phases, with approximately five percent being built in the first phase and 30 percent in the subsequent phases. A natural reserve is located in close proximity to the site, and a water park, which the city is considering building, could also serve recreational purposes.
    “This relatively extensive part of the city has significantly transformed as the dilapidated buildings have disappeared. The district should also include administrative and business areas, making it a true urban center in every respect. Given the proximity to the Vrbenské ponds, it will be a very attractive part of the city for living,” said Mayor Juraj Thoma.
    The new district will be bounded on the northern side by the arc connecting Milady Horákové and Strakonická streets, the construction of which the city is planning. The road will run partially underground to prevent separation of the residential area from the greenery of the Vrbenské ponds and to allow direct access to nature on foot or by bike.