Developer plans a residential complex in Libuš near the new metro station

Prague - A new complex of buildings with apartments, offices, and shops is planned to be constructed by the company KZP ideal invest in Prague's Libuš within the next ten years. The developer expects that the local district will experience rapid development in connection with the construction of the new metro line D, which will have three stations in its territory, including the terminus. Today, the company, along with city hall leadership, presented its plans to journalists in Prague.
    "We are counting on an investment of five to six billion crowns at today's prices," said Pavel Jagrik from KZP ideal invest, though he did not disclose the number of planned apartments or the intended office space. In the area defined by the streets Novodvorská, Libušská, Zbudovská, and K jezírku, according to his vision and plans by the studio Nautila architects, a new neighborhood is to be created on 40,000 square meters; he would like to name it Nové Město Libušské. The buildings are expected to arise around a new park, with the first trees and shrubs planned to be planted in the spring.
    The intended plots are about half owned by the city, with which the company is negotiating, as well as with the remaining private owners; the company has already purchased some plots and is constructing on them.
    "It's not as if we just came out of nowhere. We have been building in Libuš for about 12 years. We started with family houses, of which there are now about 50, and about 80 apartments," Jagrik stated. The project documentation is not yet complete, but it plans to begin construction of the first larger buildings in 2013. The project will be divided into about five phases.
    The last of them is expected to end in 2020, but it depends on the pace of the metro construction. "We would like to implement it together with the metro builder when they build the Libuš station," Jagrik explained.
    The company will present its plans to the public on Saturday at a fun event called Day with Libuš, which will take place at the intersection of Novodvorské and Zbudovské streets. Jagrik will present a large 3D model of his project and a number of visualizations to interested parties. The construction schedule and the form of metro stations will be presented by representatives of the Metroprojekt company.
    The new metro line D in Prague is set to cross the city center from the Main Train Station to Depo Písnice, primarily easing the overloaded line C. According to plans, it will cost over 40 billion crowns, and the construction will be divided into three phases. It will measure 11 kilometers and will lead to Písnice via náměstí Míru, Pankrác, Krč, and Libuš. Modern vehicles will be remotely controlled. The construction of the new line could start in 2012 or 2013.
    The area around the large Vietnamese market Sapa is also set to undergo significant changes, due to which more and more traders of Vietnamese nationality are moving into Libuš along with their compatriots. A new metro station Písnice is expected to be built near it.
    "The culture of this area should significantly improve and should not somehow diminish the quality of housing and services in the (newly presented) location," said the mayor of Libuš, Jiří Koubek. Changes are currently being prepared by a working group, whose members include Koubek and city hall staff, as well as former Prague mayor Pavel Bém and representatives of the Vietnamese community; the Vietnamese ambassador to the Czech Republic is also cooperating with them.
    According to Koubek, after the metro construction is completed, the traffic on Libušská street should be reduced and access to Sapa would be resolved from another side of the extensive area. Additionally, landowners around the market are planning to build a new large shopping center near the future metro station.