Instead of a playground, there can be apartment buildings in Strahov, Prague

Prague - Residential buildings could be built on the site of the former playground under the Television Tower in Prague's Strahov. The change in the zoning plan was supported by the councilors of Prague 6. Whether the zoning plan will actually be changed will be decided by the Prague City Hall. CTK was informed of this today by the spokesperson of Prague 6, Ondřej Šrámek. The change is criticized by opposition council members and some residents.

On the land owned by Sports Centre Ladronka, a.s., there is currently an unused football field. If the change to the zoning plan is approved by the City Hall, Strahov would see the completion of the existing structure, namely according to spokesperson Šrámek, small apartment buildings that are surrounded by the space on three sides.

The consent of the Prague 6 Council to the change in the zoning plan is conditional on signing a contract with the landowner. This should enable the district to purchase new land for sports facilities. "There are several plots suitable for sports. For example, in the cadastral areas of Ruzyně and Střešovice," said Deputy Mayor Jakub Stárek /ODS/ to CTK.

The Council also adopted a resolution to enable sports fields neighboring the current sports facility in Strahov, which are owned by the city, to be opened as soon as possible. To facilitate the opening of the sports facilities, the town hall is abandoning the extension of Tomanova Street to prevent potential disruption to the sports facilities.

Changes to the zoning plan in Prague 6, according to opposition council member Ondřej Chrást (Pirates), foster speculation with properties. "There must no longer be a situation where speculating with properties is so blatantly permitted, with an investor buying a sports facility or green space cheaply and wanting to change it into a building plot, thereby massively increasing the value of the land at the expense of citizens and their sports facilities, parks, and greenery," Chrást told CTK.

The breaking of the zoning plan in Strahov has long been criticized by the Civic Initiative of Old Břevnov, the Tejnka Association. According to the members of the association, the change benefits a private investor, not the public. "We demand the creation of an urban study that will provide more space for civic amenities, greenery, and public spaces," said Tejnka Association spokesperson Marek Šálek.