Pardubice Innovation Center will probably be lower, the region will comply with residents' complaints

Pardubice - The innovation center in the premises of the children's home in Pardubice will likely be built one floor lower by the regional government. This will address the complaints from residents of the surrounding area who were displeased with the project. The region is currently adjusting the project documentation. Miroslav Janovský, head of the regional development and investment department, said this to ČTK.

"There should be a reduction by one floor and the innovation center should be set back from the neighboring building. Its usable area will be reduced, and so will the parking requirements," said Janovský.

With the reduction of one floor, the capacity of the building will decrease by a quarter. Instead of four floors, it will have three. The innovation center is intended to focus on innovative technologies, circular economy, and cooperation with artificial intelligence. "If Pardubice does not want to fall behind, it needs an innovation center. If we want to move higher and not be a city of assembly plants, then we absolutely need support for innovations," said Janovský.

The Pardubice region is ready to engage with those who disliked the project due to concerns that traffic would increase in the area. Janovský has already spoken with some, and he plans to schedule further meetings in the summer to explain the changes to the critics.

"My decision will depend on what I see on paper. I do not have information right now. In my opinion, and in the opinion of many people from the area, this project does not belong in a district with villas and apartment buildings," said councilor Filip Sedlák (Our Pardubice).

Sedlák also believes that the innovation center contradicts the zoning plan. In Ke Tvrzi Street, only residential buildings with fewer offices are permissible, and the new project does not plan any apartments. The city planners at the municipal office previously rejected Sedlák's objections.

The regional project for the innovation center is overseen by the business incubator P-PINK, which is expected to manage its operation. Before constructing the new facility, the region has other plans for the premises. They have started building a children's home, which will take the form of a duplex. It will accommodate up to 12 children. This will be followed by housing for social services for seniors. Before that, the old children's home will be demolished. A company has been selected for its demolition.

"The children are no longer in the old building; they live in apartments that the region has bought or rented. We relocated the offices to temporary spaces in Semtín at the beginning of June, and by the end of July, the entire building will be ready for handover for demolition," said the director of the children's home, Kateřina Fialová.