Plzeň will announce an investment competition for a building at the site of the barracks

Plzeň - A multifunctional building with 300 parking spaces is planned to be built in Plzeň near the busiest traffic artery, at Sady Pětatřicátníků. It is to stand on the site of the current asphalt parking lot, where the famous barracks of the Plzeň 35th Regiment used to be. The councilors have now approved the announcement of a competition for an investor for the construction, said the mayor's assistant Petr Rund (ODS) to reporters today. The city will announce the competition in a few days, and the winners could be approved by councilors in the spring of 2010.
    The city hall had previously established regulatory conditions for the new building. These define the dimensions of the structure, which should mimic the former barracks, and require at least 300 parking spaces.
    Rund stated in January that the municipality's requirement to create such a number of parking spaces beyond the legal obligations of the investor is a breakthrough decision of the city. However, the problem with parking in the city center demands it. "The vision is that part of the parking spaces in the center would be moved to this area and relieve the center of cars," noted Rund. The regulatory conditions do not directly specify whether the parking should be underground.
    The multifunctional facility is also expected to offer offices, shops, services, sports activities, and possibly apartments. "It is up to the applicant to decide which variant they choose and offer to the city,” Rund stated.
    The city hall plans to sign a lease agreement with the competition winner and a preliminary agreement for the sale of the land after the completion and occupancy of the building. "The initial starting price is 16,000 crowns per square meter of land," added Rund.
    The new building at Sady Pětatřicátníků will logically complete the street line and primarily help the city with parking. It is one of the identified locations for building a capacity parking structure. Another such location is the Rychtářka parking lot, where about 400 more parking spaces and commercial areas are to be created in a parking garage. This will be the first project in Plzeň that combines public and private investments, a so-called PPP project.
    The building of the barracks of the historic 35th Regiment stood in the center of Plzeň since 1826 and was demolished in 1969.