Multifunctional building in Prague's Pitkovice could be built by a new company

Prague – According to the leadership of the Prague 22 municipal district, a new company could build the multifunctional building in Pitkovice, Prague. The company Raeder & Falge, which won the tender in 2021, has reportedly not been constructing the building with medical offices and a kindergarten since May, according to local representatives. The company entered insolvency and changed its name to RAF Stavby. The building was originally scheduled to be completed in spring 2023, but according to councilors, its completion will be delayed by at least a year and will increase in cost. This was announced at a municipal council meeting this week by Mayor Tomáš Kaněra and Councilor Štěpán Zmátlo.

In case the municipal office issues a new tender in 2023, the mayor expects the building to be completed around 2024. For children who were supposed to attend kindergarten in Pitkovice, it will be necessary to find alternative solutions, which should involve the construction of a temporary modular kindergarten. The mayor did not specify on which plot of land it should be located.

Kaněra deemed it likely that the investment project would become more expensive. He estimated that the costs for the multifunctional building would be about 50 to 60 million higher than initially anticipated. The increase in costs is attributed to, among other things, the difference between the original and newly awarded contract price, as well as the costs for securing the now unfinished building. The company Reader & Falge was building the house for approximately 105 million CZK.

According to Zmátlo, the municipal office has also proceeded to prepare project documentation for the construction. The construction contract awarded to Raeder & Falge was provided by the previous municipal leadership using the Design & Build method. This method is characterized by the fact that the contractor is responsible for the project documentation. The client simply specifies the purpose, standards, scope, and similar criteria in the assignment.

The council also decided that the mayor would file a criminal complaint against former mayor Vojtěch Zelenka (STAN). The reason is alleged "possible violations of competition rules, manipulation of conditions for potential contractors, and violation of duties in managing someone else's property," the resolution states. It was supported by 13 out of 25 councilors. Zelenka, who was removed from the position of mayor by a narrow majority of councilors in the spring of 2021, rejected the claims made against him in the resolution during the meeting. The current leadership of the municipal office has filed several criminal complaints against him to date. Zelenka called this fabricated and part of an election campaign.

According to the architectural design from Atelier Hromek, the multifunctional building will house a kindergarten for 112 children, a gym, a cafeteria, a multipurpose hall, medical office spaces, and a grocery store. The company Reader & Falge won the tender to build the project for approximately 91.4 million CZK. The price has gradually increased to the current approximately 105 million CZK. The company began construction in November 2021.

Prague 22, where over 11,000 residents live, is located in the southeastern part of the capital. The municipal district includes Uhříněves, Hájek, and Pitkovice and falls within the urban district of Prague 10. The municipal council currently has four members, and the council has 25 members.