Prague - The leadership of Prague opposes the demolition of the building at the corner of Wenceslas Square and Opletalova Street. They will not agree to it until it is clear what structure is to be built in its place. In an interview with ČTK, Deputy Mayor Petra Kolínská (SZ/Trojkoalice) stated this. The investor claims that all steps have been consulted with the city. The current building, which was renovated in 1920 according to the design of architect Bohumír Kozák, is to be replaced by a new administrative building.
A few years ago, Flow East presented a project whose glass facade was to rise like a flower. The building also included the facade of the former printing houses. However, that was eventually demolished and in its place, there has been a pit in Opletalova Street for several years. The current form of the planned new building is not known according to the deputy mayor. "Until the project is discussed, Prague cannot agree to the demolition of Kozák's building," Kolínská stated.
The debate about the appearance of the administrative building should be held in the city's Institute of Planning and Development (IPR). "This is a very exposed location, and it is not in Prague's interest for there to be just a hole in the ground for several years," she said. "If the building is to be demolished, then the building permit must go hand in hand with the demolition order, and construction must follow quickly." she added. The council is expected to adopt a resolution on this topic in mid-August.
Flow East's CEO James Woolf told ČTK that the company is still working on the project preparation. "In order for construction to begin, a whole series of permits need to be obtained. We are following this process and once we have all the permits, we will start construction," he stated. He claims to be in talks with the leadership of Prague. "We continue to cooperate with the city and supplement the required information so that a building permit can be issued," he added. Whether the company has applied for a demolition order is unclear. Neither Woolf nor the construction office of Prague 1, which would handle the request in this case, provided an answer to ČTK’s inquiry.
The local building office authorized the demolition in 2013. However, the magistrate revoked the decision and returned it for new assessment. According to information from ČTK, the request was recently also returned as part of the land-use proceedings. "There is nothing new yet and nothing is being resolved, at least not on our end," said Prague 1 spokeswoman Veronika Blažková in response to ČTK’s inquiry. The investor holds a positive opinion from the magistrate's heritage preservationists from 2010, which approved both the demolition and the new construction.
The company has owned the building since 1994. The costs of the project, including the purchase of the land and building, reportedly amount to billions of crowns, with the ministry repeatedly citing concerns about potential claims for compensation for thwarted investment among the reasons why the building has not been declared a cultural monument.
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