Prague Radotín will build a new center with a town hall

Prague - The Prague district of Radotín is set to gain a new center in the coming years, which will include a new square, commercial and residential zones, as well as a new town hall. This was stated by the deputy mayor of Prague 16, Miroslav Knotek. The new center will replace the abandoned site of the former cement plant situated between the housing estate, the railway, and the Radotín stream.
    The sixteenth city district lacks a natural center with a square. "Radotín is a former industrial area, which is why it lacks a center," Knotek claims. Currently, the city uses an inadequate space between the office building, the church, and the elementary school for cultural events. Therefore, the town hall wants to build a new center on the site of the abandoned factory halls between the housing estate and the Radotín stream, which have recently become a refuge for the homeless, according to Radotín Mayor Karel Hanzlík.
    In the western part of the industrial area, a new town hall is planned, which will house all departments of the office. Currently, these departments are spread across four buildings. There should also be space for the municipal police. "The current parking lot by the shopping center should then serve as the foundation for the new square, where cultural events, such as the traditional Havel Festival, could be held," Hanzlík described. According to the plans, multifunctional buildings with shops will be constructed around the square, and residential buildings are tentatively planned for the eastern part of the area.
    The new development is planned by the city district to cover an area of approximately 25,000 to 30,000 square meters. The land is managed by the city of Prague, and the Radotín town hall intends to request permission from the magistrate to manage the land.
    The city district does not have enough funds to build the new center from its own resources, thus it relies on the participation of a private investor. However, since it wants to influence the future shape of the area, it plans to pay for a study and finalize the project up to the land-use decision before launching a competition. According to the mayor, the construction documentation should be completed by the end of 2010, with construction potentially starting around 2012.
    The project for the new center should be followed by the expansion of the busy intersection at the Osvoboditelů square, which does not meet current traffic demands, the construction of a bus terminal near the railway station, and the adjustment of the nearby railway crossing.