The operators of the Prague center Kasárna Karlín have obtained additional permission

Prague - The Building Authority of Prague 8 has issued an additional building permit for the social and cultural center operated by the Prague Center in the courtyard of the former Karlín barracks. This was reported to ČTK from the official board of Prague 8. The center has been operating in a limited capacity since this spring, solely in the courtyard without the use of smaller buildings that the association had previously renovated. The permit specifically relates to those buildings. The decision is currently not final and can be appealed to the Prague city hall.

The center has been operating since 2017, and the association renovated the smaller buildings in the courtyard for the purposes of a concert hall, café, and bar. However, it did not have the necessary permits, leading the building authority to decide on the closure of the center, which took place last June. The main issue was the inconsistency with the zoning plan, which the city has since amended. The Prague city hall took over the barracks property from the state at the beginning of last year.

The center began operating again without the use of buildings at the end of May this year, while the operators were also seeking to legalize the constructions. The authority has now decided in their favor. A number of objections from some residents of nearby buildings arrived against the permit, who have long complained about the noise from concerts and bars in the courtyard.

The authority rejected them, stating that outdoor concerts were not part of the proceedings since the application was submitted only for the operation of a summer cinema. "Regarding the café operation, the participants in the proceedings did not provide any specific facts that would indicate increased noise burden," says the document. The authority also did not comply with the request to limit the operational hours of the center to only until 9:00 PM.

The capital city plans a complete reconstruction of the extensive barracks complex for various uses in the future. It could potentially accommodate apartments, a cultural center, a technology park, or educational facilities. The historic building dates back to the 19th century and was used for military purposes during both Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. The building has been protected as a cultural monument since 1958. The state has previously attempted to sell the complex multiple times, but without success.