In the vicinity of Plečnik's church, garages are being planned

Prague - Plans for the construction of underground garages in Jiřího z Poděbrad Square in Prague will likely not change even after the local church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord, designed by the famous architect Josip Plečnik, was declared a national cultural monument. The three-story garages are to be built near the church. "We say that the church has no relation to the garages," said Jan Sotona, spokesperson for Prague 3, to ČTK.
    Prague 3 has been looking for a place to build underground garages for a long time, considering small Škroupovo Square or even the garden of a primary school in Jarov. Plans for garages at Jiřího z Poděbrad Square have already advanced, and in the second half of last year, zoning proceedings for their construction began.
    According to some opinions, the church's static structure is no longer satisfactory, among other reasons, because the A metro line runs beneath the church, as well as the former historical stream Kanálka, channeled into an underground bed. The construction pit is to be only a few meters from the eastern wall of the church.
    However, Prague 3 states that the construction of the garages will not harm the church in any way. The underground garages do not affect the church's statics, and the construction will have no impact on the church from a construction standpoint or from the perspective of space utilization, Sotona stated. According to him, the construction and exit from the future garages are positioned in such a way that they do not influence the events in front of or inside the church in any way.
    According to the spokesperson, the construction has gone through public discussion and has been modified several times based on public feedback. The city hall plans to cancel a portion of parking spaces on the street, which, according to the spokesperson, will lead to the calming of the entire area after the completion of the underground garages. Prague 3 reportedly consulted with the local parish about the construction of the garages.
    The Green Party in Prague 3 opposes the construction of the garages, fearing that the project will unreasonably burden the municipal budget of Prague 3 with hundreds of millions of crowns and that the garages will bring more traffic to the local streets, increasing noise and disrupting the atmosphere of the area.
    "We urge the heritage office to utilize the increased significance of heritage protection regarding the planned garages adjacent to the church and to not permit the construction of garages in its close vicinity," said Ondřej Rut, a representative of Prague 3 for the Green Party, to ČTK today.
    The church, built by the Slovenian architect Plečnik, who became famous in the Czech Republic primarily as the author of modifications to Prague Castle, has become a landmark of Vinohrady and a significant part of Prague's skyline. It is often described as the most important Czech sacred building of the 20th century. It was consecrated on May 8, 1932. Today, the government declared it a national cultural monument along with thirty other monuments.