In Brno-Obřany, houses are being built, but part of the plans has met with opposition from people

Brno - The area around Svitavy in the Brno district of Obřany has attracted two investors planning to build houses. The first of them, the company Stavos, has already started the first of four phases against the heating plant in the former brownfield between Obřanská and Olší streets - the construction of 23 family houses. In contrast, the construction company Kaláb is facing significant local resistance, wanting to build near Kusákova and Parková streets, said Vlastimil Břicháček (KDU-ČSL), the mayor of Maloměřice and Obřany to ČTK.

While Stavos has embarked on construction in an area designated as a brownfield, Kaláb wants to develop lands that are green, albeit unmaintained. Additionally, it is within a floodplain. Kaláb aims to build a complex with 200 apartments and nine family homes. "He has already tried to publicly explain this to the people once and is probably preparing to do so again. But the resistance from the people is substantial," noted Břicháček.

According to the mayor, people are already understanding of Stavos's plans. However, this developer also had to partially back down from his intentions. His plan included not only four-story buildings and family homes but also a tall tower block. "Plans for it have already been canceled, it looked like a sore thumb," added Břicháček.

After completing the family houses in the first phase, the developer plans in the next phase to build one multifunctional building, five apartment blocks, and six family houses. This also includes the construction of new streets, which will be extended Franzova and Vřesová streets. "A grocery store and offices are also planned in the multifunctional building," the documentation for environmental impact assessment states. Thus, an influx of about 500 residents is expected. The investor plans that the first houses could be completed around 2022.

"Local residents perceive this construction as a replacement for about 50 houses that had to be removed in the past for the construction of the heating plant up to the cement plant," explained Břicháček.

He admitted that the influx of new residents, which, unlike other city districts, Maloměřice and Obřany do not suffer too much from, would further burden Obřanská street. However, this street is primarily burdened by cars from Bílovice nad Svitavou or Kanic, municipalities that have significantly expanded in the past decade.

"Plans for a bypass from Fryčajova to Lesná or under Hády have so far proven unrealistic, which is why everyone drives through Obřany," said Břicháček.

The city wants to catch these cars at the Park&Ride parking lot. One of the plans is the space right by the heating plant. However, Břicháček considers this to be nonsense.

"In this way, cars would still drive through Obřany. Moreover, it is the only place where a missing grocery store can be built. The possibility for a parking lot is opening at the beginning of Obřany, at the site of the former agricultural cooperative," described the mayor the current situation.

In Brno, other larger residential complexes are also under construction, for example, at Kociánka or by the reservoir, and for several years the largest modern housing estate, Kamechy. Investors are also building in gaps in older developments, for instance, on French, Bratislavská, U Červeného mlýna, Křenová streets, and in other places.