The residents of the house next to the Šantovka Gallery have appealed against its expansion

Olomouc – The owners of several apartments in a building adjacent to the shopping center Galerie Šantovka in Olomouc have appealed against the decision of the city council, which approved a change in the project for the expansion of the commercial complex. The authors of the appeal claim that the change in this investment intention is in violation of the law, infringes on their rights, and may have negative impacts on the surroundings. Therefore, they proposed that the regional office annul the city council's decision and return the plan for the expansion of Galerie Šantovka for new discussion. ČTK obtained this information today from the city council's official bulletin.

At the beginning of this year, the city council approved a change in the project for the expansion of theGalerie Šantovka shopping center, located near the historic center of Olomouc. Instead of the originally planned extension to the commercial complex, the developer Redstone's plan now includes the construction of several buildings with shops, restaurants, apartments, a multifunctional hall, as well as a hotel and office spaces. Thanks to the approved modification of the zoning decision, Redstone can continue preparing this multi-billion investment and handle the building permit application.

Residents of the house on the neighboring Šantova street objected in their appeal that the planned construction unlawfully encroaches on their private land. They pointed out, for instance, the extensions of constructions and building elements beyond the designated construction area or the failure to comply with legal setbacks between buildings. According to the authors of the appeal, the change in the project increased the height and volume of the buildings and brought them closer to the surrounding development. They emphasized that the modification of the intention should have been discussed in a new zoning procedure.

The Galerie Šantovka shopping center stands on the site of a bankrupt business, Milo, and opened in 2013. The complex has a sales area of 46,000 m². The Redstone group decided to expand it several years ago. The original plans from 2019 to 2022 spoke of constructing a four-story building with dozens of shops and approximately 23,000 m² of leaseable space. According to architect Robert Bishop, the project was ultimately adjusted based on how the demands of future tenants and the shopping habits of Czechs gradually changed.

In the new decision of the city council, the extension of the shopping center was canceled. The revised project includes a multifunctional set of buildings with housing, a hotel, shops, restaurants, and a multifunctional hall. It is to contain a total of 147 apartments, 200 hotel rooms, and approximately 60 retail units. The multifunctional hall is designed with a capacity of 700 seats. A total of 571 parking spaces have been proposed. The built-up area will occupy approximately 16,700 m², and the usable area will exceed 106,000 m².

Near Galerie Šantovka, the Redstone group is building the Šantovka Living complex with 12 apartment buildings. They also plan to build the controversial Šantovka Tower high-rise building there. This project is being addressed separately by the authorities in another procedure. Heritage protectors and some experts oppose the construction of the 74-meter-high Šantovka Tower, stating that it would harm the historic panorama of the city. However, according to the Redstone company, led by entrepreneur Richard Morávek, these concerns are unfounded.