Buildings on Pankrác have a zoning decision

Prague - The construction office of Prague 4 has granted approval for two new high-rise buildings in Pankrác, issuing a decision on the placement of both structures. Civic associations will appeal against the zoning decision, the Czech News Agency was informed today in a press release. Therefore, decisions on the buildings will be made by the Prague City Hall, which the investor anticipated. The company ECM is preparing to build on the Pankrácká plain, where a building with luxury apartments and a hotel should rise.
    To begin construction, ECM needs to obtain a zoning decision and a building permit, both of which are decided by the construction office of Prague 4, with further appeals going to the city's hall. There have previously been discussions about the buildings at the City Hall, where city heritage officials gave their approval to the project.
    "We will appeal against the zoning decision," stated Petr Kužvart from the Atelier for the Environment. According to him, there were numerous procedural and other errors in the proceedings. "The decision should be overturned," added Kužvart. A group of five associations had previously pointed out that the investor failed to submit a dispersion and noise study and a study on airborne particulate matter.
    The planned appeals by ECM do not jeopardize the plans. "In our project plans, we also account for the possibility of appeals by the opposing parties," said the investor's spokesperson Zuzana Doležalová to the Czech News Agency today, noting that the company is waiting for the decision from the Prague City Hall. According to her, ECM submitted all the necessary documents properly and on time.
    The civic associations had over seventy pages of objections to the zoning decision. "Of the four dozen significant objections to the hundred-meter tall V-shaped building, the construction office upheld two, and only partially," stated Marie Janoušková from the Pankráci Civic Initiative. The pair of skyscrapers Epoque did not pass the environmental impact assessment, according to Janoušková. The buildings would worsen the traffic situation in central Prague, disrupt the historical skyline of the city, and do not provide facilities for ordinary residents of the Pankráci housing estates. According to a source from the Czech News Agency, the building with apartments did not require an environmental impact assessment, while the hotel only needed a screening procedure.
    The ECM project includes the construction of nine buildings. In 2004, a five-story administrative building City Point and City Empiria (formerly Motokov) were completed, and three years later City Tower (the former building of Czechoslovak Radio). The City Epoque building is to include luxury apartments and a hotel, while City Deco and City Element will house offices.
    Another investor, the joint-stock company Pankrác, is also planning to build in Pankráci. They plan to create an administrative center, which according to the civic association Arnika, should be nearly 80 meters tall. The National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) has deemed the project excluded, while Prague's heritage officials have not yet released a statement. It is still unclear how much the planned building will cost or when construction might begin. "Aside from the architectural design and a few consultations with the authorities, nothing else has occurred," said Antonis Timiopulos from Pankráci to the Czech News Agency. Timiopulos confirmed that a building called Ice Tower could potentially be constructed in Pankráci in the future if the company succeeds in completing the zoning process. However, according to him, that is not foreseeable. Currently, there are no discussions regarding the construction at the City Hall, as the company withdrew its request for the opinion of city heritage officials.
    Due to the planned construction of high-rise buildings in Pankráci, UNESCO expressed "serious concern" a year ago. Shortly thereafter, the Ministry of Culture closed the administrative procedure regarding the skyscrapers and confirmed the City Hall's decision to allow the buildings. The Pankrácká plain is within the protective zone of the heritage reserve. However, the removal of Prague from the list of World Heritage Sites does not currently seem imminent. According to Martin Skalský from the Arnika association, in early July, the plans for the skyscrapers will be reconsidered by the World Heritage Committee in Quebec, Canada.
    The City Hall also has a new methodology for the construction of high-rise buildings in Prague. It aims to prevent disputes over where high-rise buildings can and cannot be erected. The assessment of the building will be primarily based on views from approximately 25 locations around Prague, taking into account the entire topography of the metropolis.