Č. Budějovice wants to build a parking garage, costs 120 million

České Budějovice - In České Budějovice, a parking garage with 700 spaces is expected to be built by 2022 near the sports hall. The council proposed the necessary change to the zoning plan, which must be approved by the representatives. The estimated cost of construction is between 100 million and 120 million CZK. This was reported today by Deputy Mayor Viktor Lavička (ANO) to journalists.

České Budějovice is struggling with a lack of parking spaces in the city center and its surroundings. In autumn 2015, the agency STEM/MARK investigated how residents of the city and nearby municipalities commute. They asked 7,227 people, which is about five percent of the population. Of these, 27 percent traveled by car daily, while 52 percent traveled from the surrounding areas to the city.

The new parking garage would initially have 500 spaces, then 700. "We want to assign all activities to one contractor. The construction is not time-consuming," said the deputy. Once the garage is completed, the council wants to expand parking zones in the city. The construction will also include sanitary facilities and an elevator.

The city would like to enlarge other parking lots it operates. As an example, Lavička mentioned parking spaces near the football stadium, where the city plans to build a multi-story extension. It also intends to expand parking in the Vltava housing estate, behind the playground. "We are communicating with local residents. We are handicapped by the fact that not all land in the housing estates is owned by us; some are under the Office for Representation of the State in Property Matters," said Lavička.

There are several private parking garages in the city. The building near the Budvar Arena winter stadium has 316 spaces, while the former barracks at Mariánské náměstí has 160 spaces. Last August, České Budějovice opened a new section of a parking lot on Jírovcova Street, which accommodates 440 cars. It is the only conventional parking lot in the city.