The historical center of Písek will be revitalized according to Miroslav Cikán

Velké náměstí v Písku, současný stav

Písek - The city of Písek will invest approximately 40 million crowns this year into the renovation of Velké náměstí and its surroundings. The city council approved the results of the urban architectural competition, and the selected designer will revitalize the historic center of the city. The main goal is to calm the center and at least partially remove cars from the city center. This was stated today by Písek's deputy mayor, Josef Knot (TOP 09).
The winner of the competition became Miroslav Cikán from MCA atelier s.r.o., who is the holder of the Grand Prix 2012 Main National Award for Architecture and also received the Mayor of Prague's Award in the same year.
"We do not want the center to be one big parking lot. Although we do not want to completely close it off to cars. We want to reduce the number by about a third," Knot stated.
"In the part of the square where shops and cafes are located, the sidewalk will be expanded, creating a quality space for pedestrians. The passage of cars will be concentrated in that part of the square where administrative buildings such as the court or town hall are located," Knot added.
At the end of March and beginning of April, the city of Písek will hold a public debate on this topic. Opposition councilors criticize that the discussion with citizens was not organized by the town hall before the proposal was approved. "I agree with the intention to revitalize the city center. But I do not agree with the way the town hall achieved this," stated councilor and former mayor of Písek Ondřej Veselý (ČSSD). According to him, the process should have been the opposite. "First discuss with the citizens and subsequently announce the project," he added. The same problem is criticized by the civic association Písecký svět, which organized a public debate on this issue in February, attended by about 70 people. Members of the association felt that the city approached this important project dictatively and did not consult it with the residents of the town. The city leadership refused to participate in the debate at that time.
A petition against the proposal was also created by locals and entrepreneurs. They were unhappy that the new proposal would limit the number of parking spaces. "This is one perspective. I know that owners of other shops are excited about this proposal. The square does not concentrate shops that would make someone drive there. That time is over," Knot said, adding that the project also considers increasing parking spaces in other parts of Písek. "As compensation, we will build a new parking lot at the Kamenný most, where 33 new spaces will be created. Next year we want to expand the number of parking spaces opposite the post office by 50. However, that will depend on whether we can complete the project this year," Knot stated, indicating that the number of parking spaces in Písek will increase by dozens.