Hřib: I have no signals that the new government also wants to move officials to Letňany

Prague – The leadership of Prague does not have indications that the new government of Petr Fiala intends to continue with the plan of former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to acquire land from the city near the Letňany metro station and build a large complex for state officials there. Mayor Zdeněk Hřib stated this to reporters today. He added that he plans to meet with the Prime Minister in the near future regarding Letňany and other Prague issues. The councilors approved a different exchange of property with the state today, with more planned for the spring.

In the previous electoral term, Babiš urged the city council to transfer municipal land in Letňany to the state for the purpose of building a facility for thousands of state officials. The city resisted this, with Hřib rejecting the idea of a "bureaucratic ghetto" and conditioning the transfer of land to the state on several requirements, such as financial contributions for completing the city ring road.

Negotiations were not completed before the elections. In the meantime, the city began preparing a proposal for a new district that should be developed in Letňany. It includes housing, administration, and a reserve for a hospital. According to Hřib, it now appears that the state will no longer be interested in the land. "I do not have signals that the Prime Minister wants to continue with the plan to move officials to Letňany at this moment," he said.

This was also confirmed by the councilor for property, Jan Chabr. "It is not clear that the Letňany complex for the construction of a government city is a priority for this government, and the State Representation Office in Property Matters (ÚZSVM) perceives it this way, as they do not have further indications that the exchange should continue, which we welcome," he said. He added that the state's request regarding Letňany blocked other property exchanges that need to be completed.

Hřib further stated that due to Letňany, the completion of ring roads, and other important issues for Prague, he should soon meet with the Prime Minister and other ministers. According to him, even in the event of a change in the state's stance, nothing will change in Letňany, and the city will continue preparing the proposal for new development. "Whether the administrative buildings will be used by state officials or commercial administration is essentially irrelevant," he said. He added that the state could use the land planned for the hospital to build an oncology center.

The city will continue with smaller property transactions with the state, as the councilors today approved the exchange of municipal land in the area of the Faculty Hospital Královské Vinohrady for the remaining part of the tennis court complex in Letná, a hospital villa on Říčanská street, and an emergency service station on 28th Pluk street. In the spring, according to Chabr, an exchange of a larger part of the Faculty Hospital Bulovka area for barracks in Karlín and a site in Bohdalec should be approved. The councilor added that in the spring, the councilors should also vote on the exchange of Faust's house in the area of the General Faculty Hospital, which is owned by the city, for the state-owned Veleslavín chateau.