An online petition for the preservation of the train station has been signed by thousands of people

Prague - Since January, over 4,000 people, mostly residents of the third municipal district, have signed an online petition for the preservation of the Prague Loading Station in Žižkov. They mainly demand that Minister of Culture Jiří Besser confirm the station's status as a cultural monument, thus preventing its demolition. Tomáš Mikesko, chairman of the civic association "This is not a developer's", which prepared the petition, stated this to ČTK today. The association's representatives will deliver the petition to the Ministry of Culture later today.
    The Loading Station in Žižkov is, according to the petition's authors, a unique functionalist building that should not become a victim of developer interests. "Most architects and other experts agree with us. Only a tiny fraction of experts question the importance of the building. They are likely defending their economic interests," Mikesko said.
    The building is situated in a location where a road called Jarovská spojka is planned according to developers' intentions. However, if the station were to become a cultural monument, it would prevent the demolition of the historical building and complicate the construction of the road. According to the chairman of the Sekyra Group's board, Luděk Sekyra, if the structure is preserved, the Jarovská spojka may not even be built at all.
    However, some architects disagree, stating that other solutions also exist. The civic association "This is not a developer's" is also against the road itself, claiming that it would significantly disrupt the environment in the third municipal district.
    The Ministry of Culture declared the station building a cultural monument at the beginning of the year. Its owner, České dráhy (Czech Railways), has appealed the decision. The municipal district, like České dráhy and the construction company Sekyra Group, rejects the designation of the building as a cultural monument. They fear that there won't be funds for its maintenance and that it will be occupied by homeless people. Additionally, they argue that the historical building’s value is negligible.
    "For industrial monuments, it holds the same value as the National Theatre does in its category," counters Kateřina Bečková, chairwoman of the Club for Old Prague.
    The case was also addressed last week by the legal advisory commission, which has already submitted its opinion to Minister Besser. "The minister has not yet had time to study their conclusions. The commission's opinion is secret until then; however, the minister is not obliged to follow it. It is merely a recommendation," said Stanislav Brunclík, spokesman for the ministry, to ČTK. According to him, it is still premature to set a date by which a decision might be made.
    "If we cannot persuade the minister to declare the station a cultural monument, we will appeal to the court and attempt to prevent the adoption of the land use plan," added Mikesko.
    The station's premises are planned to be redeveloped by the company Žižkov station development, which is owned by České dráhy and Sekyra Group. Predominantly, residential buildings, but also offices and shops, are to be built on the site. Another part of the area is intended to be developed by the Discovery Group.