Plzeň is in talks with a developer about the shape of the area near the center

Plzeň - Plzeň has commissioned a land use study for the area near the city center, Americká - Sirková, which includes a plot originally designated for the construction of a controversial department store by the Prague development company Amádeus. The city hall is currently negotiating with them about the appearance of the site and is now convinced that Amádeus wants to build multifunctional buildings on its land, which would also include retail, said Pavel Šindelář (ODS), the deputy mayor, to ČTK.

"Amádeus is now negotiating with us at the level of the technical deputy and the office regarding the specific conditions of the land use study so that construction can proceed and both parties are satisfied," said Mayor Martin Zrzavecký (ČSSD).

Šindelář confirmed that after two years, he now feels a true interest from the investor to build the facility. This marks a new phase of negotiations with Amádeus, which is suing Plzeň for 1.85 billion crowns as compensation for damages for the unrealized shopping center project worth 2.5 billion CZK, which they wanted to build between 2008 and 2014. However, citizens rejected it in a referendum four years ago.

The results of the referendum obligated the city to take all steps against the construction. The developer filed a lawsuit against the city last January. They sought compensation for the thwarted project and lost profits. The court proceedings began last September. Plzeň claims that it has not committed any actions that would harm the developer.

"At the joint meeting in early November, it was agreed that the author of the land use study, namely the concept and development department of the city, would subsequently provide it to the landowners for their comments. We do not want to anticipate further developments," said Amádeus spokesperson Karel Samec.

According to Šindelář, the city presented the company with the conditions for the land use study and agreed with it on the principle of communication at the first meeting. The direct owner of the company was present at the first meeting, and now the project designers are negotiating with the city.

If the land use study meets Amádeus's requirements, they would revise the retail project. The city will create a proposal for how the area should be developed. "And we want them to raise any potential comments, and in this way, we will move forward," said Šindelář. Discussions will cover parking, public spaces, and the functional use of buildings. The study is based on the developing land use plan of Plzeň, which has stipulated that a land use study must be created for this area within four years. Without it, the area cannot be developed, he said.

Amádeus owns about 2.4 hectares of land, while the Americká - Sirková area has a total area approximately three times that size. This includes the neighboring Tesco, which, according to the city hall, has attempted to sell the facility, and Amádeus expressed interest. Both parties did not comment today on the ownership of Tesco. The mayor also urged the developer to include the devastated municipal baths in the project, which have been deteriorating for 23 years, and for the past four years, there has been a paintball arena there. According to information from ČTK, negotiations with the Italian owner of the baths, TWB Praha, are indeed underway.