Lands on Rohanský Island in Prague 8 are desired by 17 interested parties

Prague - In a few weeks, it will be decided which of the candidates will advance to the second round of the city hall competition for the lease and subsequent sale of land on Rohanský Island in Prague 8. There are 17 applicants, and the envelopes with proposals were opened today, said František Hoffman (KSČM), a member of the evaluation committee.
    The competition concerns over 200,000 square meters of parcels. A new urban center is to be created there with residential buildings, services, hotels, offices, and greenery. The investors who applied had to adhere to the already prepared urban study.
    According to Hoffman, the proposals will now be reviewed by a law firm to assess whether they meet formal requirements. Then, experts will evaluate them. Subsequently, the committee will determine which applicants will proceed to the second round, in which price will play a role.
    According to information from the weekly Euro, companies such as ICKM, Real Estate Karlín Group, Sekyra Group, and likely Europolis have applied for the competition. Interested parties had to submit a conceptual study for the use of the island, calculate costs, and outline the construction period. In the first round, they had to provide a three-million security deposit, and in the second it will be 100 million crowns.
    Rohanský Island is also awaiting other major changes. Areas that are not protected by flood barriers will serve for the residents' recreation. The city wants to use about 60 hectares of local land for new greenery, sports, and recreation. “We will restore a branch of the Vltava River approximately at the location of the original, which was filled in the 19th century. This will allow for the creation of Rohanský and Maninský Islands,” said the mayor's deputy Pavel Klega (ODS) earlier.
    According to plans, the southern part will feature green areas with promenade paths and a lookout tower with a lighthouse. The northern part of the area, with personal boat harbors, is intended for sports and recreation. There should also be a natural amphitheater with a stage on the water. Some elements are planned to be built by the city using funds obtained from the sale of the land. The city should also recover costs for the construction of local infrastructure.
    Currently, the lands are mostly undeveloped and devastated. Some have temporary buildings. This year, the city has allocated 208 million crowns in the budget for the demolition of old buildings, land leveling, and other matters. Plans for the overall development of the island should begin to be implemented after 2008 when engineering networks are expected to be completed and Pobřežní Street extended to the Libeň Bridge.
    Rohanský Island, like the entire Karlin area it belongs to, was damaged by a catastrophic flood in August 2002. The neighborhood is now protected from a potential recurrence of natural disasters by barriers, the construction of which cost 626 million crowns. Most of the parcels offered by the city in the competition are in the protected area.