<praha 3 does not agree with the construction of houses according to the design by Jiřičná</p>

Prague - The City Hall of Prague 3 disagrees with the change of the zoning plan that would allow the construction of the Center of New Žižkov according to the proposal of architect Eva Jiřičná. It is to be built on the site of the former Telecom complex on Olšanská Street. Prague 3 dislikes the size of the planned buildings and also believes it will have a negative impact on traffic. Today, the councilors approved a negative opinion on the change of the zoning plan. The company Central Group plans to build houses for up to a thousand residents.

The developer plans to build several high-rise buildings on the site. The lowest of the towers is to be around 80 meters, the middle about 90 meters, and the highest does not exceed 100 meters. The city hall particularly objects to the height of the buildings. According to them, an ideal solution would be the establishment of a classic block structure with six stories and a maximum height of some parts of the blocks reaching the seventh or eighth floor. The existing Telecom building (Cetin) measures 96 meters.

If the buildings were to be built, the city hall stated it would worsen the traffic situation in the area. "We do not want to oppose the project as such and evaluate its appearance; we are not against construction, but we look at it this way: we want the area to accommodate the traffic load and civic amenities that construction will generate. We only want it to be proven that it can be built there without drastically worsening traffic service. It is not about height, but about how much floor space can be built there. We want infrastructural constructions that will provide us with guarantees," said city hall spokesperson Michaela Luňáčková.

The developer's representative, Dušan Kunovský, previously said that the height of buildings is always a major topic in Prague. "But where else should higher buildings be created than in a location where there is already a tall telecommunications building and where everyone in Prague is already used to a dominant structure," Kunovský stated then. He also pointed out that the suitability of high-rise developments in this location was demonstrated by an international architectural competition, in which most proposals were around one hundred meters, often up to 130 meters.

According to the council's resolution, another problem with the buildings is the fact that the planned Metropolitan Plan does not consider similar development, which will come into effect in 2023. Typically, urban development is recommended, not solitary tower buildings. Additionally, the buildings would disrupt the city skyline.

However, the decision of Prague 3 does not mean that the zoning plan will not be changed. The change is decided by the councilors of the capital city, and the city hall's statement is one of the opinions. The current leadership of Prague has repeatedly stated in the past that it would not decide against the will of the city halls. In the case that the capital rejects the change, the developer may adjust the project and apply for it again.

In the former Telecom complex in Prague's Žižkov district, about 1,000 apartments worth around six billion crowns are to be constructed. Nearly 70 percent of the 39,500-square-meter area is to be public space with greenery. The lower floors of the residential buildings will host commercial spaces for services, shops, restaurants, and cafes. The project also includes a kindergarten with a garden and a playground.