Praha 4 disagrees with the approach of the magistrate regarding the skyscraper on Budějovická

Prague – The leadership of the Prague 4 municipality has protested against a decision by the magistrate, which ordered the local building office to issue a decision on the location of construction concerning the planned tower at the corner of Vyskočilova and Budějovická streets. The municipality has long disagreed with the construction, and it is also in conflict with the zoning plan. Jiří Bigas, spokesman for the municipality, informed ČTK today. The magistrate defends the critique, stating through spokesman Vít Hofman that it was merely a procedural step to eliminate the inactivity of the building office, and the magistrate did not assess the essence regarding the legitimacy of the construction.

According to Prague 4, the AC Budějovická building planned by developer Opal Real is oversized and will worsen the quality of life and traffic situation. Local residents have already signed a petition against the construction of the up to 72-meter high building, and the municipality has issued several negative statements.

"Since 2014, we have been saying no, and the magistrate agreed with us. What has happened that they changed their stance? The conflict with the zoning plan is confirmed by expert opinions that we provided to the magistrate as part of the appeal process. I am very outraged by the decision of the appellate authority, which apparently did not address the conclusions of the expert opinions at all and instead considered all of the investor's appeals as justified," stated councilor Patrik Opa (ODS).

In the last two years, the building regulations department of the Prague magistrate has twice overturned decisions by the Prague 4 building office, which rejected the request for a decision on the location of the construction. In the latest decision dated November 25, 2021, titled Order – Action Against Inactivity, the magistrate described the procedure of the Prague 4 building office as obstructive and instructed it to complete the proceedings by December 15, 2021, by issuing a decision. "It's strange; magistrate officials are forcing the Prague 4 building office to issue a decision on the location of the construction, the negative impacts of which on the residents are indisputable," added Opa.

The magistrate disagrees with the municipality's critique. "It was a procedural step to eliminate the inactivity of the building office. The magistrate did not assess the essence of the construction's legitimacy, but with the order, we simply removed the inactivity of the building office," stated magistrate spokesman Vít Hofman.

The new AC Budějovická building is set to have a regular, nearly square floor plan with a slightly sloped corner parallel to Vyskočilova Street. It will be up to 72 meters tall with 19 above-ground and five underground floors, providing 70 parking spaces. The tower is expected to offer up to 12,000 m² of office space.

Local residents opposed the construction about five years ago and signed a petition that was supported by around two thousand people. According to the petitioners, the building will attract hundreds of cars to Krč, worsening the environment and increasing noise.