Praha 6 appointed a group for negotiations regarding the Polar Bear

Prague - Prague 6 has appointed a working group to initiate discussions regarding the construction of the so-called Polar Bear at Vítězné Square. According to a June resolution from the councilors, the investor approached the municipality with three proposals. The council then tasked the group to reject all proposed solutions. Mayor Ondřej Kolář (TOP 09), who is one of the members of the group, did not want to comment on the situation. "We will not comment on the topic for now," said city hall spokesperson Edita Valentová to ČTK.
    The location of the controversial building, backed by the PPF Real Estate group, has been a hot topic of discussion in Dejvice for several years. The design by architect Radan Hubička has elicited mixed reactions from the public and experts. The Prague city hall recently revoked the zoning decision. The project is reportedly not in accordance with the zoning plan and the requirements of heritage protection. Last year, the Ministry of Culture also canceled the positive assessment of the city’s heritage experts, considering a construction of such dimensions unacceptable.
    The multifunctional building is intended to complete the currently open block of houses, fundamentally altering the appearance of the square. The investor claims that the construction will bring new services for residents in addition to administrative spaces.
    Opponents point out the size of the planned building. Civic associations criticize politicians for past decisions regarding the municipal land, where the municipality decided, in collaboration with a private investor, to build a commercial building instead of the previously planned city hall. Prague 6 ultimately withdrew from participating in the project. However, the investor of the Polar Bear still retains the right of first refusal on the land.
    The richest Czech, Petr Kellner, who is behind the PPF group, is planning other significant construction projects in Prague as well. The demolition of the Hotel Praha last year and the planned construction of a school, coincidentally also in Dejvice near Vítězné Square, garnered the most attention. Among other plans, Kellner aims to build the tallest skyscraper in Czechia in Chodov.