Prague did not approve the objection to the construction near the Intercontinental hotel

Prague – Prague city councilors rejected a proposal to express disapproval of the construction on Miloš Forman Square next to the Intercontinental Hotel. In connection with the discussion of a petition against the construction, the disapproval was suggested by the chairman of the Prague Sobě club, Jan Čižinský. The petition was organized by his brother, former mayor and city councilor of Prague 1, Pavel Čižinský (Praha 1 Sobě), and the councilors discussed it despite the fact that it did not have the usually required 1,000 signatures. The new owners of the hotel would like to build a three-story glass building at the corner of Bílkovy and Pařížské, which has sparked opposition from some locals.

The piazzetta is property of the Intercontinental Hotel, which was purchased some time ago through the R2G fund by entrepreneurs Oldřich Šlemr, Eduard Kučer, and Pavel Baudiš. After acquiring the hotel, they presented a plan to modify its surroundings, including a glass building. Initially, it was supposed to have five above-ground floors, but following criticism, the investor reduced the number by two.

Jan Čižinský proposed a resolution today that would commit the council to ensure that the city files an objection in the zoning proceedings and takes all legal steps to prevent the construction. The zoning proceedings have not yet started, but the investor already has all the necessary documents to initiate it. The project includes not only the building but also other modifications to the square and the entire hotel vicinity, such as making the gardens accessible or opening up Pařížská Street all the way to the Vltava River. According to the mayor of Prague 1, Petr Hejma, the owners plan to invest 750 million crowns into the public space.

A representative of the hotel owners, Michal Smrek, said at the meeting that the Čižinskýs are in a conflict of interest since a family member of theirs lives on Pařížská Street, looking directly onto the site of the planned construction. According to him, Pavel Čižinský is pressuring various institutions with the aim of delaying or thwarting the project approval process. "I remind you that if we start to incur damages from the unlawful interventions of politicians like Pavel Čižinský, we will defend ourselves," he said.

Jan Čižinský admitted that his mother indeed lives on Pařížská Street, but he does not see it as a conflict of interest. According to him, Smrek has "resorted to personal attacks and conspiracy theories." Both Čižinskýs believe that the construction does not belong on the square and would also set a precedent, as only "small commercial facilities and services" are allowed there according to the zoning plan. "It is possible that small facilities and commercial services of this scale will spring up everywhere there are squares owned by someone other than city districts or the capital," said Jan Čižinský.

The petition was included in the meeting agenda today despite not having the usually required 1,000 signatures and not being reviewed by the control committee. This was pointed out by councilor Ivan Pilný (ANO). "It creates a very dangerous precedent," he said and unsuccessfully proposed not to discuss the item. In response, Jan Čižinský stated that the city council can discuss any petition and that 1,000 signatures are only necessary for it to be addressed. He also mentioned that review by the control committee is not obligatory, but a custom.

Deputy Chairman of the control committee Ondřej Prokop (ANO) said that he explained the standard procedure to Pavel Čižinský and suggested discussing it at the February council meeting with all the necessary requirements fulfilled. He added that he had followed exactly the same procedure with three other petitions that were not included in today's meeting. "This has disadvantaged other petitioners at the expense of one privileged one," he said.

The current piazzetta was previously built on, but some houses were destroyed at the end of World War II and the rest were demolished at the end of the 1960s. Now, most of the space is occupied by ventilation and the entrance to the hotel's underground garage, which should disappear after revitalization. The area has been named after Miloš Forman since 2018.