Praha has chosen 12 locations for the construction of new municipal apartments

Prague - The Prague City Hall will begin preparing the construction of residential buildings for the purposes of affordable housing in 12 locations. This was decided by the Prague councilors today. The Department of Strategic Investments (OSI) was tasked with developing a feasibility study on the suitability of residential construction in the selected sites by the end of this September. A total of about 400 apartments could be built on the plots.

"The new municipal housing construction represents one of the tools to contribute to the creation of conditions for affordable and sustainable housing," states the approved resolution. The apartments are intended primarily for economically or generationally disadvantaged groups of residents.

The city selected the locations based on a study conducted by the City Institute of Planning and Development (IPR). Three of the plots are located in Libeň, with others in Hlubočepy, Krč, Hostivař, Bohnice, and Vinohrady. All selected parcels are owned by the city.

The IPR arrived at the 12 selected locations after eliminating nearly 500 other plots initially considered. According to the IPR study and the current zoning plan, more than 400 apartments could potentially be built on the parcels.

Conceptual city documents, including the strategic plan, anticipate that Prague will build apartments primarily for the accommodation of disadvantaged and socially weaker residents, but also for healthcare workers or employees of public administration and emergency services. Prague and its municipal districts continue to privatize the existing housing stock based on previously approved plans.

The City Hall currently manages nearly 9,000 apartments, while around 26,000 are overseen by local councils. Apartments may be rented based on a selection process, with a portion of the stock used for subsidized housing for young families, single parents, socially disadvantaged individuals, or seniors. Some apartments are also occupied by healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters, or municipal officials. According to last year's KPMG analysis, since 1991, 194,000 apartments have transitioned into Prague's ownership, resulting in the housing stock decreasing to about 18 percent of its original state since then.