Prague canceled the tender for the renovation of the town hall and palace for hundreds of millions

Prague, July 15 (ČTK) - Prague has canceled a tender worth hundreds of millions of crowns for the renovation of buildings at Mariánské náměstí. This was stated in an interview with ČTK by the Deputy Mayor Václav Novotný (TOP 09). For nearly 800 million CZK excluding VAT, the new city hall building, the monument-protected Baroque Clam-Gallas Palace, and the square itself were to be renovated. Plans for the reconstruction remain, but according to Novotný, they will be for less money.
The current economic situation of the city council does not allow for the project to be carried out on the scale that was announced in 2010, Novotný said. According to the material approved by the council, the results of the architectural competition that preceded the selection of the contractor will remain valid.
The question of what to do with the costly project has been repeatedly addressed by Prague in the past. The selection committee recommended at the beginning of 2011 to select the company Subterra as the winner, but the city leadership postponed the final decision several times due to a lack of funds. There was also discussion about the possibility of dividing the project into several parts.
The Clam-Gallas Palace, built at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, is considered an architectural gem by experts. According to the original plan, the renovation was intended to rectify inappropriate structural and technical interventions from previous years. The interiors with rare stucco decorations and fresco paintings were to be restored. Shops were planned for the ground floor, and auctions could also be held here, while exhibitions were to be located on the upper floors.
In subsequent phases, the previous city leadership's plan was to renovate the New City Hall and Mariánské náměstí. The planned modifications to the square had previously drawn criticism. Scientists, for example, have expressed concerns that the work could damage significant archaeological sites.