The Smíchov City project could start construction at the end of 2018

Prague - The first phase of the Smíchov City project on the site of the former freight station in Prague's Smíchov district could begin construction at the end of next year. Leoš Anderle, the executive director of the developer Sekyra Group, which owns the land, told ČTK today. The cost of the first phase is estimated at around three billion crowns, and it should be completed two years after the start. As reported by today's Hospodářské noviny, the project has received a positive opinion regarding the environmental impact assessment (EIA).

"The EIA is not yet valid. Once it is legally binding, we will submit an application for a zoning decision including all necessary statements from the affected authorities. Ideally, construction could start at the end of 2018," Anderle stated.

The first phase concerns 25,000 square meters, which is roughly equivalent to half of Václavské náměstí in Prague. It includes three separate buildings near the Na Knížecí bus station. The buildings will have a maximum of six floors, and the ground floor is planned to accommodate spaces for restaurants, cafés, medical offices, and smaller offices. A larger office building is also part of the project.

Sekyra Group wants to present the project to the public on November 21 at the Center for Architecture and Urban Planning at the Institute of Planning and Development of the Capital City of Prague (IPR). "It will be part of a large exhibition about Smíchov that the city is preparing here. At the beginning of December, we plan another meeting with citizens at the same location, where we will present the changes made based on public participation. We will also showcase the first phase in virtual reality, allowing people to walk through the public space," Anderle mentioned.

The project encompasses a total of 216,099 square meters of land. According to Anderle, it should have five to six phases and could be completed in about 12 to 15 years. "The total costs are estimated at around 15 billion crowns," he said. The project includes, among other things, two parks totaling 22,000 square meters, which will be intersected by a 28-meter-wide boulevard.

In total, up to 3,300 people could reside in Smíchov City, and there are plans for approximately 190,000 square meters of space for services, shopping, and offices. The project includes a primary school, a kindergarten, and cultural centers. Construction is expected to proceed from the Na Knížecí bus stop. The project at the Praha Smíchov station includes a multi-storey P+R parking lot. "We anticipate that part of the current bus station will also move to these spaces. A new square about the size of the Old Town Square would be built at Na Knížecí," Anderle added.

Sekyra Group is simultaneously planning the construction of other large projects in Karlín and Žižkov. According to Anderle, the company has submitted an application for a zoning decision for the Rohan City project. The Žižkov City project is in the final phase of the zoning plan amendment. IPR has developed a new supporting study, and the expected amendment is at the end of next year, Anderle stated.