The councilors of Prague 2 want to discuss a change allowing for the covering of part of the main railway station

Prague - The councilors of Prague 2 supported the proposal concerning the discussion on the amendment of the zoning plan that would allow covering the railway yard at the main train station and building residential buildings there. The goal of the city hall is to initiate a discussion on potential construction, but this does not imply their consent to any specific building project. City district spokesperson Andrea Zoulová stated this in response to a query from ČTK today. The request was submitted by the company CR-City, which includes entities such as Czech Railways and Penta, which proposed this idea several years ago. The opposition Pirates criticize the process as non-transparent and hasty. On an area of about 135,000 square meters, residential or administrative buildings are to be constructed. However, one of the options is also the construction of a new National Library building.

"I can confirm that the city district council approved the intention to support the amendment of the zoning plan at its meeting on Monday, thus allowing for further debate regarding potential construction in the area above the railway yard of the main station," Zoulová stated.

The investor presented the intention to the city hall last November, and it was subsequently discussed several times by the development committee, which recommended that the councilors support the proposal. "It should be added that this is in no way a consent from the city district for the construction of a specific project. An open international urban competition and several architectural competitions for individual buildings will be realized. Prague 2 will actively participate in the development of these competitions," Zoulová stated. According to her, the city hall wants to assume the role of a moderator in the subsequent public debate.

According to company spokesperson Martin Lánský, Penta would like to develop this location in the future. He believes that the possibility of constructing a new National Library building should also be considered here. "We are pleased that the city and the city districts will address this issue (the amendment of the zoning plan). The location of the main train station is one of the last in the city center where a large public building can be created," Lánský added today for ČTK.

On the other hand, the opposition Pirates from Prague 2 criticize the procedure, claiming that the proposal was not discussed with the city hall, conservationists, or the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR). Therefore, they disagree "with this non-transparent and hastily constructed procedure" and demand public participation. Every similarly significant change must be preceded by expert and public discussion with all stakeholders, they stated in their statement.

According to opposition councilor Radek Zykan (Pirates), the development committee only discussed the proposal as a conceptual study intended to initiate public debate. "We were surprised when, within a very short time frame, another meeting took place regarding the initiation of the process for amending the zoning plan, especially through an expedited procedure," he stated.

The company Penta is currently building houses in the vicinity of the nearby Masarykovo station. For example, a building designed by the architectural studio of Zaha Hadid stands here, and Penta will build a platform above the railway tracks as part of the reconstruction of Masarykovo station. It will enable people to cross from Florence to Hybernská Street and from Masarykovo to the main station.