Councillor: The construction in Bubny does not threaten the Olympic village

Prague - The construction in Bubny in the seventh district of Prague, planned by Orco, does not threaten the city hall's plans for the development of part of the Olympic Village. CTK was informed today by councilor Martin Langmajer (ODS). The developer may not even be hindered by the zoning plan, which currently does not allow construction in the area. The change is supported by both the Prague 7 municipality and the city hall.
    "We will definitely support the change in the zoning plan," Langmajer stated. A study by the director of the city's development department, Bořek Votava, who examined the collision of both plans, also indicates that the construction would not jeopardize the Olympic intention. "If the Olympic stadium were built in Letňany and could not accommodate the entire campus, then part of it should be there," explained Langmajer. Last week, Orco also visited Mayor Pavel Bém (ODS) regarding their plans.
    Bubny is one of the options for the construction of the Olympic Village, with others being in Letňany, Čakovice, and Kbely. A report by Kolpron from 2007, however, evaluated the Bubny variant as the most expensive, also pointing out a possible discrepancy between the owner's intentions and those of the capital city. On the other hand, the proximity to the city center would be an advantage.
    The Prague 7 municipality also agrees with the change in the zoning plan. "The proposal of the company, which is the majority owner of the land in the area, largely aligns with the intentions that the Prague 7 council has approved in relation to the area," said Mayor Marek Ječmének. However, Orco needs to make some adjustments. "According to our vision, a mixed-use urban core should emerge here with a central park area that will naturally connect Lower Holešovice and Letná," added Ječmének.
    The change in the zoning plan is also considered reasonable by Prague 7 councilor Ondřej Mirovský (Green Party). However, he is concerned about the heritage-protected railway buildings. "The investor's goal is to abolish the heritage protection of the buildings, which would allow their demolition," Mirovský told CTK. Another question, in his opinion, is how to solve the railway connection between the city center and the airport. "Ideally, it would be placed underground, but it intersects with the metro," Mirovský added. The Greens would also be reluctant to see an exclusive residential district with high-rise buildings in Bubny. Instead, they would like to see starter apartments or senior housing there.
    Orco paid 1.1 billion crowns for 25 hectares of land. The company won the tender for the sale of railway land from the Railways Transport Administration. In Bubny, it plans to build apartments, relaxation areas, sports facilities, commercial, and office spaces. The developer also plans to construct a hospital and a university campus.
    According to Mirovský, it can be expected that the developer's plans will not be liked by some local residents. "In the next 15 years, it will be the largest battleground for local citizens with the investor over what should and should not be there," Mirovský added. However, he believes this is understandable as the construction will drastically change Prague 7; he considers it one of the largest development areas in Central Europe.