The signatories today signed a memorandum on the Žižkov Freight Station

Prague – Participating institutions and companies today signed a memorandum regarding their contribution to the modifications of the Žižkov Freight Railway Station in Prague. Representatives of the Prague City Hall, Prague 3, the Ministry of Culture, the National Film Archive (NFA), Czech Railways, Sekyra Group, and Žižkov Station Development should prepare projects for the modification of the entire area within two years, including apartments, civic amenities, and offices for various institutions. This is an investment of approximately two billion crowns. This was reported today by Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (CSSD).

"The spaces of the Žižkov Freight Railway Station and its surroundings need to be civilized. More participants are gathering who want to contribute to the cultivation and revitalization of the entire environment. The Ministry of Culture is entering the project because it should have its part there, where it is interested in placing the headquarters of the National Film Archive," Zaorálek noted.

By signing the memorandum, the participants declare their interest in renovating the building of the Žižkov Freight Railway Station, which is a cultural monument. They also express interest in the creation and development of a new public space in the courtyard of the building and the construction of urban, mainly residential development in the surrounding area. The creation of parks and their connection with existing greenery is also planned there. The transportation connection of the new center will be served by a new tram line in the future.

"The modifications will lead to the creation of probably the largest enclosed public space with an adjacent square and park in Prague. The result of our cooperation will be the establishment of cultural and social spaces of citywide significance," said Luděk Sekyra, Chairman of the Board of Sekyra Group.

In the transformation of the former train station building into a modern center, the construction of a new educational facility is also being prepared. The front building is to be used for the NFA, which will relocate its professional workplaces, library, and Kino Ponrepo to the new headquarters.

The agreement on the further use of the Žižkov Freight Railway Station building was approved by Prague councilors this January. The property resolution itself, according to councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09), is likely to take place in 2022. The city approved in the last electoral period to purchase the extensive functionalist building itself, but the new leadership, considering the necessary reconstruction costs, proposed a co-ownership plan.

The building itself has an area of approximately 60,000 square meters, according to councilor Chabr. He added that the costs for the city to purchase the part it should use will likely be about a third of the originally planned amount for purchasing the entire building, which an appraisal determined at 660 million crowns.

The fate of the station, which ceased operations in 2002, has been under discussion for years. Initially, it was to give way to development, but due to pressure from activists, its demolition was called off. According to a study by the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), a district for up to 15,000 residents should be established in the surrounding lands in the future.