The owner of the corner house on Opletalova Street criticizes the steps of the Ministry of Culture

Prague - The owner of the building at the corner of Wenceslas Square and Opletalova Street perceives the actions of the Ministry of Culture (MK) regarding its potential heritage protection as an abuse of power by a public official. "We see it as a delaying tactic; this year we have lost five months, and overall we are five years behind schedule," said David Chirnside from Flow East in an interview with ČTK.
     The ministry rejected the building, which its owner plans to demolish and replace with a new one, as a cultural monument in September. However, within two months, the minister began taking steps to review the decision of her heritage department. This imposes protection on the building as if it had been declared a monument, meaning it cannot be demolished. "This changes a lot for us," Chirnside said.
     The review process began on December 5; according to MK spokesperson Markéta Ševčíková, the office has up to two months for this. "We see it as a delaying tactic; our lawyers are calculating the damages we have suffered from these delays, and we are considering legal action. The ministry should expect that we will raise claims," Chirnside said. He stated that the costs for the project, including the purchase of the land and building, reach billions of crowns; the new construction is expected to cost another billion.
     Chirnside mentioned that Flow East has owned the building since 1994. "We have done numerous renovations there and have never had any indication that this building should be declared a cultural monument. Flow East owns ten buildings in the center of Prague, seven of which are cultural monuments, and we have always complied with the rules for their modifications."
     He also points out that there are 28 historical buildings directly on Wenceslas Square that are not declared cultural monuments, including the Zlatá husa hotel and the corner building of Matěj Blecha at the beginning of Štěpánská Street. According to the company's representative, the declaration of properties as cultural monuments is non-systematic and often opportunistic - many experts have long pointed this out, as discussions about heritage protection often begin only when a renovation is planned.
     The company also refers to a study prepared by architect Radomíra Sedláková for the magistrate, which in 2007 identified additional potentially protected buildings in the square; the corner building of Flow East was not among them. The fact that the MK is questioning its decision in such a short time is seen by the company as an attempt to stop its project.
     "We have no assurance that we will be able to proceed with this project in this area. Our investment should improve the environment at the beginning of Opletalova Street, which is the gateway from the main train station to Wenceslas Square - there has been a hole from the demolished printing house for six years now," Chirnside said. Flow East purchased the land next to the building six years ago.
     Last year, the heritage department of the magistrate allowed the demolition of the corner building. The MK found its position illegal and revoked it, but only after the legal time limit. The then Minister of Culture Jiří Besser therefore annulled his office's decision, as the building's owner had been relying on the magistrate's decision for six months, and its annulment by the minister could have allegedly jeopardized his investment.
     Last year and this year, people have protested publicly against the project several times; more than the new construction in the center, they are likely bothered by the demolition of a functional building, which may evoke reminiscences of similar interventions by political power in the years before 1989. "We understand that people are sensitive to demolitions in the center, but we believe that it is part of the development of Prague. Many buildings in Wenceslas Square had to be removed in history to make way for new ones, which gives the square its character," said Chirnside.
     Demolitions have occurred recently as well, such as the Diamant department store in 2007. An unremarkable new building is being erected in its place, and the Palace Prague has also been remodeled.