Prague 3 in hot seat over Central Group contract

by   CIJ iDesk I
2016-09-30   10:46
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Prague 3’s city councilors approved a contract with the developer Central Group for new construction in the former cargo station in Žižkov district. Opposition groups in Prague 3, however, are criticizing the contract, charging that it doesn’t allow for an overall design solution to be made for the entire zone. Prague’s deputy mayor in charge of urban development Petra Kolínská has asked Prague 3’s mayor Vladislava Hujova not to sign the contract.

The old cargo station has been the focus of years of controversy. Central Group, which purchased part of the land it now owns from Discovery Group, is redesigning that developer’s project for the land which called for the construction of a new shopping center. Instead, Central Group is suggesting shops and flats and restaurants be built on the site, and claims that it came to an agreement with Prague’s Institute for Planning and Development as well as with Prague 3’s mayor that an architectural competition that’s to be held for the area would not include its land.