The leadership of Prague approved the study of the Cargo Station Žižkov and announced the competition

Prague - Prague councilors approved an urban study according to which a new district is to be created in the area of the Žižkov Freight Station (NNŽ) in the future. The councilors also decided to prepare architectural competitions for an elementary school in the station building and for public spaces, including a large park. They also approved a study of Jarovská Street, which is intended to connect the new development with the planned city ring road.

In recent years, representatives from the city hall, Prague 3, and private investors who plan to build on the large site have been discussing the study. These include companies such as Central Group, Penta Real Estate, Sekyra Group, and Finep.

Central Group has begun construction of the first houses in the northwestern part of the area, but it is first necessary to change the zoning plan for construction in most of the area. The city has been preparing the change since 2009; the study approved today is to serve as a basis for its approval, and both documents should correspond. The study will also serve for the preparation of contracts with developers, which include agreed financial contributions to the city or the arrangement of public infrastructure.

According to the study, up to 15,000 residents are expected to live in the new district in the future, and parks and several school facilities, including an elementary school in the functionalist station building, are to be created there. The city will organize an architectural competition for the school. The city will also announce a competition for the design of a park, which is to be created in the central part of the area, and other public spaces. According to the city hall's plans, a tram line will be built along the northern edge of the area along Malešická Street. The new Jarovská Street will connect the district to the future section of the city ring road.

According to earlier information, the city has pre-negotiated contracts with developers who will contribute about 852.3 million crowns to the city's infrastructure. Additionally, about 702.8 million crowns will be invested by the developers themselves, according to statements by Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček (for TOP 09), in the form of transferring land for the elementary school, constructing the square and parks, and building kindergartens for 650 children.

At the beginning of the year, representatives of a petition from local residents with 3,600 signatures criticized the proposed change to the zoning plan during the council meeting. They argued that the proposal does not include enough space for schools, parks, and other civic amenities, that the population density will be too high, and that the city is not addressing the increased traffic load that the new district will bring.

The functionalist station building itself is owned by České dráhy, which in the past created a joint venture, Žižkov Station Development, with the developer Sekyra Group, which has a preemptive right to the station building. The city is now considering whether to purchase part of the building or to establish a joint venture with Sekyra Group focused on the revitalization of the station and its transformation into a cultural and social center. According to an earlier agreement, the functionalist station is to house the National Film Archive, cultural and social spaces, or an elementary school. Sekyra Group then plans to build apartments and commercial spaces there as well.