H. Králové is considering an underground parking lot in the center for 200 million CZK

Hradec Králové - Hradec Králové is considering the construction of underground parking garages under the historic Great Square in the city center. With an estimated cost of one parking space at one million crowns and 200 spaces, the investment could amount to about 200 million crowns. City councilor Jiří Langer (for ANO) said this at the council meeting today. The city has decided to have a study prepared on this matter for nearly one million crowns, as determined by the councilors.

Great Square currently serves as a parking lot, which the city wants to change. It aims to restore the square's function as a natural social center. The total renovation of the square, estimated at a quarter of a billion crowns, has been planned by the city hall since 2007. However, due to objections from some residents, who mainly oppose the intended reduction of parking spaces in the square, construction has not yet started. "The effort is to unblock the intention to reconstruct Great Square," stated Deputy Mayor for Investments Jiří Bláha (ODS) regarding the construction of the underground garages.

The opposition criticized the plan for constructing underground garages today. According to Pavlína Springerová (Hradec Democratic Club), previous studies and geological and archaeological surveys have already proven that garages cannot be built under Great Square. Councilor Aleš Dohnal (Pirates) described parking under the square as nonsense.

According to Langer, the city could renovate the square gradually and utilize elements from the original reconstruction proposal by ARN studio of architect Jiří Krejčík. The study should address not only underground parking but also the way to repair the arcades, the street V Kopečku, and the space in front of the Grand Hotel. It should also indicate which repairs can be done without a building permit.

The city is currently in the process of applying for a territorial decision regarding the reconstruction of the square. Since August 2016, this has been handled by the building authority in Hořice, where the territorial proceedings were transferred due to suspicions of bias against the city leadership and the Hradec authority.

For most political entities in Hradec, the reconstruction of the square is a traditional election topic. This was also the case last year before the municipal elections. The previous city leadership had the destroyed sidewalks and crumbling parking surfaces in Great Square temporarily repaired for about 3.5 million crowns before the elections.