The capital city will lend Prague 12 for a new town hall

Prague - The capital city will lend Prague 12 a quarter of a billion crowns for a new town hall; the interest-free loan was approved by the council today. The district plans to start construction next year, adding another 220 million crowns from its own resources. Currently, the district office operates in seven different buildings. The opposition criticized the loan, arguing that the capital city should not act as a bank for the districts.

The new building is expected to cost about 470 million crowns. By the end of this year, the district would like to finalize a contract with a supplier, prepare documentation for zoning permission next year, and seek building approval in 2018. Construction is set to begin in 2019, with operations starting two years later. Prague 12 would begin repaying the capital in 2023 over a period of 14 years. "To be honest, we would probably manage to raise the money anyway, but if the city provides us with help, it will be much easier for us," added Jan Marhoul, the Deputy Mayor of Prague 12 (ČSSD).

According to Petr Bříza (TOP 09), all 57 districts could then seek loans. "This council should not be a bank. And if it is, then with significantly different repayment terms," he said during the discussion of the representatives. Pirate councilor Mikuláš Ferjenčík pointed out that Prague "gives away" tens of millions to the districts, which it would otherwise pay in interest. Former mayor of Prague 12 and Prague councilor Petr Prchal (TOP 09) criticized the current city leadership for burdening those who will lead it in two electoral terms.

The original historical town hall of old Modřany was demolished in the 1980s. A plan that involved an official building at Prior on Sofia Square was announced by the then city leadership in 2007. According to earlier estimates, it was supposed to cost between 340 to 390 million crowns. However, only the construction of a shopping passage was completed, where the shops were to be relocated. The advantage of the building was to be its location between the old and new development of Modřany and good transport accessibility.

An analysis of other options commissioned by the district recommends a plot of land between Písková and General Šiška streets, near the current town hall, as the most advantageous from the city-owned lands.

Other districts are also considering new town halls. For several years, Prague 10 has been addressing the move from the Vlasta building in Vršovice. Opposition and citizens opposed the construction project worth three-quarters of a billion crowns. Therefore, the district is now considering the options for renovating the Vlasta building or the old school near the Strašnická metro station.

Prague 7 has also started the renovation of an empty building for town hall needs. "The costs are roughly half, yet the districts are comparably sized," pointed out Ferjenčík.

Prague 8 has already begun constructing a new town hall at Palmovka. The building, costing 1.1 billion crowns, was expected to be completed in March 2016, but is now halted due to disputes over who owns the unfinished building.