The capital city approved the plan to transform the Holešovice market

Prague - The Holešovice market is set to undergo transformation. Prague City Council today instructed officials to begin working on projects for the transformation of individual market buildings as well as its overall development. This is based on a study that the city hall has had available for several years. Currently, many buildings are empty and in poor condition; according to the study, there should be space for farmers' markets, culture, or a large "meat" restaurant in the area. Prague will also begin negotiations with potential new operators of the brick buildings in the market. The city hall is involved in a protracted legal dispute with a former tenant.

"The first modifications should be visible this autumn," said city councilor for property Karel Grabein Procházka (ANO). For now, these will be more minor changes; the city hall will begin investing in infrastructure and engineering networks. Repairs are also expected for the brick houses, of which there are about 30 in the area.

As one of the first buildings, the city intends to reconstruct the meat market, which is to become the centerpiece of the area. "The idea is to restore the function of dining to the building, creating a concept of a large 'meat' tavern that operated here before World War II," states the approved document. The restaurant would offer various types of quality meat, complemented by a wide selection of beers, and have a capacity of over 200 seats. The estimated costs for revitalizing the meat market are 89.8 million crowns excluding VAT.

Part of the costs for the renovation could be covered by the future operator of the business. Similarly, the city wants to negotiate with other tenants, who, according to Procházka, have already expressed interest and the city hall will begin negotiations with them. Contracts will now be drawn up with a long notice period to encourage tenants to invest in the buildings. Currently, contracts have a three-month notice period.

The city has had a transformation study for the area since 2014, which will serve as a basis. The document proposes dividing the market into several zones, where there would be farmers' and handicraft markets, shops, as well as cultural, sports, and gastronomy spaces. Stalls will disappear from the connecting axis between the northern and southern entrances to the area, and this should transform into a promenade with two main areas - one for hosting markets and cultural events and the other for relaxation and seating. In preparing the changes, the city hall is collaborating with Prague 7 and the city's Institute of Planning and Development.

Since 2012, Prague has been involved in a legal dispute with a former tenant, Delta Center. The current city hall leadership initially planned to settle with the former tenant out of court but has reassessed this plan and now wants to let the courts decide, as Prague has, according to Procházka, a good chance of winning. It is still unclear who will manage the area in the future; a new private company or the city through one of its companies is being considered.

Currently, the area of the former slaughterhouse houses, among other things, a shopping center, restaurants, but also a theater and traders. The buildings are in poor condition. Many of them are still unused. Additionally, unsightly stalls mar the market. The area has been a cultural monument since 1993. The city hall requested the cancellation of the monument protection for the entire area in 2012 and proposed to declare only certain buildings as monuments. The Ministry of Culture, however, did not agree at that time.