Jihlavané would like as many trees as possible in the square and better restrooms

Jihlava - Jihlava residents would like as many trees as possible and better restrooms in Masaryk Square; they are also interested in potential modifications to the department store in its center (formerly Prior) or transportation solutions. This emerged from today’s online debate regarding the architectural study for the modification of the city’s central area, which the city council intends to gradually implement in the coming years. The authors of the study from the MCA studio stated that they propose to double the number of trees to one hundred.

"What is probably the reason why residents desire more trees is climate comfort," said Pavla Melková from the MCA studio. Proposed water features and types of paving should also contribute to this. When planting trees, the authors of the study had to take into account the existence of catacombs under the square. "We are aware of the underground," said Miroslav Cikán.

Masaryk Square, covering an area of 3.7 hectares, is one of the largest in the country and is part of the city's heritage reserve. The estimated cost of the proposed modifications to the square is, according to previous city data, 200 million crowns excluding tax. As Deputy Mayor Petr Ryška (ODS) stated today, the city will carry out the modifications in phases. "We will certainly try to obtain some co-financing," he said.

The city hall is also planning to create new restrooms in the center. Deputy Mayor Martin Laštovička (for KDU-ČSL) agreed that the current state of underground public restrooms in the square is unsatisfactory. As he mentioned, it would be best to place the new restrooms on the ground floor of the municipal buildings. "It will probably not just be a single public restroom," he said. Given the size of the square, restrooms should be in both its upper and lower parts.

The biggest defect of Jihlava's square is considered to be the department store built in the place where a group of medieval houses, known as Krecl or Špalíček, was demolished in the 1970s. The study also addresses possible modifications to this building and its large loading ramps. City representatives agreed that the private property can only be incorporated into the new concept with the owner's permission. "We are collaborating with him," said Laštovička.

The study follows an architectural competition that concluded in 2018. It was prepared by the winning studio MCA, represented by Miroslav Cikán, Pavla Melková, and Radek Novotný. The presentation of the study, streamed live on Facebook in the evening, was watched by dozens of people. The public can express their opinions on the proposal published on the city website until May 20.