The Club for Old Prague called a protest against the demolition of the house near Jalta

Prague - The Club for Old Prague has called a protest due to the planned demolition of the building at the corner of Wenceslas Square and Opletalova Street in Prague. People who disagree with the demolition and reconstruction will meet in front of the building on Tuesday at 17:00, the organizers informed today in a press release.
The decision regarding the possible demolition of the building neighboring the Jalta Hotel was made by Minister of Culture Jiří Besser last week. He reportedly wanted to respect the recommendations of the departmental appeal commission, which suggested agreeing to the demolition of the corner building, the courtyard part of the hotel, and the ruins of the former Joint Stock Printing House, whose facade will be preserved. The investor must now apply to the building office of Prague 1 for a demolition permit. It is not yet certain whether it will be granted. The city district of Prague 1 will also express its opinion on the permit.
The building is part of one of the most significant areas of the Prague Heritage Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so the decision has sparked a wave of discontent.
"Please bring banners and also a candle," states the call published by the Club for Old Prague. Participants in the protest will place lit candles at the building of the former Joint Stock Printing House on Opletalova Street, from which, according to the organizers, "not much remains." The building has had its rear part demolished for years, leaving only part of the front facade. People can sign the public civic protest on the club's website.
Against the plan to demolish the building, the former president Václav Havel also expressed his opinion at the beginning of the week. He accepted the intention with regret and fears what kind of "monster" will grow at the demolition site.
A new building is to be constructed in the coming years. According to the project published in the database for the assessment of the environmental impact of construction, the planned new building in the shape of the letter L will have three underground and nine above-ground floors.
The investor is the company Václavské náměstí 19 a.s. The demolition is planned to start as early as this November. The new building is to have two underground levels reserved for parking, four floors with shops, and the remainder for offices. The case has been dragging in the offices since the autumn of 2009, when the investor applied to the city council for a binding opinion on the demolition of the buildings and on new construction in their place.