People in Kutná Hora are signing a petition against the construction in Malín

Kutná Hora - People in Kutná Hora are signing a petition against the construction of a new residential neighborhood in the Malín area. They mainly object to the planned construction of four thirteen-story buildings, which they believe do not belong in the area. The collection of signatures began on Sunday, and in one day the organizers gathered 500 signatures, 350 of which were from Malín residents. The petition was presented at today's municipal council meeting. The General Director of the development company Marlo KH, Martin Louda, defended the construction at the meeting. According to him, it is a modern ecological project that will benefit the city. Many people attended the meeting, with some standing or sitting on the ground. Some even brought banners with slogans saying "Stop the construction of high-rises in Malín."

According to the petition, the construction does not respect the village character of Malín, which is a suburb of Kutná Hora with a millennium-long tradition. "The construction of thirteen-story high-rises would influence not only the view of Malín and the surrounding landscape in an absolutely unacceptable way, but it would also severely affect the view of Kutná Hora with its world-famous monuments and panoramas under UNESCO protection," stated the authors of the petition.

City councilors also reject the plan; according to Kateřina Daczická (ODS), it is a megalomaniacal project that does not belong in Malín. Councilor Ivo Šanc from STAN and SNK stated that these would not be apartments for families, but a boarding house near the train station, from where residents would leave for work. Senator Bohuslav Procházka (KDU-ČSL) emphasized that modern architecture must correspond to the environment in which it is located.

Architect Jiří Smolík addressed the critics' concerns in a video presented by the developer. He claimed that it is an airy solution, better than trying to maintain a constant height of nine- to eleven-story apartment buildings located in the lower part of the city. "This height, in the sum of more objects and units, would cause the buildings to merge into one large mass from a distance, appearing much bulkier than our version of four slender and independent towers," said Smolík. He pointed out that the concentration of volume into taller buildings and the minimization of the built-up area would create a significant amount of recreational space and greenery.

In Malín, residential buildings are planned for about 1,000 inhabitants, and several row houses are also under construction there. Louda stated that the project is fully in line with the strategic plan of Kutná Hora, whose priorities are to be met by 2025. According to him, it will lead to the development of services and the creation of new jobs. He also noted that Kutná Hora is facing a decline in population and revenue from tourism. According to him, the project in Malín could serve as an inspiration for other investors.

According to councilor Jan Havlovice (Alternativa pro Vás), the developer exploited loopholes in the urban plan. Mayor Lukáš Seifert (ODS) previously stated that the city hall does not have many options to influence spontaneous development in the city. He considers it a mistake that Kutná Hora lacks a regulatory plan alongside the urban plan. The urban plan indeed lacks height restrictions for Malín. At the next council meeting on September 12, the mayor stated that the initiation of work on preparing a regulatory plan for areas that are not adequately protected and regulated will be approved.