The ministry is set to make a decision on the Gothic cellars in the near future

Prague - In the coming days, the Ministry of Culture is expected to decide whether to declare the Gothic cellars near National Avenue in Prague a cultural heritage site. People familiar with the case fear that only a part of the cellars will be preserved as desired by the investor of the Copa Center construction. A demonstration in support of preserving the Gothic cellars will take place on Sunday in front of the Ministry of Culture.
    Supporters of declaring the cellars a heritage site, who do not want to speak publicly out of fear of confrontation with the ministry or the investor, criticize the ministry for yielding to the developer's pressure. They consider the surprisingly well-preserved cellars to be a significant monument that should be preserved. The cultural heritage status has previously been declared, but Minister of Culture Jiří Besser (TOP 09) revoked that decision in July. He returned the matter to officials for further examination. His decision has sparked criticism.
    A new decision is expected soon. Ministry spokesperson Stanislav Brunclík currently does not have a specific date. According to him, it is not possible to predict how the decision will be made.
    People who know the details of the case fear that the verdict will align with the investor's wishes for the multifunctional building that is to be constructed above the cellars. This investor is businessman Sebastian Pawlowski, who has previously been frequently associated with the leadership of Prague. For example, he rented the Škodův Palace to the city council. According to ČTK information, the Copa Center is now demanding that the southern part of the cellars, which intersects with the planned construction, not be declared a heritage site.
    According to unofficial information, Besser was supposed to personally meet with Pawlowski regarding this matter. "It is possible, but I would doubt it," said Brunclík. He added that the minister "undoubtedly initiated some negotiations, as this is a deadlock situation", but he does not intervene in the decision-making of the heritage protectors. ČTK has also reached out to representatives of the Copa Center with questions, but has yet to receive a response.
    According to the Czech Academy of Sciences, the cellars should be declared a heritage site in their entirety. "None of the objections raised by the Copa Center in the file state that the construction would not be feasible if the cellars are preserved. I think that the loss of five parking spaces really does not constitute a fundamentally significant issue," remarked Jan Mařík from the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences.
    He did not want to comment further on the matter before its conclusion, nor did representatives from the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ). According to the Deputy for Heritage Care at NPÚ Ondřej Šefců, heritage protectors are waiting for a decision regarding heritage protection, after which they will negotiate with the investor about the further handling of the properties.