A new building could rise near the Florenc metro station in Prague

Prague - Prague is considering the construction of a new building at the Florenc metro station and the reconstruction of the station itself and its immediate surroundings. An administrative building for municipal officials and shops could be built here. When and whether the construction and reconstruction will take place, and how much it will cost, is not yet clear.
    The project should be a collaboration between Prague, the transport company (DPP), and the company Billa, which currently has a supermarket there. "We are currently getting a study and financial assessment done to see if it would be beneficial for the city," said councilor Eva Vorlíčková (TOP 09) to ČTK.
    According to a municipal document available to ČTK, the aim of the reconstruction of the area between Sokolovská, Ke Štvanici, and Za Poříčskou bránou streets is to "define the public space of today's unorganized territory." The area around the station is currently considered unused and neglected by the city.
    The repair of the station is estimated to cost about 400 million CZK, while the construction of the building would be around 1.98 billion. The repair of the metro would be managed by the newly established private company Florenc Mall, and DPP would not be paying for it. Exact amounts will emerge from the study that the city will commission.
    An eight-story building with offices covering an area of up to 30,400 square meters is planned to be built above the station. Municipal officials could potentially move into it from leased spaces in the Škodův palác on Jungmannova Street. Such spaces would meet the requirements for modern offices, and the excellent accessibility of public transport would be an advantage, Vorlíčková stated.
    As part of the work, the vestibule of the station on Sokolovská Street should be moved to the underground level, and the current exit would be demolished. The entire reconstruction and construction are expected to take about seven years. This timeframe includes the period required for preparatory and project work.
    In the past, the city considered selling the land to the owner of the neighboring building. However, this ultimately did not happen.