Repairs to Wenceslas Square are delayed due to disagreements over the garages

Prague - The repair of Wenceslas Square is delayed due to disagreements over the planned construction of underground garages. Heritage conservationists dislike the access ramps that would lead underground. Prague 1 does not want to approve the start of work until there is clarity regarding the garages. The mayor of the first city district, Oldřich Lomecký (TOP 09), told reporters today. Discussions about the reconstruction of the square have been ongoing for several years.
    Prague 1 and heritage conservationists agree that cars should disappear from its surface after reconstruction. The municipality would like to build new parking facilities beneath the square's surface. They are considering three options for where these could be located. One variant is a huge parking lot under the planned development project between Wenceslas Square, Panská Street, and Na Příkopě Street.
    According to the proposal, the access ramps would lead to the lower part of the square. However, heritage conservationists from the Czech National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) disagree. According to Ondřej Šefců from NPÚ, the question is whether such monstrous garages with a capacity of about 450 vehicles are necessary. They would unnecessarily bring traffic to a square that should become a quiet zone, according to conservationists. "We requested that the possibilities of exits be checked as well," said Šefců, adding that they suggested the possibility of an exit to Panská Street. However, according to Lomecký, traffic experts rejected this variant for capacity reasons.
    Šefců proposes that preparations for the reconstruction of the square begin before all questions regarding the design of the garages are resolved. However, Prague 1 does not like this idea. "We do not want to start building without having this resolved. In this deadlock situation, we will not invest public money," he noted. According to Šefců, everything is a matter of negotiation. "I do not see it as an insurmountable obstacle," he added.
    The repair of Wenceslas Square has been discussed for several years. The reconstruction project was developed as early as 2005 by Cigler Marani Architects. The leadership of Prague, for example, considered whether to bring trams back to the square. However, they ultimately rejected this idea.
    The leadership of Prague 1 also wants to present to the district council a limitation on the number of stalls that will be placed on the square in the future. According to the municipality's concept, there should be six stalls in the upper part of the square and six in the lower part. The vendors of refreshments, newspapers, and flowers would equally share the stalls. The main city will decide what stalls will be on Wenceslas Square and in what quantities. Lomecký hopes that any decision made by the council will be respected by the Prague leadership.
    Originally, there were twenty-three stalls on the square selling refreshments, flowers, and newspapers. However, at the end of last year, Prague terminated lease agreements with most operators. The closure of the stalls generated significant emotions and public attention. The stalls gradually ceased operations, but some still remain on the square today. The city has filed a lawsuit for eviction as a result.