Planned high-rise building in Olomouc has opponents

Olomouc - The planned construction of a new high-rise building in Olomouc, which, due to its 75 meters, should share the position of the second tallest building in the city with the town hall, has its first opponents. The project is opposed by the civic association "For a Beautiful Olomouc," which claims that such a tall building would significantly disrupt the panorama of the historical center of the city. The new high-rise landmark of Olomouc is intended to be part of the Šantovka district, which is being developed by SMC Development on the site of the former Milo factory.
     The building, whose project was presented last week, is expected to have 22 floors, and the management of SMC Development estimates the construction costs at 400 million crowns. Approximately 80 apartments are to be available in the building. If SMC Development obtains all the necessary permits, it plans to begin construction of the high-rise building in 2014 and complete it in 16 to 18 months.
     Alexandr Jeništa from the association "For a Beautiful Olomouc" told reporters today that this planned landmark in the protected zone of the urban cultural heritage does not respect the surrounding development and the context of the historic center of Olomouc. Luděk Schmidt from SMC Development, on the other hand, claims that the new building will not disrupt the panorama of the historical center of Olomouc due to its appropriate spatial orientation.
     There are two new high-rise buildings in Olomouc. The Regional Center Olomouc near the main train station reaches 71 meters, and the building of the Moravian University stands at 74 meters. The new urban plan, which has not yet come into effect, does not account for the construction of additional high-rise buildings near the urban cultural heritage reserve.
     SMC Development does not intend to wait for the new urban plan to be approved. If the company obtains permits based on the existing urban plan, it will be able to start construction even after the new version of this document defining the parameters for the city's development comes into effect.
     Jeništa pointed out that such a tall building would be contrary to the principles of regional spatial development, which take precedence over the urban plan of Olomouc. According to him, SMC Development should respect the position of the Ministry of Culture, which expressed opposition to the construction of further high-rise buildings in the protective zone of the heritage reserve during the preparation of the new urban plan for Olomouc.
     "We believe that the state administration in this city will act according to the law. If not, then citizen protests and other options provided by the law will follow. We will defend the silhouette of the city by all possible means," said Jeništa.
     The mayor of Olomouc, Martin Novotný (ODS), told ČTK that the town hall will begin dealing with the project of the new high-rise building at the beginning of next year when the city council should provide its opinion on it. According to the mayor, the new urban plan is likely to take effect only at the beginning of 2014 due to necessary procedures.
     The construction of the Šantovka district, which is being developed on 11 hectares, is expected to cost approximately ten billion crowns. It will include a residential area, a shopping center, and an office complex. The project involves architects from the London studio Benoy.

Overview of the tallest buildings in Olomouc

	Location	Name	Height in meters
1.	Wenceslas Square	Cathedral of Saint Wenceslaus (main tower)	100.65
2.	Upper Square	Town Hall Tower	75
3.	Envelopa	Building of the Moravian University	74
4.	Klášterní Hradisko	Klášterní Hradisko	72
5.	Main Train Station	Building of the Regional Center 2	71
6.	Wenceslas Square	Cathedral of Saint Wenceslaus (front towers)	68
7.	Hejčín	Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius	65
8.	Svobody Avenue	Red Church	55
9.	8th of May	Church of Saint Moric	46