Plzeň wants the opinion of architects on the use of the area after the cultural house

Plzeň - Plzeň will announce an architectural-urban competition for the area of the demolished culture house. It concerns 2.4 hectares of land near the center, which belongs to the private company Amádeus, which still plans to build a giant shopping center there. However, this was rejected by the January referendum of the citizens, and the city must now do everything to prevent the construction. Therefore, Amádeus offered the city on Wednesday that it would sell the entire property to the city for 1.4 billion crowns, which Plzeň does not have. The representatives will still discuss the conditions of the architectural competition.
    The representatives did not discuss Amádeus's proposal to sell the land under the planned construction for 1.4 billion crowns today. The economic office of the magistrate will prepare an analysis of the possible financial burden on the city by the next council, by May 23, if Plzeň, which does not have free funds, were to take a commercial loan to purchase the land.
    The result of the architectural competition will serve as a basis for a new land use plan that Plzeň will have in 2016. "The competition should provide an opinion on how the area should be developed," said Deputy Mayor Petr Rund (ODS). The deadline for when the city will know the opinions of architects is not set.
    Deputy Mayor Martin Zrzavecký (ČSSD) informed the representatives about the offer from Amádeus, which valued its land, previous investments in the project, and partial compensation for damages due to the failed investment at 1.4 billion crowns. The offer is valid until May 15. According to Zrzavecký, Amádeus values the project at 4.3 billion crowns.
    "Today we sent a request to the head of Amádeus to extend the deadline until May 24, so we can discuss his offer at the next council meeting on May 23. If they do not accept it, the mayor would call an extraordinary council meeting," Zrzavecký said. Amádeus has no intention of negotiating a land exchange with the city. According to Zrzavecký, the investor still insists on continuing with his project for 2.5 billion crowns.
    "Since the referendum, nothing has happened from the city side. The only concrete step presented after it was by the mayor in January. No actions have been taken that were started, and the opposing legal analysis is not finished either," said opposition representative Michal Vozobule (TOP 09). The competition is currently only in the planning phase; according to him, a previously announced architectural competition could have been utilized. According to Ludvík Rösche (Občané.cz), the city leadership does not want to do anything fundamental and is waiting for the problem to fall into the hands of the incoming representatives.
    "The referendum is being fulfilled; nothing is being built there," said representative Jiří Šnebergr (ODS). He added, however, that if any of the representatives approved the purchase of the rubble for 1.4 billion crowns, he "would give them a phone number for a psychiatrist." He stated that the proposed sum from Amádeus is a signal for a possible legal dispute if they were to sue the city for damages. But there, they would have to document the requested amount somehow, he added.
    "The city has already taken a fundamental and effective step and issued a negative opinion on the ongoing land use procedure," said representative Petr Sova (ČSSD). According to him, it is crucial that the investor has not met the regulatory conditions set by the city.