Praha wants to negotiate with property owners about the form of shops and advertising

Prague - The leadership of Prague wants to negotiate with property owners and businesses about the exterior appearance of shops or restaurants located in their buildings, as well as about advertising signs. The aim is to cultivate the city's appearance and thus reduce what is known as visual smog. Kristýna Drápalová from the city hall said this to reporters today. The city is also preparing a fund, which will contribute to applicants for the cultivation of the external appearance of commercial spaces. For example, the city has already terminated several currency exchange offices from its buildings.

According to Drápalová, the problem of the Prague monument reserve is not the condition of the buildings, but the appearance and assortment of shops or restaurants. They are often equipped with tasteless advertisements or signboards. "The biggest task is to cultivate the appearance," Drápalová said.

The city hall wants to establish a fund for the cultivation of Prague's appearance, from which it would contribute to changing the appearance of shops and their signboards, windows, and signs. In addition to private owners, the city also wants to negotiate with state institutions regarding the appearance of businesses located in their property.

The city hall will also support monument owners, who can apply for a grant for their repairs. This year, it has 50 million crowns and next year it is supposed to be ten million more.

The leadership of Prague 1 and the city hall is also addressing other unaesthetic manifestations of commerce and tourism in the city center. This includes things like beer bikes, fake vintage cars, or illegal advertising. This March, Prague's councilor for culture Hana Třeštíková stated that the city hall is finalizing an amendment to the street art regulation, which should limit entities in giant bear costumes or people with annoying bubble blowers.