Praha has identified three locations for the new city hall building

Prague - The leadership of Prague has identified three locations where a new city hall building could potentially be constructed in the future. The area around the Na Knížecí bus station appears to be the most likely, as Prague owns suitable land there. In an interview with ČTK, councilor Jan Wolf (KDU-ČSL/Trojkoalice) stated this. City hall officials currently reside in the rented Škodův palác in the city center. They are expected to move into a new headquarters after 2028, when the contract with the owner of Škodův palác, Copa Retail, expires.

The possible construction of the city hall at Na Knížecí would "go hand in hand" with the extensive development project of Sekyra Group. They aim to create a new center for the entire Smíchov area at the site of the former Smíchov freight train station. An area of approximately 210,000 square meters will feature office, commercial, and residential buildings, several public squares, and schools at a cost of 15 billion crowns.

According to Wolf, other possibilities include a building above the Florenc metro transfer station, but he does not believe that location is large enough. Another option is the unfinished project at Palmovka, where a town hall for Prague 8 was planned. However, the case has ended up in court. "The suitability of individual locations will be assessed by the Institute of Planning and Development," said the councilor.

Recently, Prague politicians negotiated an adjustment to an allegedly unfavorable lease agreement concerning Škodův palác. The rental continues. "Establishing a new headquarters is a long-term endeavor. The city will be using Škodův palác for many more years," said Wolf. The palace, where most of the city hall officials are located, has been rented by Prague since 2006 for the original amount of 4.4 billion crowns. In the past, the city filed two lawsuits against Copa Retail due to allegedly overpriced rent but was unsuccessful in court. Recently, Prague achieved a rental discount through an agreement, but it committed to several concessions.