<translation>Prašný výbor supported changes to the plan for the area around Florence, the association criticizes them</translation>

Prague - Prague has completed two amendments to the zoning plan, which aim to facilitate Penta's construction on plots northeast of Masaryk Station and at Florenc. Today, the city's urban development committee supported them, and they will be finally approved by the councilors. The changes are criticized by the organization Arnika, which claims that the plan does not consider affordable housing or sufficient greenery. According to the director of development at Penta Real Estate, Rudolf Vacek, the company plans to maintain the operation of the station, and any potential relocation would be to a place where it has historically been.

Penta has built the office building Masaryčka on some of the land near Masaryk Station, which opened last year. The first of the currently approving amendments to the zoning plan pertains to additional plots near the station heading east, while the second concerns a parcel at Florenc, which includes the bus station. Penta purchased the bus station along with adjacent land in 2023. The company also recently announced architectural competitions for the design of four blocks of buildings at Florenc.

In the past, Penta, in cooperation with the city, held an international urban design competition, which served as the basis for the zoning plan amendments. The city is also preparing an agreement with the investor regarding so-called contributions, which are contributions to the construction of public infrastructure.

According to the Deputy Mayor for Urban Development, Petr Hlaváček (STAN), there were initially reservations from the Ministry of Culture during the discussion of the changes. "There was a fairly long search for agreement with the Ministry of Culture, and thanks to mutual efforts, a solution was found," he said. He added that the agreement includes a reduction in the built-up area coefficient compared to the original proposal.

Václav Vorlíček, head of Hlaváček's office, added that in the eastern part of the area, railway tunnels planned by the Railway Administration under Prague will be coming out, so construction will need to be linked to their development. Vorlíček further stated that the upcoming agreement with Penta stipulates that the investor will contribute to the construction of public spaces, transfer ten apartments to Prague, and build a four-class kindergarten on Rohanský Island.

The shape of the planned development has been criticized by the Arnika organization, which sent an open letter to the city councilors. According to Arnika, the aim of the project is to relocate the bus station and transform the area into a lucrative space for commercial development. The organization believes that a public discussion should take place regarding the potential relocation of the station.

Anna Vinklárková from the Arnika organization stated at the committee meeting today that the proposal arising from the urban design competition considered preserving the current location of the station and constructing above it. She added that the winning concept also included affordable housing and a greater amount of greenery. She labeled the negotiated contributions as insufficient. "Ten apartments and a kindergarten outside of that area seem very minimal to me," she said.

Penta's manager Vacek responded to the criticism by stating that the company is in discussions with the city and the city districts regarding the station and that, unless otherwise stated by the magistrate, it plans to maintain it. "We are working with the option of moving the bus departure area between the arms of the Negrelli Viaduct, where it has always historically been. The aim is to provide better facilities for passengers and overall integration of the station into the area so that it does not create an impenetrable barrier," he stated. He added that the relocation would better connect buses with the metro and the future train station.

Penta's spokesman Martin Lánský further stated that the company is also negotiating with the city about the possibility of incorporating apartments designated for affordable housing. He added that the company will respect the memorandum, according to which 40 percent of the development should consist of housing. Similarly, according to the spokesman, the plans also account for sufficient greenery.