The project of the Liberec waterfront has obtained a building permit, the construction will cost 151 million CZK

Liberec - The project for the waterfront and the cultivation of the area surrounding the seat of the Liberec Region has received building permission, with construction expected to begin this autumn. The project, whose costs have been estimated by the architects at 151 million Czech korunas including VAT, is seeking a European grant from the Integrated Regional Operational Programme (IROP), which could amount to almost 44 million. This initiative follows the first phase of modifications to the surroundings of the regional seat, which includes a parking garage for 244 cars, set to be completed in November. This was stated by the deputy governor Zbyněk Miklík (Pirates).

In the second phase, a neglected park will be revitalized, a children's playground will be added, a water feature at sidewalk level, an open staircase to the Lužická Nisa River, and new access to the regional office. "The only construction that is 'emerging from the ground' is a refreshment stand, which is a wooden structure with a public toilet clad in corrugated metal. The main focus is the descent to the Nisa, which has been the most demanding part of the preparation, allowing visitors to descend to the river and dip their feet in the water. A tree will grow there to create a pleasant climate," said the project's co-author David Pavlišta from the studio re: architekti.

The building of the regional office will also receive new access, with a longer access staircase. A paved area will be created in front of the European House, where a stage can be set up for events, as well as a new access bridge over the Nisa to the office. "The bridge in front of the regional office is actually the completion of the vision of the project from the early 1970s by architect Zdeněk Plesník, which planned the construction of a bridge over the Nisa directly in front of the entrance; we will be building a bridge that will be suitable for vehicles but primarily for pedestrians," added Governor Martin Půta (Mayors for the Liberec Region).

The city of Liberec will also contribute its part to the construction of the Liberec Region. "In our case, it's not about the waterfront; we are cultivating the path on the left side in terms of the flow. We will remove the parking lot, turning it into a green space that will be a part of the adjacent park; the Odra-Nisa bike path is also crucial for us," said Deputy Mayor Jiří Janďourek (Mayors for the Liberec Region). According to him, a promenade with seating and a garden of the Administration of the Jizera Mountains Protected Landscape Area will be created on the left bank, connecting to a children's playground.

The waterfront is currently the last project for the reclamation of this part of the city, which the Liberec Region began in 2014 when it purchased buildings and land adjacent to its seat from VÚTS (previously the Research Institute for Textile Machinery). For the area covering more than 11,000 square meters, it paid 125 million korunas, and has already invested another half a billion in the reconstruction of the former administrative building into the European House, as well as the renovation of the former workshops, which today house, among other things, a business incubator. The parking garage and waterfront will cost the regional budget an additional more than 380 million korunas.