The gap in the center of Ostrava could start to be developed in 2019

Ostrava - In 2019, planned construction of municipal apartment buildings could begin right in the center of Ostrava. Five buildings, which are intended to function as a unified whole, are to be constructed in close proximity to the Ostrava Museum building on the site of the current parking lot. The New Arcades project is expected to offer 86 apartments as well as underground parking spaces, city councilor Lukáš Semerák (Ostravak) told reporters today.

"Currently, design work is underway aimed at obtaining a zoning decision, which we expect sometime in the first half of next year," Semerák stated. While the city intends to build this block of flats, another part of the area is planned for the completion of a block of houses, but the city would like to offer the plots for construction to a private investor. There are regulatory conditions for this area that define the future volume of construction, meaning the height of the buildings, building lines, traffic solutions, parking, and land use. The city would like to offer the plots for sale next year.

The completion of the block of houses is expected to cost around 275 million crowns. According to Semerák, the city should not have a problem financing such a construction. The apartments are intended to be rental; the city wants to offer affordable housing options for various age groups. The apartments are expected to be approximately 30 to 112 square meters in size, mostly 2 plus KK and 3 plus KK apartments. The underground parking lot will have 162 spaces and will be designated not only for the residents of the buildings but partially also for the public; the complex will also include 700 square meters of space for services. Semerák reminded that the project aims to revitalize the city center, which has been a long-term topic of discussion in Ostrava.

"It was crucial for us that the proposal be created in the context of a place that has a very strong history, and essentially, this place known as the arcades historically gave the area both urban and architectural form," stated architect Martin Tycar from the Prague architectural studio Znamení čtyř - architects. The original buildings with arcades, known as arcades, which were created in the area since the mid-19th century, were demolished at the end of the 1960s. The architects also plan to present the findings uncovered during the current architectural survey.