The building authority will continue discussions about skyscrapers in Pankrác

Prague - The building authority of the fourth district of Prague continues to discuss the building permit for skyscrapers that ECM wants to construct on the Pankrác Plain. Civil associations are protesting against this - they want the authority to wait for the opinion of the UNESCO committee, which is set to address the constructions in the summer. However, according to the Prague 4 city hall, such a procedure would be contrary to the law and could lead to sanctions against the city district, said Markéta Aulová, spokesperson for the authority, to ČTK today. The building authority must comply with the deadlines set by law.
"Prague and the fourth city district promised that they would not approve the skyscrapers until UNESCO provided its opinion; the territorial proceedings should not take place at all until at least July," stated Martin Skalský from the Arnika association. However, such a statement or promise was never issued by Prague 4, according to Aulová. "Self-government must not interfere with the decision-making of state administration, in this case, the building authority, nor with the deadlines again defined by law," Aulová explained.
Non-public oral hearings regarding the placement of both constructions will take place on Thursday and Friday at the Prague 4 city hall. According to Aulová, the documentation submitted by the investor will be discussed, and participants may raise their comments if necessary. "The position of the UNESCO organization is not included in the building law, and therefore the building authority may not condition the issuance of a decision on this position," Aulová added. If no one appeals against the decision of the building authority, it will become legally binding. Otherwise, the Prague magistrate will decide on the constructions.
The materials for the proceedings have several shortcomings, according to lawyer Petr Kužvart from the Environmental Studio. Civil associations also criticize the size and arrangement of the buildings, the park design in their vicinity, and the handling of ground floors. They also claim that the investor has not complied with the conditions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and that the transportation connections of the new buildings have not been resolved. "We have provided all the necessary documents and materials," said ECM spokesperson Zuzana Doležalová to ČTK.
According to Kužvart, the removal of Prague from the list of World Heritage is currently not a threat. He also pointed out that the fact that the recent monitoring mission to Prague was attended by the director of the UNESCO Centre, Francesco Bandarin, signals a high assessment of the severity of contentious issues concerning the protection of the Prague Monument Reservation. According to Doležalová, the World Heritage Committee has already expressed that all decisions regarding the buildings will be fully in the competence of the Czech Republic.
A year ago, UNESCO expressed "serious concern" regarding the planned construction of further high-rise buildings in Pankrác. Shortly thereafter, the Ministry of Culture closed the administrative proceedings regarding the skyscrapers and confirmed the magistrate's decision that allowed the buildings. The Pankrác Plain is in the protection zone of the monument reservation.