In Kladno, a petition against the sale of land in the center has begun

Kladno - A petition against the sale of lucrative plots of land in the city center began today in Kladno, where a private investor wants to build a multifunctional building. The sale was pushed through by the ruling ČSSD and ODS despite the opposition from both opposition and some coalition councilors. According to the opposition Volby pro Kladno (VPK), which prepared the petition together with some architects, the city is unnecessarily relinquishing its ability to decide on the future appearance and use of the plots by selling them. The petition will last until April 15, after which it will be presented to the councilors, who could change their original decision. This was stated to ČTK by the chairman of VPK and former mayor Milan Volf.
    The councilors decided in January to sell the plots in the city center, covering an area of 2,500 square meters, to a single interested party who would like to start construction of a multifunctional building with commercial spaces, apartments, or garages next year. The minimum price for one square meter was set at 4,000 crowns, so the city will gain over ten million from the sale of the plots. The sale of the plots is also conditioned on the creation of at least 300 parking spaces in the square and approximately one-third of the space being dedicated to public services.
    Politicians agreed that the area needs to be developed. However, according to the opposition, the city is giving up its ability to decide what kind of building will be erected there by selling the lucrative plots. They argue that the city should have first announced an urban and architectural competition so that the best project could be selected according to them.
    According to Volf, the petition is the last chance to overturn the councilors' original decision because they will be approving the purchase agreement with the investor at one of the upcoming meetings. "The petition is the last possible rescue so that Freedom Square is not destroyed," believes Volf.
    The sale of the plots and the construction on Freedom Square have been discussed in Kladno at least since 1999. The councilors have rejected the sale of the plots several times, for example in 2007, when an investor wanted to build a residential and commercial center there.