Locals oppose plans for shopping center

A potential mall project in Prague 7 has sparked opposition from a citizens' group that says it would draw increased traffic to an already-congested neighborhood, harm existing businesses and detract from nearby green spaces.

The group, called "Letná sobě," or "Letná for Itself," referring to the surrounding neighborhood, has initiated a petition against a plan to build a new 30,000-square-meter shopping mall on Veletržní street just opposite the National Gallery's Veletržní palác, arguing that the building represents an "undignified solution for an exceptional spot."

The lot in question used to house municipal offices and is now vacant. Its proximity to nearby Stromovka Park has sparked an outcry from those who say the project could threaten an area meant to be a pastoral space of relaxation rather than a commercial zone.

Letná sobě argues that a quarter now dominated by greenery is under threat, as are the existing small businesses.

Kateřina Vídenová, an architect and member of the initiative, said she is "bothered by the lack of architectural concept in the neighborhood's development and the nonexistence of an obligation to call architectural and urban competitions for significant buildings."

"The construction of a hypermarket would inevitably increase the traffic density in places that are already on the edge of gridlock, and it would lead to failure for existing retailers who significantly contribute to the quality of life in Letná," she said.

The group's petition, which has some 4,500 signatures, calls for the Prague 7 municipality to immediately cancel the current lease on the property, which the Lordship Company has secured for 105 years, and calls for a public architectural competition each time the construction of a significant building occurs, in particular on city-owned land.

Prague 7 municipality spokesman Martin Vokuš said he is aware of the petition, but added that "its purpose is debatable since the project is not so up-to-date."

According to Vokuš, the Lordship Company behind Galerie Stromovka - as the retail project is called - also submitted an application for constructing a new district town hall in the same spot.

Prague 7 is at present considering four different options to relocate its own outdated offices and plans to decide on a future home by the end of the year, Vokuš said.  

The mall project still has not received a building permit, but authorities have issued a permit to construct 500 parking spaces.

"If the municipality doesn't choose our proposal for a new town hall building, we will proceed with our commercial project, as planned," said Jan Zamrzla, a Galerie Stromovka project manager for Lordship Company.

He added that the company plans to finish construction, regardless of what goes on the site, by the end of 2012.

While Zamrzla said he met with the Letná sobě protesters, he also said their demands were unreasonable.

"I explained that we addressed six different architects to choose the final version of the project," he said, adding that it is simply not possible to address every concern of nearby residents.

"We were willing to discuss the facade appearance prior to the petition being launched, but then I learned that residents organized a picnic to gather signatures," he said.

Vídenová said Letná sobě has gotten "unbelievable feedback from locals" and that the project represents the continuation of an unfortunate trend in Central and Eastern Europe, where formerly public space is allocated to private, and specifically retail, interests.

"The current consumption boom will wear off, but the shopping centers will unfortunately remain," she said.

Klára Jiřičná can be reached at
kjiricna@praguepost.com