Prague City Hall has approved an agreement to exchange land and properties valued at approximately CZK 1.7bn ($79.5m) with the state. Under the deal, the city will receive a building on Hybernská Street and the Karlín barracks, which includes three buildings and four plots of land, among other properties. Meanwhile, the state will receive most of the area of the Bulovka Hospital from the city. Other properties included in the exchange are two plots of land in the TJ Sokol Praha Královské Vinohrady complex and buildings in Střížkov, Prosek, and Záběhlice. The land at Bohdalec was removed from the approved package due to ongoing negotiations, while the council and municipal representatives are still to support the agreement. The negotiations began several years ago, and the disagreement over the Bohdalec exchange slowed the process. The exchanged properties were valued at approximately CZK 10.6m, which the capital will pay.

The city has been seeking to acquire state land in the Bohdalec area to create affordable housing, but the state has so far refused. Discussions between the two parties will continue over the state acquiring Faust’s House on Karlovo náměstí and the exit stations of Prague firefighters from the city. In return, the city is expected to receive Veleslavín Castle, among other properties. Councilor Adam Zábranský of the Pirate Party said that negotiations between the city and state are not over, but this agreement marks an important step forward.

Article by Prague Forum