REGION

Ostrava Changes Its Public Space

Ostrava, the third largest city in the Czech Republic in terms of its population and area, is one of the

most attractive targets of investment in the Czech Republic as well as within Central Europe. This is

one of the topics we have discussed with the Mayor of Ostrava, Ing. Tomáš Macura, MBA.

It has been thirty years since the Velvet Revolution.

What is the current economic and social status

of Ostrava?

In my view, Ostrava is doing very well, prospering.

With minimal support from the government at the turn

of the century, Ostrava has succeeded in a crucial socialeconomic transformation. When heavy industries closed

down, over a hundred thousand job positions disappeared.

Ostrava has succeeded mostly thanks to the potential of

its tenacious and meticulous inhabitants. Scary two-digit

numbers of unemployment have decreased to the present

5%, also thanks to city investments in the industrial zones

of Hrabová and Mošnov. The investors operating there

alone have so far generated almost 14,000 job positions.

We have managed to reduce city debt by nearly half,

making Ostrava the city with the smallest debt in the

republic. This was achieved through measures aimed

at the reduction of non-productive costs, an increase in

transparency and improvement of the city’s economy

and the operation of its institutions. The increasingly

better economy of the city is very important as it allows

larger investment in safety and environment, grants to

city districts, etc. We are producing financial reserves

for major investments planned in future. Even if more

finance is needed to perform these plans, as a city we

may use loans with favourable loan terms. Ostrava is now

considered a highly trustworthy partner, well-known for its

smart investments.

The city emphasizes the change of public space.

International architectural competitions have been

announced. What construction projects shall we look

forward to in Ostrava?

Ostrava has the ambition and all the prerequisites

to become a true metropolis with all it entails: from

high quality architecture and attractive housing to job

opportunities and a proper backdrop for leisure.

The street of 28. října in the city centre, and Opavská

street in Ostrava-Poruba, will turn to city boulevards; the

Ostrava-Jih district will get a good square, badly missed in

this part of the city; Republic Square (Náměstí Republiky)

also needs a radical revitalization. “Jiří Myron Theatre“ has

been renovated, and renovations are taking place in the

House of Culture Poklad. The historical building of the

former City Slaughterhouse will become a modern art

gallery. Ostrava shall also contribute to the financing and

organization of the construction of the Moravian-Silesian

Scientific Library.

Of course, I need to mention the greatest and most

significant international architectural competition,

regarding the construction of a new concert hall,

concluded this June. The winner is the famous American

studio Steven Holl Architects teamed up with Architecture

Acts from Prague. By the end of 2021, all stages of

the planning and design will have finished, and the

54 ǀ POSITIV 3/2019

construction shall begin. The plans say the construction will

be completed in 2024, though we sincerely hope and will

do our best to compress the work and open the concert

hall in December 2023. The construction of a modern

concert hall will make Ostrava a significant cultural centre

like those metropolises and will proudly stand in line with

those cities which already have their cutting-edge concert

halls. Those with exclusive architecture and acoustics

undoubtedly nudge the development in culture and

education in their city, and t also enhance tourism in that

area.

Even this brief summary proves that Ostrava is going

to experience huge architectural changes and urban

development as soon as we finish what we have already

begun.

Ostrava annually invites new investors, local and

international, and offers development areas. What are

you going to present at Expo Real in Munich this year?

Investors will be offered investment opportunities in

the very centre of the city as well as in development

zones. One of the primary prerequisites of success is to

bring life back to the historical centre of Ostrava, which

is our priority, together with increasing the number of

residents in this location. At the time of the trade fair, the

competition for projects of rental homes Nové Lauby,

near the central Masaryk Square, will still be running (to

finish on Oct. 31st). We have created a dedicated web site,

www.pozemky.ostrava.cz, with all the relevant information.

Another plan in the historical centre intends to solve

vacant lots near Smetana Square at the Antonín Dvořák

Theatre, and at the Exhibition Grounds (Výstaviště Černá

louka). Primarily we want commercial buildings providing

housing, services and retail to be built there. However,

there can also be office blocks and facilities providing

education, culture, etc. We expect similar functions to fill

the vacant lots in the area of Českobratrská Street.

Industrial zones represent a different kind of opportunity:

Ostrava–Mošnov is a perfect hub connected to dense

railway and road infrastructures and an international

airport, unique by European standards. Investors can

choose lots in fifty-four hectares of city-owned estates.

Mr Macura, you have spent the majority of your

professional career in private enterprise. What steps

in particular is the city taking to enhance the business

environment?

Enterprise, and conditions for its development, speaks

about the quality of life of a society, its economy as well

as of our policies and our prospects. No matter if it is from

the view of an entrepreneur, an employee, a student or

a senior. Enterprise generates values which a society needs

so as to look after the good quality of life of its citizens.

The city authorities do their best to facilitate the best

possible business environment. In close cooperation