The closure of ČP
In March, the state postal carrier, Česká Pošta (ČP), announced that it will close 35 branches of 106 in Prague and 300 branches in the Czech Republic by the middle of this year.
The company’s poor finances, which saw losses of over CZK 1 billion last year, are the main reason for the closures. Because of digitization, the long-term trend in the demand for traditional postal services is decreasing. Over the past five years, interest in these services at ČP branches has decreased by 40 %.
ČP announced that the closures would predominantly affect larger towns and cities in order to avoid people in villages and small areas being left without a post office altogether. There will be significant changes in the centre of Prague. Especially Vinohrady will be affected by the closure of four ČP branches: offices in Bruselská, Italská, Chrudimská and náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad. Žižkov will have three fewer branches from July this year on Koněvova, Kubelíkova, and Roháčova streets.
New apartments
Prague City Hall would like to take over some of the post offices that are being decommissioned so they can be converted into rental housing for young people. The city has long had a housing crisis, and the construction of new apartments has been slowed by bureaucracy. This is the reason why it’s trying to find ways to expand housing for its residents and sees the post office restructuring as a great opportunity.
The city’s first project is to acquire part of a post office building on Moravská Street in Prague 2. The building also contained a hostel, which could easily be converted into small flats. Prague Deputy Mayor, Alexandra Udženija, said one of her priorities is apartments for young people who cannot afford to buy or rent an apartment in the current market situation.
City Councilor Adam Zábranský said this transformation could be a “win-win” from his point of view: the ČP will get the money it needs, and the city will get a building in return, which it can further develop for the benefit of the people of Prague.
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