With the completion of the 1st stage of the Vysočanský mlýn Residential Project, two new streets were created in the area.

We suggested naming them after František Odkolek, an important Czech entrepreneur in the field of milling and baking, and Hubert Gessner, the architect of the steam mill and bread factory in Vysočany. Both of our proposals were unequivocally supported by the Municipality of Prague 9, the topographical commission of the Magistrate of the Capital City of Prague, and finally the names were approved by the decision of the Prague Magistrate Council on 24th July 2023.

The topographic commission described and justified the naming of the streets as follows:

Odkolkova
It starts in the eastern direction from Jandova, north of the intersection of Jandova, Ke Klíčovu and U vinných sklepů streets, passes through the intersection with Gessnerova, turns south and enters the Ke Klíčovu street. František Odkolek (1817 – 1876) was a Prague miller, mill owner and baker, member of the Municipal Council of the Royal Capital City of Prague and founder of the František Odkolek company.

Gessnerova
It starts in the north direction from the Ke Klíčovu street, east of the intersection of Jandova, Ke Klíčovu and U vinných sklepů streets, passes through the intersection with Odkolkova, turns to the west and enters the Jandova street. Hubert Gessner (1871 – 1943), who was a Viennese architect of Czech origin (born in Valašské Klobouky), is considered one of the most important architects of Central Europe in the first half of the 20th century.

Vysočanský mlýn and the Odkolek bakery are the only and significant projects by this architect in Prague.

On 30th March 2022, we published a public promise on this website, i.e. that Metrostav Development, in connection with the revitalization of the former Frey Sugar Factory area, will develop new surfaces at its own expense in the entire scope of Pod Krocínkou Street, i.e. between Stoupající and Nad Klíčov Streets. The promise to invest into new surfaces was given beyond the scope of our duties, as this investment was never part of the planned project as a so-called "conditional investment".

Our promise was published on the suggestion of the local association called Krocan o.s. and was conditioned on our part by smooth progress of the project legislative permitting processes without appeals by the participants within the frame of the pertaining proceedings.

On 8th February, 2023, the Prague 9 building authority issued a planning permit for the revitalization project of the former Frey Sugar Factory area, which was subsequently challenged by an appeal by two participants in the proceedings, the owners of neighbouring properties at Pod Krocínkou Street.

We consider the appeals filed to be purposeful and unfounded, the appeals result (regardless of their possible success) in a considerable delay in the preparation of the project and will result in significant unplanned increased costs on the part of Metrostav Development. Due to the failure to meet the necessary conditions, we are withdrawing our promise to create new surfaces at Pod Krocínkou Street.

We are prepared to offer our promise again if the appeal is withdrawn in a short term.

In the first half of August, we completed the construction of the shell & core of all the buildings in the 1st stage of the Vysočanský mlýn residential project. Despite the difficult situation in the building industry, we managed to do it on time, and over 240 new apartments intended for rental housing will soon be created in Prague 9. Now, other skilled workmen are starting work to lay insulation on the roofs, install windows, make facades, distribute sewage, water, electricity, heating, air conditioning installations and other necessary things for comfortable living. We look forward to the result!

In the beginning of the year, we started demolition of the so-called Dough Factory. It is the last of the dilapidated buildings of the previous bakeries, which could not be used anymore. It stayed on site the longest in order to form a curtain from noise and dust from demolitions and protect, as soon as possible, the inhabitants of Krocínka from negative impact of the on-going construction activities. All of the demolition works will have been finalised by June this year, when the entire area of Vysočanský mlýn will have been prepared for the purpose of future construction development. Thus, only those historical buildings and/or their fragments will stay in the area, which will become a part of the new residential project.

Approximately 75 thousand tonnes of concrete and brick debris originated during the demolition shall still find new use. The material will actually be carefully sorted, recycled, and shall serve again, for example in the form of ecological filling upon concrete mixture production. Thus, also the buildings, which had to be taken down, shall again become a part of Vysočanský mlýn.

Work on preparing construction continues at the site of the former Odkolek bakery, and we continue to fulfil our promises. One of those was to treat the site with respect, which is why we are preserving the original character of the building as well as pieces of history itself.

Besides the administrative building and chimney, we realize the historical value of the south façade and we unanimously agreed to incorporate it into the new residential project. However, it’s first necessary to structurally secure it so the façade survives until construction can begin. The entire south façade has thus been reinforced by 90 tons of iron.
 
We also promised to preserve the canopy that connects the administrative building with the bakery that we had repeatedly used to meet neighbours living in the area to discuss the future of Vysočanský mlýn. To complete the demolition of the bakery the canopy rests upon, we had to reinforce it with long beams to temporarily support it so it can stand independently. Both elements were anchored, and now demolition work could continue.

We carefully consider every project beforehand at Metrostav Development, and Vysočanský mlýn is no exception.