Prague’s Affordable Cooperative Housing project in Smíchov is a municipal initiative to deliver 266 new middle‑income apartments on Radlická Street in Prague 5, using a cooperative model to reduce costs for local residents.1 The project was approved by the Prague City Council as a public contract and forms part of the city’s broader Affordable Cooperative Housing program aimed at easing the housing crisis for regular-income households.1
The development will stand on city-owned land, which is a key factor in lowering prices compared with standard private developments.1 According to figures quoted from the project, the average cost of a Prague apartment is about 105,561 CZK per square meter, while these cooperative flats are expected to cost roughly 73,893 CZK per square meter, up to 30 percent less than comparable apartments in the city.1 Lower development costs and the cooperative structure are presented as mechanisms to keep purchase prices down for residents rather than investors.1
The housing is intended specifically for long-term residents of Prague, with a focus on middle-income families.1 Eligibility criteria include a documented long-term stay in Prague and not owning other housing, with the city reserving the right to select a portion of applicants individually.1 Priority is given to certain professions and groups considered important or vulnerable, such as police officers, firefighters, teachers, and disadvantaged families.1
The project is developed under the auspices of Prague City Hall / Prague City Council, with financial and conceptual backing from partners including ČSOB, whose regional director for corporate banking has publicly described the cooperative model as one of the important tools for addressing the city’s housing crisis.1