The conversion of the unused hospital into apartments will cost Jablonec nad Nisou 300 million CZK

Jablonec nad Nisou - Jablonec nad Nisou plans to transform a long-unused children's hospital building on Petra Bezruče Street into a residential building. The costs are tentatively estimated at 300 million crowns. The city is preparing an open, single-phase architectural competition for the proposed solution, which includes the reconstruction of the historic building and the construction of an additional residential building on the premises. The costs of the competition have been estimated at 1.7 million crowns, said city hall spokesperson Jana Fričová to ČTK today.

The building on Petra Bezruče Street, completed in 1931, has been empty and deteriorating since 1998. A similar plan to convert it into social housing had been proposed by the city's leadership 14 years ago, but that plan was ultimately abandoned. "The competition is focused on the proposal for the conversion of the former hospital into a building with city apartments and additional facilities as well as the overall cultivation of the land. We expect not only a rational solution for the transformation but also a sensitive approach to the architectural qualities of the historic building. An integral part is also a proposal for additional residential development," added Deputy Mayor Jakub Chuchlík (Pirates).

The hospital is expected to have at least 23 apartments ranging from 23 to 75 square meters, including one parking space for each apartment. "The typological mix of apartments has been chosen to provide space for young families with children, supported professionals, as well as seniors or individuals with disabilities," said Dita Procházková from the city's architecture office. The new building should contain at least 20 apartments ranging from 1+kk to 4+kk, measuring from 30 to 85 square meters, along with the appropriate number of parking spaces.

The former children's hospital was built in 1931 on an area of about 720 square meters as a healthcare facility, featuring three floors with an attic. Since 2005, the city has repeatedly attempted to sell the building for conversion into a senior residence, a care home, a hospice, or an apartment building. The sales have ultimately fallen through each time. The building is empty and deteriorating, and according to Fričová, elements of the integrated rescue system occasionally use it for training exercises.

"The architectural competition's assignment is divided into two parts," Chuchlík stated. Part A pertains to the reconstruction of the former children's hospital, and the city has applied for a grant from the National Recovery Plan for its project documentation. Part B relates to the new construction. Its project preparation may have a different timeline, and the city will be looking for an investment partner for the implementation. "Both parts will be operationally and constructively independent of each other, and the proposed solution will allow phased realization," added the deputy mayor.