Slatiňany are preparing a competition for Kabeláč's Mill

Slatiňany (Chrudimsko) - Slatiňany is preparing an architectural competition for the renovation of the former Kabeláč mill, which is located near the castle. The building has been empty since the 1990s, and the city wants to establish a community center there, possibly including a library. Ivan Jeník (SNK-ED), the mayor, told ČTK.

"Our task was to create a community hall plus an information center, and if a library can fit in there, then also a library, as well as rooms for associations that are not established by the city. We would also like to beautify the surroundings to match the old buildings," said the mayor.

The water mill has been mentioned in records since the 16th century, belonging to the Panoch and Kabeláč families. During the communist regime, it was transformed into a smaller textile factory of the Modela company for clothing production. Gradually, two additional buildings were added to the mill. Since the late 1990s, the textile factory has been abandoned. The courtyard serves as a parking lot.

"In order for employees to fit there during the previous regime, it was completely rebuilt. Modela has been abandoned for several years and is falling into disrepair, next to the castle it looks like a sore thumb," said custodian Jaroslav Bušta.

In the second half of May, architects are to submit competition designs, from which the city will select the most successful one. The representatives will decide on them, and the city hall will probably also present the proposals to the public. The renovation of the former mill will be supervised by conservationists because it is located by the castle and is in a landscape conservation area.

The city has set a limit of 40 million crowns for the project and will look for opportunities to obtain national, European, and regional grants. In the coming months, the city hall must commission project documentation and prepare for building permits.

"We can create a beautiful project for 150 million crowns, but no one will pay for that. In the past, we renovated the Swiss house into a museum of old Kladruber horses for 30 million crowns, of which we obtained 23 million crowns from European grants. So, we will be going this route," said Jeník.