<Mělničtí> <zastupitelé> <rozhodnou> <o> <nákupu> <památkově> <chráněné> <Žilkovy> <vily> </zastupitelé> </rozhodnou> </o> </nákupu> </památkově> </chráněné> </Žilkovy> </vily> <Mělničtí>

Mělník - The Mělník city councilors will decide on the purchase of the historically protected Žilka villa. The city wants to acquire this valuable building in the city center, which could serve cultural or educational activities. The proposal for the purchase from a private owner will be discussed by the council in December, said Jan Denemark Nováček, spokesperson for the Mělník town hall, to ČTK.

According to Mělník councilor Jindřich Špergl (for TOP 09), the councilors should meet for a working session at the beginning of December. By then, the city leadership should have an expert valuation of the price, as well as an assessment of the building's condition. "We need to know how much the reconstruction will cost," Špergl stated. According to him, a large number of councilors are likely to agree on the intention, but it is necessary to have sufficient information, including usage plans and operating costs. According to him, the building's heritage protection may be a limit for some.

The city leadership is currently negotiating with the real estate agency responsible for the sale, according to Nováček. The purchase price will be determined based on the appraisal, which, according to ČTK information, will likely exceed ten million crowns. Approval of the purchase will likely be on the agenda of the official council meeting on December 15.

The city attempted to acquire the villa back in 2017. It participated in an auction held by the Office for State Representation in Property Matters (ÚZSVM). The city council allocated 6.6 million crowns for the auction, but a person who paid seven million crowns won.

Žilka's villa, or Villa Marie Neumannová, was built in 1906 in the style of Vienna Secession and is named after the first pastor of the Evangelical congregation in Mělník, František Žilka, who also became its owner. Neumannová had it constructed according to the design of architect Bohumil Hypšman. It stands in a heritage-protected zone of the castle and the historical core of Mělník, and received heritage protection last year.