České Budějovice are considering a major renovation of the Slavie cultural house

photo: Aktron, Wikimedia Commons

České Budějovice - České Budějovice are considering a comprehensive renovation of the cultural house Slavie. For now, they will have a feasibility study conducted for the project. The estimated costs for the extensive renovation would range approximately between 100 and 150 million crowns. Modifications to the building in the city center could begin next year. City representatives informed journalists about this today.

"After processing the economic feasibility study, we will also find out whether the renovation will be financed by the city or if a potential operator will also participate," said Deputy Mayor of České Budějovice Petr Podhola (ČSSD). If a party expresses interest in co-financing, the city would sign a long-term lease contract for the cultural house with them.

Podhola noted that there is still an alternative of partial repairs to the building. However, according to him, this step would not be effective. "Several minor renovations have been made in Slavie in the past. The city leadership would welcome a comprehensive renovation in its current state. This means that it would not involve any extensions," said Podhola.

Currently, two clubs are operating in the ground floor spaces of the cultural house Slavie, where various events take place. However, the dominant feature of the building is the large hall on the first floor, which is minimally utilized. In the past, businessman Jan Nedvěd from the company Mane holding expressed interest in the cultural house Slavie. "For now, we do not want to discuss potential partners who might contribute to the financing of the renovation," Podhola stated today.

Originally a German community house, it was built between 1871 and 1872. It was designed as a cultural, social, and political center for the German community in České Budějovice. Under Hitler, it became a center for German nationalist Nazism, later it housed the regional secretariat of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ), then it was handed over to the city, and later served the army. In 1962, the state transferred it back to the city.