Chrudim hesitates whether to facilitate the completion of the Bohemia hotel

photo: Chrudim News

Chrudim - Chrudim postponed the decision on whether an underground or cheaper above-ground parking lot will be built in front of the unfinished Bohemia hotel. The city has requested an exception; it wants to build cheaper parking. Deputy Mayor Jan Čechlovský (ODS) told ČTK today.

Homa Holding suspended work on the hotel's modernization in 2013 due to a subsidy scandal. The city intends to continue negotiations with the investor. The deputy mayor would prefer the underground option, while the councilors have differing opinions.

"I am convinced that there should be an underground parking lot. We are discussing with people that it is not possible to endlessly expand surface parking lots. We are reducing greenery and other spaces. And it is time to put cars underground," said Čechlovský.

The hotel modernization began in January 2013 and was supposed to be completed in August of the same year. After the reconstruction, the accommodation capacity was to increase, restaurants were to be expanded, and a new congress hall with up to 250 seats was to be created. The total costs were estimated at about 90 million crowns, including equipment.

The completion of the reconstruction was delayed by a police investigation. This year, the regional court punished five people and the company Holding Homa for attempted subsidy fraud. Homa Holding will not receive European subsidies, and the underground two-story parking lot is expensive for it as an investor. Chrudim has previously contributed to the relocation of engineering networks, but only half of the promised 1.5 million crowns. The disbursement of the second half has been postponed until the underground parking lot is approved.

"I prefer that there is not that hotel wreck and a hole in the ground. It is at a roundabout where there is so much traffic that I don't mind above-ground parking that much," said Deputy Mayor Jaroslav Trávníček (ČSSD).