Dominican Square in the center of Brno is awaiting changes

BRNO - Dominican Square and its immediate surroundings, which are part of the historic center of Brno, are waiting for significant transformations. The public will be able to learn more about models presenting the new appearance of this location at the beginning of 2006, said Radomír Jonáš, deputy mayor of Brno, to ČTK today.
In the future, dozens of cars that park there daily are expected to disappear from the square. Drivers will be able to park in a parking garage, the construction of which is planned to begin soon on the nearby Panenská Street. The building will be intended for approximately 300 vehicles.
The well-known Brno passage Jalta, which has been completely closed for some time, should come to life again. City representatives want to create conditions for numerous shops to be renewed after years.
In recent days, Brno has acquired the entire building, where the Jalta passage is located, in exchange for properties. The renovation of the building will cost around 30 to 40 million crowns. It is likely that officials from the city council could move into its upper floors as early as next year.
"Our city council departments are currently located in several places in the city. Citizens spend a lot of time running around to them. We want to put an end to that," explained Jonáš. The individual departments of the city council are expected to be located only in two buildings in the city center in the future - at Malinovského Square and in the building with the Jalta passage.
Mladá fronta Dnes (MfD) reported in recent days that the Brno city council approved an exchange of the building with the Jalta passage for three other properties. The newspaper noted that the entire transaction is being investigated by the police.
Criminal investigators began looking into the case based on a criminal complaint filed by Vojtěch Halámek, a representative of the owners of the pharmacy U Červeného raka. The building with the well-known pharmacy is one of the properties that businessman Miroslav Lekeš is supposed to receive from the city in exchange for Jalta. The pharmacy owners wanted to outbid the businessman and buy the building, but the city did not agree to that, stated MfD.