The negotiations of the Liberec Region regarding Ještěd have ended, ČRa will not sell it

Liberec - The negotiations of the Liberec Region regarding the purchase of the mountain hotel and transmitter Ještěd seem to have come to an end. The new owner Czech Radiocommunications (ČRa), which is led by an Australian group Macquarie since last year, no longer wishes to sell the building, said the deputy governor Lidie Vajnerová (SOS) to reporters today. Radiocommunications has owned Ještěd since 2000, and the Liberec Region began negotiating its purchase four years ago. They wanted to reconstruct the unique building and are striving for its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
    "During the last negotiations, I learned that the pension funds owning Ještěd are not interested in selling their asset. The funds are interested in taking care of the property, as evidenced this summer when they began repairs to the building's façade and plan to continue next year," said Vajnerová. However, the region still wants to search for funds for the complete reconstruction of the unique building. Ještěd is in urgent need of renovation, with costs estimated at 400 million crowns. "European funds, the integrated operational program, or Norwegian funds are options. If we succeed in obtaining the funds, we would negotiate with Radiocommunications about leasing Ještěd," added Vajnerová.
    According to ČRa spokesperson Kamil Chalupa, the change of ownership has not affected access to Ještěd. Radiocommunications, according to him, have long been acting in the interest of preserving this unique monument. "Currently, ČRa is trying to find a strategic long-term tenant for the property who would commit to investing in repairs," Chalupa told ČTK. The company is looking for a tenant who will restore the prestige of the place and bring a broader range of quality services for visitors. The Radiocommunications have announced a tender process as early as the beginning of this year, and according to Chalupa, it has not yet been concluded.
    The Ještěd mountain hotel is a Czech construction of the century. The 94-meter-high hyperboloid uniquely combines the functions of a transmitter, hotel, and restaurant. The cornerstone of the building was ceremoniously laid 45 years ago, in July 1966. Its author Karel Hubáček received the Perret Award from the International Union of Architects for the project in 1969. To this day, both experts and laypeople are captivated by the way the building complements the silhouette of the 1012-meter-high mountain. Czech Radiocommunications acquired the building 11 years ago for 85 million crowns, and since then they have invested approximately another 45 million into its repairs.
    The building has been a national cultural monument since 2006, so the owners must cooperate with conservators during repairs. The Liberec Region has commissioned a study on the possible revitalization of the building. Experts recommended respecting the monument's values. A technical survey should be conducted, and a building and historical survey should be completed. According to experts, the living authors should participate in preparing the project, including architect Karel Hubáček, Otakar Binar, statics Zdeněk Patrman and Zdeněk Zachař, or construction designer Václav Bůžek. The study recommends, among other things, removing the later addition of the so-called winter entrance and the provisional glazing of the platform. The interiors should be brought as close as possible to their original form.