Jičín has started preparing repairs for the theater it purchased from the Sokol organization

Jičín - The city of Jičín has begun preparing for an expensive renovation of the Masaryk Theatre, which it purchased last year from the Sokol Gymnastic Union. The first step towards starting the reconstruction is to obtain a study and project documentation for repairs estimated at 2.5 million crowns. The Sokol members, who remain minority owners of the property, will also contribute to the costs. Mayor Jan Malý (ANO) said this to reporters today. The reconstruction costs are estimated to be in the tens of millions of crowns, with the main burden of financing falling on the city.

The project documentation for the reconstruction could be completed by the end of 2018. The mayor pointed out that the decision about the actual reconstruction will be made by the new council emerging from the elections in the fall of 2018. "The building from the late 19th century is on the edge of usability," Malý stated. It is necessary to carry out a roof reconstruction, facade, installations, interiors, and air conditioning. The city anticipates that the repairs will be gradual and will take several years.

Masaryk Theatre, located in the pedestrian zone on Husova Street, is a center of cultural and social life in the sixteen-thousand-strong Jičín. Performances, concerts, balls, dance courses, exhibitions, and seminars are held there.

Jičín bought the theatre from the Sokols after complicated negotiations last June for 18.5 million crowns. This opened the way for the repair of the building since the Sokols would not have been able to afford the repairs on their own.

The city acquired the main theatre hall with facilities, a dance club hall, a small hall, and the Srdíčko theatre from the Sokols. The Sokol retained a section with the gym, an apartment, and offices. The shared parts of the building are addressed in the contract through the shared ownership share.