The Machoň Passage in Pardubice still has no buyer

Pardubice - The Pardubice passage, built in the 1920s according to the design of Ladislav Machoň, is likely to have a hard time finding a buyer who would bring it into an appropriate condition. Construction is currently sluggish due to the financial crisis, so the city will probably have to consider whether it will undertake the costly modernization itself. This was stated today by Mayor Jaroslav Deml.
    "The City Development Fund of Pardubice has extended the sale deadline until the end of the year, and there are currently no interested parties. Just like in the case of the airport, there is a backup option for the city to undertake the investment itself," noted the mayor.
    Through the fund, the city could have earned at least 130 million crowns from the passage, but developers are currently hesitant with costly projects. In the case of the airport, the city and the region are preparing a project to expand the terminal on their own, with the expectation that a strategic investor will join later. This involves hundreds of millions of crowns, which both entities do not have in their budgets. According to Deml, this model is also possible in the case of Machoň’s passage, whose modernization could cost 250 million crowns, at least according to last year's estimate.
    The passage is built in the art deco style and is listed among the heritage-protected buildings. The upper floors contain apartments, while the ground floor has shops. According to architect Aleš Klos, it is interesting for its entrance portal, incorporation into the residential building, and the structure made of glass and metal, which provides the passage with interesting natural lighting. The inspiration for the passage buildings came from Paris and northern Italy, where they were built as early as the 19th century.