The problematic hostel Neptun will be converted by Jablonec nad Nisou for 100 million CZK into apartments

Jablonec nad Nisou - The problematic hostel Neptun will be transformed into apartments by Jablonec nad Nisou, with part of them being barrier-free. The city estimates the costs at 100 million crowns excluding VAT, and it will apply for a subsidy, potentially obtaining about half. This was stated by Deputy Mayor Jakub Chuchlík (Pirates), who said that the municipal office perceives the investment as a key step to strengthen the capacity of affordable housing and stabilize the housing situation in Jablonec nad Nisou.

The nine-storey Neptun building was constructed in the 1970s as a hotel, and a lower building with a restaurant was added a decade later. In recent years, the premises have served as a hostel, housing up to 200 people in 43 small apartments. Security officers intervened there several times a day, and residents from the vicinity complained about litter and noise. Therefore, the city hall decided to purchase the property from the private owner. After a year of negotiations, the city council approved the acquisition of the company that owns Neptun at the end of March, with the city paying around 46 million crowns for it.

The city is currently preparing the reconstruction of the high-rise building, which is the former hostel that has already been vacated by the previous owner, according to Chuchlík. The office of re:architekti has been commissioned by the city to develop an architectural study for the potential reconstruction, aiming to adapt the building to current standards and create functional and quality living space. "Fortunately, the structural system is skeletal, which means we can afford to demolish all the partitions and adjust the layout as we need," said Chuchlík.

The reconstruction will create 34 apartments of various categories for approximately 96 tenants. Initially, there should be ten barrier-free apartments sized 1 + kk and 2 + kk, six studio apartments, six 2 + kk apartments, and 13 apartments sized 3 + kk. "The barrier-free apartments are on the lower floors, while the upper floors will offer standard residential units with a new layout solution, and selected apartments will also have balconies," Chuchlík described the solution. The study includes the addition of a new lift on the gable wall, which will ensure fully barrier-free access to all floors.

Jablonec nad Nisou, with 46,000 inhabitants, is the second largest city in the Liberec region. The city owns and manages 58 apartment buildings with 792 units. Most are small apartments, and about a tenth of the units are unoccupied due to poor condition. The reconstruction of Neptun is not the only housing project by the city hall; it also plans to transform a long-unused building of the children's hospital into apartments and to construct four apartment buildings near the new public transport terminal. Jablonec will be seeking investors for the project.