The town hall in Blansko is likely to organize a referendum due to the Dukla hotel

Blansko - The city hall in Blansko will likely combine the autumn municipal elections with a referendum on the fate of the Dukla hotel. This dilapidated building has been marring the central Republic Square for years. The city leadership has been looking for an investor for two years to either renovate the building or demolish it and construct a modern facility in its place. So far, not a single developer has come forward, and it is not possible to further postpone the hotel’s renovations, said Blansko mayor Ivo Polák (ČSSD) to ČTK today.
He expects that the representatives will approve the holding of a referendum at the June session. "We will ask the people what to do with the hotel next. Based on their decision, we will allocate funds in the budget for next year for any possible work or demolition," the mayor stated.
The city purchased the hotel in September 2011 at auction for 30.5 million crowns. The reason for the purchase was the public's concerns that the building would be bought by someone else and turned into accommodation for socially maladjusted individuals.
The city intends to either demolish the hotel and construct a new building in its place, or renovate the Dukla, or possibly tear it down and create a park there. It is already clear that it will be a significant investment. The demolition of the building would cost around 15 million crowns.
The Dukla hotel, built in the 1970s, was one of the most luxurious accommodation facilities in the Moravian Karst during communism. It served primarily as a base for tourists from Western Europe. However, it has been deteriorating for almost 20 years and, according to architects, is spoiling the city center.