Roztoky plans to repair two historical villas

Roztoky (near Prague) - Roztoky near Prague plans to renovate two historical villas. They could potentially house a kindergarten, but possibly also apartments, spaces for interest groups, or a doctor's office. The ways of their use will be addressed by the city council at a meeting on Wednesday. This was stated to ČTK by the spokesperson for Roztoky, Kateřina Skutilová. The investments in both villas will amount to tens of millions of crowns, and the city will seek grants for the renovations.
    In the case of both villas, different usage options including their combinations are currently being considered. There is still demand for open spots in kindergartens in Roztoky, as well as a vibrant association activity, so a combined use of the larger villa would meet the city’s needs. "The combination of different options in one building, such as a kindergarten and space for interest groups, could also complicate things, as it would be difficult to obtain grants for such a project," Skutilová stated.
    Deputy Mayor Tomáš Novotný (TOP 09 and independents) suggests that the council request a transport and parking study and other information. According to him, the city could also check what European grants will be available in the upcoming period. "In that case, we would decide on the fate of the villas only in June. However, that is a completely final and non-negotiable deadline. After that, we must announce a competition for the preparation of project documentation," the deputy mayor added.
    The two villas in the Quiet Valley, no. 110 and no. 125, previously belonged to the Haurowitz family, who owned, among other things, a factory warehouse for Kosmonos fabrics. The villas are cultural monuments. While tenants still live in villa no. 110, the uninhabited no. 125 is leaking, and its technical condition is worse. A kindergarten could potentially be established in the uninhabited villa. Its renovation is set to begin earlier, with work expected to start in the second half of next year.
    In the smaller villa no. 110, an exhibition of the lives of prominent Jewish industrialists from Roztoky and the surrounding area could be created in the future. The city is negotiating with the Federation of Jewish Communities. "We would, of course, need to secure grants for that. The city can only consider reconstructing one villa from its own funds. Even so, that would amount to around 20 million crowns," Novotný stated.
    Villa no. 110 was built in 1882 according to the plans of builder František Pavikovský, the author of other villas in Roztoky, while the adjacent villa no. 125 with a neo-Renaissance facade was built in 1897.
    Roztoky was one of the typical resorts that emerged in the second half of the 19th century around large cities in Europe, especially in Austria-Hungary and England. The Quiet Valley is the oldest resort in the vicinity of Prague. The reason for building summer residences there was the natural landscape, proximity to the Vltava River, and interesting tourist destinations, such as Okoř and the commissioning of the Northern State Railway.