The Joint Forces request a postponement of the decision regarding the chateau in Veleslavín

Publisher
ČTK
31.10.2018 16:20
Czech Republic

Prague


Prague - The Office for Representation of the State in Property Matters (ÚZSVM) should postpone the auction of the baroque castle in Veleslavín, Prague, until a new Prague council is established. The city could use it for social purposes. Jan Chabr (TOP 09), nominated for the post of property councillor by the United Forces for Prague, stated this to ČTK. According to him, the auction is scheduled for a time when the founding Prague council has just assembled, and the new coalition will not get a real opportunity to acquire the property from the state. He therefore called on ÚZSVM to postpone the decision. The auction of the castle will be the subject of Thursday's interpellations in the Chamber of Deputies.

The baroque castle in Veleslavín, Prague, is set to be auctioned on November 30. The minimum price of the dilapidated complex is set at 382 million crowns. The Ministry of Culture approved the auction, after which the property manager, ÚZSVM, announced it.

According to Chabr, it would be appropriate for the further fate of the castle to be addressed only when the new Prague coalition of Pirates, United Forces, and Prague Together has the opportunity to register for the auction or acquire the property in another way. "Prague is now excluded from any future decision-making, even if it decides to participate in the auction," he said. He added that, in his opinion, a legal clause could also be applicable, according to which, in the case of public interest, ÚZSVM can transfer property to another public institution free of charge. However, city hall spokesperson Vít Hofman stated today that this option is not available because the property is not designated as a public benefit building in the land use plan.

"We believe that there is indeed a great opportunity for public benefit use," said Chabr, who previously served in the Prague 6 council. According to him, a long-term care facility could be established in the castle, and educational facilities could be built in the other buildings that are part of the property. "It could become a multifunctional complex focused on social and cultural areas. For Prague, this is a unique and strategic location," he stated. He added that private use of the property would be problematic and that potential demolition of the castle for residential construction is not considered a suitable solution.

Due to the auction of the castle, MP Markéta Pekarová Adamová (TOP 09) plans to interpellate Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO) on Thursday, whose office directly oversees ÚZSVM. Tamara Kováčová from the Hradní potok association, which communicated with the mayor of Prague 6 about the auction, informed ČTK about it. The castle should be used for schools and a cultural center, which, according to the association, developers do not consider, and the surrounding greenery should be preserved for cooling the city.

Mayor of Prague 6 Ondřej Kolář (TOP 09) described the auction as "a robbery in broad daylight." "All our efforts, including media alerts, have unfortunately come to nothing. This only reinforces my belief that the sale is tailored to someone. The state will gain practically nothing from the sale, nothing more than a few days' payment of interest on the national debt," Kolář told ČTK, adding that he does not have much faith that the auction could be reversed.

The main building of the castle has previously served as a private healthcare facility. However, the lease contract with the current tenant is ending, and the state would incur costs for security of 70,000 crowns per month starting in December, along with heating expenses. According to a statement made in September, ÚZSVM has no other option but to auction the complex, as it cannot decrease the state's revenue by law.

The auction will take place on November 30 at 11:00 a.m. at the ÚZSVM building. The minimum bid increment is set at 500,000 crowns, and a participation condition in the auction requires a deposit of 10 percent of the minimum price.

The castle, with its historic park spanning three hectares, is estimated to date back to 1725, when it was built according to plans by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer for Empress Amálie of Brunswick. The complex was last renovated in 1986. ÚZSVM took over the baroque castle complex in 2015 from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
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