The state will again try to sell the area of the Hanácké barracks in Olomouc

Olomouc - The Office for Representation of the State in Property Matters (ÚZSVM) will again attempt to sell the vast complex of the Hanácké barracks in the center of Olomouc. Michaela Tesařová, spokesperson for ÚZSVM, stated this to ČTK today. Some time ago, the Olomouc Region, together with the Olomouc City Hall and Palacký University, expressed interest in the property. However, experts subsequently pointed out the poor technical condition of the Hanácké barracks and the high costs of renovating the building. Therefore, the regional council canceled its previous resolution from last September on Monday, which had opened the way for local governments and the university to acquire the Hanácké barracks free of charge. In the previous four electronic auctions, the state failed to find a buyer for the barracks.

"ÚZSVM respects the decision of the Olomouc Region Council not to take over the Hanácké barracks complex, and is left with no choice but to prepare for announcing a transparent public procurement. ÚZSVM will have a new expert assessment prepared. Details about the procurement will subsequently be published on our website," Tesařová stated. In the last round of auction in 2022, the minimum price of the complex was reduced from 262 million to 249 million crowns.

Last year, the Olomouc Region had a structural-technical survey conducted, which revealed that the Hanácké barracks building is in very poor technical condition and its renovation would require significant costs. "The building cannot do without a general repair of the roof, facades, total replacement of the openings, and replacement of all internal installations. The recommendation for replacement also applies to connections," states the report for the regional councilors. Experts pointed out that expensive radon insulation needs to be carried out in the building. The operation of the Hanácké barracks would also become more expensive, as, under the conditions of the free transfer, it would not be possible to commercially utilize it.

The Olomouc Region wanted to primarily use the Hanácké barracks building for science, culture, and education, particularly through the Regional Museum in Olomouc and the Archaeological Centre Olomouc. A creative center, a social counseling center, a center for material and food aid, a Family Point branch, and a regional volunteer center were also planned for the complex. The city hall wanted to relocate some of its departments, which do not have high visitor numbers, to the Hanácké barracks building.

The Hanácké barracks were used by the military for 170 years and have been empty since 2013. The building has office space of over 2,000 square meters. Initially, it was considered that hundreds of state office workers, who are currently located in several places in Olomouc, would move there. However, according to the Ministry of Defense, another use for state officials would be more expensive than selling and potentially constructing a new administrative headquarters.

The Olomouc Region showed interest in the Hanácké barracks building back in 2014, wanting to create storage for the museum and library as well as offices there. However, the regional administration eventually abandoned this plan. The repair of the monument-protected building will be costly. According to an estimate from 2020, it would cost approximately 815 million crowns, and since then, prices for construction work and materials have increased significantly.