<Translation> The building office has initiated proceedings for the demolition of a villa in Vinohrady.</Translation>

Prague - The building office of Prague 10 has initiated administrative proceedings concerning the unauthorized demolition of a monumentally protected villa in Vinohrady. This was informed to ČTK by the mayor of the district, Renata Chmelová (Vlasta coalition), who was present at the construction site this morning. According to her, the officials ordered the construction to be secured, and further negotiations, which are not public, will take place at the district office. An anonymous phone call alerted the municipality to the demolition on Friday afternoon.

Chmelová pointed out that the matter is now under the jurisdiction of the building office. This office falls under the extended powers of the state administration, and thus the political representation of Prague 10 has no direct influence on the next steps. "It is an exercise of state administration, it is not public, and I, as the mayor, cannot be present," she said. She added that the municipality will likely publish further information about the case today in agreement with the building office.

The house is located in the villa district of Vinohrady on Na Šafránce street. According to the municipality, it is not part of the zoning decision and building permit issued last February for the demolition of the building. It was only supposed to be gradually reconstructed. The builder is the company AWM Bohemia CZ.

Chmelová stated over the weekend that according to the builder, cracks appeared in the house and the roof trusses were rotted. A fine of up to two million crowns is threatened for the demolition of the villa without a permit. Deník N reported that the villa was previously offered for sale for 49 million crowns. Mayor Chmelová wants to push for the owner to restore the building to its original condition.

The house, built in 1921 in the Svépomoc colony by architect František Albert Libra, is located in the Prague heritage zone of Vinohrady, Žižkov, and Vršovice. According to the land registry, it belongs to the company AWM Bohemia CZ, which is headquartered in Prague's Kbely. The company's business activities include construction and demolition and the handling of hazardous waste. According to Deník N, the company Hipoz is working on the reconstruction.