The Palacký University wants to buy the Hanácké barracks in Olomouc for 89.1 million

Olomouc - Palacký University (UP) wants to buy the Hanácké barracks in the center of Olomouc. It has requested the Office for Representation of the State in Property Matters (ÚZSVM) to match the winning price offer of 89.1 million crowns, which the development company Redstone auctioned for the complex at the beginning of September. Michaela Tesařová, spokesperson for ÚZSVM, said this in response to a query from ČTK today. According to the conditions of the electronic auction, today is the deadline by which the university could express interest in matching the price and thus preferentially acquire the extensive property from the state. The academic senate approved the purchase of the Hanácké barracks last week, followed by the university's board of directors.

"ÚZSVM received a written statement from Palacký University regarding its interest in matching the highest bid achieved in the electronic auction. ÚZSVM will wait until the end of the deadline, which is by the end of today. It will then inform the winner of the electronic auction," Tesařová stated. ÚZSVM has been trying to sell the heritage-protected building since September 2021. The initial auction price for the Hanácké barracks was set at 262 million crowns, which ÚZSVM subsequently reduced to 89 million in the 9th round of the auction.

UP Rector Martin Procházka considers the planned purchase of the Hanácké barracks from the state a strategic decision. The purchase price of 89.1 million crowns is very favorable according to him, and UP will pay it from its own resources. UP plans to gradually renovate the building with a usable area of 23,490 square meters, for which it will seek state and European subsidies. Experts this year estimated that the repair would cost 1.896 billion crowns. The building is to be turned into student accommodation, for which the university has a significant shortage. Other considerations include catering services, offices, and conference halls. Part of the space will be used as storage.

The rector presented the plan to the deans of all eight faculties, with only Dean Martin Kubala of the Faculty of Science opposing. According to Kubala, the purchase and costly renovation of the Hanácké barracks may undermine investments in further development of the university for many years. The academic senate approved a resolution last week stating that it has no objections to expressing a binding interest in acquiring the Hanácké barracks, thereby paving the way for their purchase. The senators also requested assurances from UP's management that planned investment projects of the university would not be jeopardized due to this real estate transaction and that faculty contributions would not increase.

The army used the Hanácké barracks for 170 years, and they have been empty since 2013. Some time ago, the Olomouc region along with the Olomouc city hall and UP expressed interest in them. However, experts pointed out the poor condition of the building. The regional council then canceled a previous resolution that would have allowed the acquisition of the barracks without compensation.