Ústí Opposition PRO! Ústí wants to get answers to questions regarding the so-called hole

Ústí nad Labem - The largest opposition movement in Ústí, PRO! Ústí, wants to get answers at Monday's city council meeting regarding the years-abandoned construction site in the city center nicknamed 'the hole.' Representatives of the movement said today to journalists that according to them, an architectural competition should be established to determine what will be built on the site. The city leadership stated that they aim to complete the unfinished building through a PPP project, i.e., a partnership of public and private funds.

The abandoned construction site, where the former owner, the company UDES, built only a two-story underground parking lot over 14 years, was purchased by the city two years ago for 73 million crowns, even though the usual price in the area, according to an expert report, was only 37 million crowns. The city leadership argued that the price also included the project for the completion of the building. The councilors decided on the purchase through a secret ballot. 20 ballots were issued, 19 councilors voted in favor, and one abstained. The other councilors did not even pick up their ballots, so only the coalition made up of ANO and SPD voted. The site used to be a park.

"Let's focus on how to remove this sore on the face of the city," said opposition councilor Karolína Žákovská (PRO! Ústí), who has long been addressing the issue of 'the hole.' According to her, neither the councilors nor the public have information about the next steps. Therefore, the PRO! Ústí movement wants to obtain answers at the council meeting regarding how the city is proceeding in addressing the issue of the unfinished building. They want to know, for example, how much the completion will cost. They also believe that the fate of the construction site should be in the hands of experts, which is why it would be appropriate to announce an architectural competition. Additionally, the opposition would like a website to be created where information will be available to everyone.

The project documentation that the city purchased along with the construction site needs to be redone by the local government. The city hall commissioned a study to change the project and checked the building's stability, which, according to Mayor Petr Nedvědický (ANO), is fine. He stated this to the iDnes.cz server.

According to Nedvědický, Ústí has repeatedly held a tender for a law firm that would assist the city with the PPP process. "We received offers several times from reputable firms, but they exceeded the parameters we set," Nedvědický said. According to him, the city has sought a lawyer who handles issues for the public transport company. "He has practical experience with hundred-million contracts," said the mayor. The basic part should be completed by the summer, he added.