The representatives of Brno indirectly supported the construction of the Erasmus residence

Brno - Today, Brno city councilors indirectly supported the completion of the controversial Erasmus residence in the Královo Pole district. They approved an exchange contract related to the construction. The public had previously protested against the proposal. They argued that the urban plan supposedly accounts for dormitories, while the company is building apartments. Mayor Roman Onderka (ČSSD) stated today that the councilors approve the urban plan but that the state administration oversees the compliance with the document in practice.
    Opposition councilor Martin Ander (SZ) argued that the construction company violated the conditions that the city had previously set for the land exchange. The new city parking lot, which the company built as a replacement for the old one, was supposed to serve exclusively the public, not the construction. Ander had photographs showing that construction suppliers park their cars in the parking lot, construction workers park there, construction machinery is working, and heavy equipment is loading soil into a truck there. "It is evident that the parking lot is being used in connection with the construction," he said.
    The company Trikaya, which is carrying out the construction, labeled Ander's claims as hysterical. "For example, the mentioned vehicles with soil were in the parking lot in connection with the planting of trees around the parking lot. We would have expected support for such activities from a representative of the Green Party," said company representative Alex Veselý. Today, Trikaya welcomed the land exchange.
    Onderka also dismissed Ander's objection. "I am absolutely not willing to admit that these conditions are not being adhered to. I would need photographs from this minute," he stated.
    The approach of the municipal coalition composed of ČSSD and ODS was unusually harshly criticized by councilor Pavel Březa (KSČM). According to him, the investor is committing something, "that could be called a trick". "One can only speculate on what role the VUT plays in this," Březa stated.
    The University of Technology (VUT) is entering the property exchange as a second partner and the city's counterpart since it owns land in the area. The school presented the plan as the construction of missing accommodation for which it has no funds. However, local residents pointed out that the apartments, which are officially intended for academics, are being sold on the market.
    According to Březa, the city is demonstrating passivity by agreeing and is not protecting public interests. "The resolution of the council will serve as a guideline for a number of investors, as they will be aware that the city cannot do almost anything. Then I think we are not fulfilling the role of public administration," he stated.
    The property exchange was approved by the coalition of ČSSD and ODS. The opposition voted against it or abstained from voting.