The dilapidated area of the printers in Liberec will be transformed into residential buildings, work has begun

Liberec – The dilapidated area of the former printing houses in the center of Liberec is set to be transformed into residential buildings for approximately half a billion crowns. It will also include a gallery, a café, studios, offices, and the street U Tiskárny will again become passable. The first residents are expected to move in next year, and the reconstruction of the area covering nearly 7000 m² should be completed by 2025. Work has already begun with the demolition of the deteriorated central part. Five historic villas and two factory blocks will be preserved. This was stated to ČTK and Czech Radio by the project's developer, Jan Konhefr.

"A U shape is being created, which is the core of the old printing houses. And what has already been significantly destroyed, we are starting to demolish,” stated Konhefr. He estimates that the demolition work is about halfway done and will last until at least July. An approximately 250-year-old manufactory, whose roof has collapsed, must also be demolished. However, thanks to the reconstruction, other valuable buildings will be preserved. The corner late Baroque house from 1791 and four other late Baroque and classical villas should remain. Two original industrial buildings of the printing house from the 1920s in the art deco style are also set for revitalization. "We want to preserve the maximum," Konhefr added.

The printing house area in Liberec is located near the Liebieg Palace and castle, between the streets 8. března, Boženy Němcové, and Oblačná. Even in the 1990s, production was taking place at the facility, but a failed privatization ended production over 20 years ago, and since then, the area has been deteriorating. It has changed owners several times, but their plans to reconstruct the printing houses remained on paper. According to the developer, there will be nine buildings in the area with 163 apartments of various sizes, including large so-called penthouse units and those with high ceilings called lofts. There will be 230 parking spaces available. The first apartments will be available for reservation starting this May, with the price per square meter around 75,000 crowns. "Which is a standard price here in Liberec, in the center of Liberec, and we will see what the market tells us,” added Konhefr.

In Liberec, this is not the only residential construction project in or near the center. This year, people are expected to move into the first of about 300 new apartments being built by three investors on the site of the former Assembly Plant across from the regional office. The project will also offer spaces for offices, shops, cafés, and restaurants. In two years, construction is expected to start on a four billion crown project in the former Textilana area. A private investor aims to build approximately 1,200 apartments, along with offices and shops, on the nine-hectare site over the next ten years. A new district is also in the preparation stage in Perštýn, in the location where there has been a large pit from an unfinished shopping center for many years. According to the study, the 4.5-hectare area should be developed by about a quarter. A private investor plans to invest over a billion crowns in the construction of an innovation center, garages for approximately 750 cars, and housing for 500 to 800 people. Plans also include the construction of a school or a senior home, sports facilities, and a park.