Lanškroun wants to turn the former school into a municipal apartment building, waiting for a grant

Lanškroun – The town of Lanškroun in the Orlickoústecko region wants to convert the former school on Kollárova Street into a municipal apartment building with 22 apartments. However, it was unsuccessful with its application for a grant and is waiting for the next grant round. The city has already selected a contractor, but construction, costing nearly 66 million crowns, will only begin after obtaining support, said Deputy Mayor Oldřich Strnad (ANO) to ČTK.

"There are still people who cannot afford commercial housing. A young person after university today would need ten, twelve, or fifteen million crowns to build a house even in a small town. This way, we can help those people a bit. The rent doesn’t have to be pushed to the absolute maximum," said Strnad.

The project is prepared, including a building permit and the selection of a construction company, but the city has not yet embarked on the conversion. "The first condition is that the project must be approved by the council, which has not yet happened. The second condition is obtaining a grant for the reconstruction, which has also not yet been awarded. Although the contract with the company has already been signed, it contains conditions under which it may be terminated if the council does not approve the project or the city does not receive the grant," said Marie Heinrichová, head of the investment and property department.

The former school is an older partially basement building with four above-ground floors and an attic. During the conversion to an apartment building, the construction company should reinforce the ceilings, build an elevator, and modify the partitions, floors, staircases, and interior spaces. The building will receive new windows and entrance doors with insulation triple glazing, new wiring, and surface treatments.

The fifth floor will be a wooden structure capped with a flat green roof. Terraces are planned for the apartments on the top floor. The project also includes modifications to the surroundings of the building, including parking spaces, greenery, fencing, and a shelter for containers.

The building on Kollárova Street likely dates back to the 19th century, and its utilization has gradually changed. It has housed, for instance, the district court and the headquarters of the National Security Corps (SNB). Since 1961, Tesla Lanškroun used it for vocational training. Later, the building served a secondary technical school and training center before it became vacant. The Pardubice region has repeatedly offered it to the town.

Originally, the town did not want to take it over, among other reasons, because it planned to use the building for a House of Children and Youth. However, it was unable to obtain a grant for its reconstruction. Therefore, the councillors rejected the region's offer twice. In 2024, the town changed its position and took over the building to convert it into apartments.