Prague is negotiating the purchase of the Vyšehrad railway station, and is also accepting expropriation
Here, the place is a suitable object for the location of the Slavic Epic, now judged by architects from the Institute of Planning and Development of Prague (IPR). They decide within one or two months. For the exhibition of a series of twenty large-format paintings by Alfons Mucha, the Vyšehrad railway station could be supplemented with extensions. “The architects are considering whether this could be done to maintain the monument’s protection,” the councilor said. If the building is not suitable, the former station could be converted into apartments or offices.
IPR ruled out the re-use of the building as a railway station. Institute spokesman Marek Vácha said that the new railway system no longer needed this type of station building. “It should rather be replaced by a stop at Prague’s Výton. It has not only better transfer links, but also closer walking distance to Charles Square, Vyšehrad, authorities and the surrounding area, but it is also closer to the General Hospital or the university campus, “added Vácha.
Whether the city will buy the Art Nouveau building and how much it will cost is now in question. The foreign owner of the listed building is demanding 117 million crowns for it, the municipality is willing to pay about 67 million crowns for the historic railway station. “The city can only buy at the usual price in the place. We cannot buy any property in Prague at any price. We have to stick to expert opinions, “added Chabr.
The possibility of expropriation is also being discussed. This could happen if Prague does not agree on a price with the property owner. According to councilors, the reason for expropriation is that the current owner does not care about the monument. However, according to Chabr, a possible expropriation in the Prague City Council of Pirates, Prague Sobě and the United Forces for Prague (TOP 09 and STAN) will only be discussed if negotiations with the owner of the building are unsuccessful. While, according to Chabr, the right to property is inviolable and expropriation would not rather be supported now, the chairman of the United States representatives and MEP Jiří Pospíšil (TOP 09) are of the opposite opinion. “I am convinced that the political solution is not to look at the falling station for another twenty years. Expropriation is in the public interest, “said Pospíšil.
The operation of the station was stopped around 1960. The building, which was declared a cultural monument in 2000, has been in private hands since 2007. The building is in a desolate state.