Nový Jičín is deciding how to deal with the unused extension of Hotel Praha
Nový Jičín – Nový Jičín Town Hall is deciding how to deal with the unused extension of Hotel Praha in the city center. Four years ago, under the previous leadership of the city, its reconstruction into a cultural facility began, now it has been found that the building’s statics are disturbed and the building is not suitable for the purposes of a cultural center. Václav Dobrozemský (ODS) said this to ČTK today. Czech Television drew attention to the problem.
Last year, the new city architect recommended a static survey of the building. “The static assessment found that the ceiling panels are slightly overloaded, but this could be solved. But new procedures were created for the columns, and there the relief of the floors was no longer sufficient, new measures would have to be taken. Also, some reinforcing walls were demolished.” Dobrozemský described the situation.
It is not yet clear when and by whom the walls were demolished. “The statics are disturbed in some way. But also for other reasons, such as noise issues, the capacity of the hall and the entire building, the clear height of the ceilings of the individual floors, the columns that are in the main hall, the ten objects do not appear to be completely suitable purposes for a cultural center,” said the deputy mayor.
According to him, the city wants to find out as soon as possible how the deficiencies in the static building arose. During the next year, the town hall will decide whether to take any measures in the extension. Dobrozemský, that the city needs a cultural facility with a larger hall, therefore he will look for another object or another place for the realization of this plan on one line, and on the other line he will deal with how to deal with the extension of Hotel Praha.
“There is an option to look for another purpose that would be suitable for the building, another option is to demolish the building, process the space and decide what to do with the land in the future, or the option of selling or exchanging it for another property that could be interesting for the city, for example in custody in the culture house” said the deputy mayor.
The complex of buildings known today as Hotel Praha was built at the end of the 19th century in Art Nouveau style and is a cultural monument. The city acquired it in 2013 and gradually repaired it. Before that, it used to be a regional facility and after it stopped using the hotel school, it was closed.
The hotel extension was built in the 1970s. Nový Jičín began its reconstruction in 2018, its first stage cost more than 20 million crowns. But then the new management of the town hall decided to review the entire investment with the aim of reducing its costs, which were supposed to exceed 100 million crowns.