Plzeň will reconstruct devastated tenement house for more than 100 million CZK

Plzeň will reconstruct a devastated apartment building in Resslova Street in the centre of the city for more than CZK 100 million. The building will house 29 flats. The building is in a state of disrepair and has been empty for 15 years. Previously, socially vulnerable and inadaptable citizens lived there. The city has a study of the renovation and is starting to design it, said councillor Světlana Budková (STAN). The tenants will take over the new flats in 2026.

"We will have a project by the end of the year and by the end of this year or early next year we would compete for contractors and start construction," she said. The city has CZK 128 million in its budget, which the councillor said would be enough because there is now a lot of interest in construction contracts and competition from multiple bidders is pushing down their prices. So if we are quick with the preparation, this project should be able to do so, Budková said.

Some opposition councillors don't like the idea. "Resslova 13 is not suitable for reconstruction. If 29 flats designed as affordable housing are created there, it means that there will be more cars that will have nowhere to park, so it is not the most conductive. If the sum of 128 million is taken into account, the cost per unit is about five million crowns. And it is up to you if you consider it effective," said Councillor David Šlouf (ODS).

According to deputy mayor Pavel Bosák (Pirates), the reconstruction of the buildings and the completion of the building does not require new parking spaces beyond those that exist at the building. The councillor added that the city has reduced the number of flats from 35 to 29 and will build a parking lot for eight cars in the courtyard. Bosak said architects and urban planners are opposed to new parking spaces downtown, saying cities should be moving toward more people using public transit and micromobility.

"Resslova 13 is a disgrace to the city and something needs to be done about it. And we have decided to renovate it because a structural and historical survey told us that the building itself has nothing," the councillor said. The builder will apparently leave only the outer walls, fundamentally altering the layout of the flats, which had shared sanitary facilities. An elevator will be added to the building. "We will remove an unsightly ruin and at the same time increase the number of city apartments," Bosak said.

The city's previous administration tried unsuccessfully to sell the house. But the current coalition decided to keep it, according to Mayor Roman Zarzycki (ANO). "We see potential in it. At the same time, we are communicating with the owners of 'Mlýny' (the neighbouring courtyard and courtyard block are privately owned) and we will try to reach an agreement with the Railway Administration and Czech Railways and get access to the other land of the railway post office. This would create new parking spaces within walking distance," he said.

Bosák said the city has a valid zoning study for the entire site, and additional parking could be in place of the abandoned Chamber Theatre or just in the "Mills."

Source: CTK