Ústí nad Labem councillors agreed to buy the U Jeslí real estate for CZK 70 million

Ústí nad Labem councillors today approved the purchase of the U Jeslí flats for CZK 70 million. Part of it will be covered by a loan. The city will pay the owners, Teplice businessman Jaroslav Třešňák and his wife, the amount in five instalments. 23 councillors were in favour, four against and seven abstained. The opposition criticised the purchase price and the procedure concerning the current tenants.

Although the set of properties with rental apartments in Klíša, which is one of the lucrative neighbourhoods in the city, is adjacent to Předlice, an excluded locality. Opposition councillor Martin Krsek (PRO! Ústí) said that psychologically it is already more like Předlice. He was reacting to the fact that it is a problematic part of the district. "I wonder who here would buy an apartment in this area for CZK 1.6 million," Krsek said in response to the purchase price. He said it is a good strategy to expand the housing stock, but the city should buy apartments at a bargain. Deputy Mayor Tomáš Vlach (ANO) said that by buying properties in areas with a worse reputation, the city will at least be able to influence the condition of such places. However, Krsko said the city should focus on properties that are in the worst condition.

Some tenants also came to today's council meeting. They wanted to know who will extend their lease at the time of the buyout if they have it for a short period of time. They also expressed concern that the landlords would not return their security deposit. Deputy Mayor Věra Nechybová (nez.) said the city will take over the properties without lease contracts and will conclude new contracts with the tenants. However, the residents' contracts end at different times.

The deputies today also approved the purchase of a building in Velké Hradební, which houses a contact centre for drug addicts, for CZK 20 million. Nechybová had earlier said that the contact centre would close in the building. The city wants to set up a children's group in the building, and there is a kindergarten nearby. Ústí nad Labem and the Ústí Region will try to find alternative premises where the contact centre could continue.

Last year, the city bought an abandoned construction site, the so-called "hole", in the city centre for CZK 73 million. The move was criticised by the opposition for the fact that an expert's report put the price at CZK 37 million. The deputies decided on the purchase by secret ballot. 20 ballots were issued, 19 councillors were in favour and one abstained. The other councillors did not even pick up a ballot, so only the coalition of ANO and SPD voted. The land used to be a park.