The Krnov Town Hall is struggling with the area of the former lung sanatorium

Krnov - The Krnov City Hall is currently struggling with the area of the former lung sanatorium in Ježník. For seven years, the city has been unable to sell the buildings. The price has already been reduced from the original 12 million crowns to five million. Nevertheless, no buyers have come forward. Consequently, some voices among the councilors call for demolition and offer the attractive plots for new residential development. However, the city leadership has not yet approved this course of action and will continue trying to sell the sanatorium. This was stated by the city's spokesperson, Dita Círová.

"There are several options. Either to remove the building and offer the land for sale as building plots. To remove the building, cultivate the land, keep it under city ownership, and wait until another use is found. To lower or maintain the price and continue wanting to sell the buildings," the spokesperson listed.

The complex was built more than eighty-five years ago in Ježník by Krnov entrepreneur Josef Irmler. The luxury spa hotel offered guests spa treatments, a dance floor, renowned cuisine, and a sunlit terrace. During the war, the hotel became a treatment facility for Wehrmacht soldiers, and after the war, it served as a lung sanatorium for miners from the Ostrava region. It ceased operations in the autumn of 2011. At that time, the complex was owned by the city.

The city originally intended to use the building in a remote location near the forest for the construction of a senior home. "Given the current global trends, where seniors live in smaller residential complexes and in the midst of the city's activities, this plan has proven unsuitable," Círová said, adding that the building now requires an expensive complete renovation.

Councilor Ladislav Sekanina from the KSČM is in favor of demolition. "It's a magnificent place with its own history. All options will cost the city money. If we demolish it, the city will profit without any liabilities. I propose to demolish and offer the land as building plots," he said. In contrast, Vladislav Vybíral (ČSSD) is against the demolition. He wants to return to the idea of a senior home. He believes that the options for this or other uses should be investigated by the city architect. "The building is in a beautiful environment, a bus route goes to it. We must consider whether to dispose of an object that has value, or if we have the sensitivity to turn it into something useful," he said.

Mayor Michal Brunclík (ČSSD) also does not like the option of demolition. "The topic of demolition should be the last resort. I support discussion about lowering the price, but at the same time, if a buyer appears, we should prevent the building from becoming a ruin solely because it won't be owned by the city anymore, but by a private entity, over which we will have no influence," he said.

Tomáš Hradil (Krnovští patrioti) believes the city should not rush. "Some things need time. Perhaps an enthusiastic company, individual, or group will find a use for the building and will have the financial resources to undertake something there," he said. Councilor Pavla Löwenthalová from KDU-ČSL agrees. "When we were thinking about what would happen to the buildings of the former school on Bruntálská street, which we also couldn't sell for years, we eventually came up with a plan. The same could happen in Ježník," she said.