Liberec Region is negotiating with ČRa for the purchase of the Ještěd hotel and transmitter, the price is not yet available

Liberec - The Liberec Region has been negotiating with Czech Radiocommunications (ČRa) for about a year regarding the purchase of the Ještěd mountain hotel and transmitter. The parties have yet to agree on the terms or the price. Martin Půta (mayor of the Starostové pro Liberecký kraj) mentioned this at a seminar for regional representatives today. The building is not in good technical condition and, according to him, requires reconstruction estimated at around 400 million crowns.

According to the head of the legal department of the region, Karel Ulmann, it is very difficult to estimate the market price of a building such as Ještěd because there are no comparables on the market. Each party commissioned an expert opinion; currently, the Deloitte Czech Republic office is processing an assessment using the income approach, which, according to him, the region's experts could not have processed because they did not have the materials from ČRa.

"The Liberec Region is considering purchasing Ještěd mainly to ensure its future reconstruction because it is over 50 years old. As a national cultural monument, it is listed on the indicative UNESCO World Heritage Sites list as an exceptionally important element of modern architecture," added Půta. The region hopes to obtain a subsidy for the restoration of the monument and intends to negotiate with the government about direct support. "I believe that the properties at Ještěd are as valuable as, for example, the fortress towns of Josefov or Terezín," he added.

However, the region has not yet reached an agreement with ČRa on how the company will pay for the use of about one-third of the building. According to the governor, the region cannot provide a private entity with an advantage from public funds that would favour them in free competition, as it would violate European Union rules.

The Ještěd mountain hotel and transmitter have been in operation since 1973 and are among the most original architectural works in the Czech Republic. Architect Karel Hubáček received the prestigious international Perret Award for the project. ČRa has owned the hotel and transmitter since 2000, having acquired them for 85 million crowns and investing additional tens of millions in repairs since then. The plan to buy Ještěd was approved by regional representatives in August 2008 under the leadership of ODS. When the leadership changed to ČSSD, the plan was abandoned. Last year, ČRa offered Ještěd to the Ministry of Culture, but it has no interest in the valuable building.

Some representatives in Liberec do not support the purchase of Ještěd. According to opposition representative Josef Chuchlík (ANO), the region should use money more purposefully, for education, transportation, and care for citizens. He believes that purchasing Ještěd is risky and dangerous for the region. "I fundamentally oppose this purchase," said Chuchlík. He also considers the costs of reconstructing the building problematic. According to him, Ještěd should remain with ČRa, and the region could possibly participate in the restoration of the building.

According to Půta, the regional representatives will return to the purchase discussion in June when the regional leadership will either present a price proposal or inform that an agreement is not possible and that negotiations have ended. At the same time, Půta wants to negotiate with the government about possibilities for direct support for the planned reconstruction.