Opava will buy an unappealing building for 270 million

Opava - The central Upper Square in Opava is set to change its appearance. The city councilors decided today that the municipality will purchase part of the Slezanka shopping center from a private owner for 270 million crowns. In the future, they will either have it demolished or pay for its reconstruction. The purchase will be financed through a loan. The final amount did not sit well with the opposition.
    Opposition councilor Pavla Brady called it staggering. "It exceeds the real market price by approximately 140 million," she told ČTK. The city administration also admitted that the price is high. "However, the price reflects that there are shops in Slezanka. According to the expert assessment, the rental income over the past ten years is about 13.5 million crowns per year, which is a relatively high amount," said Mayor Zbyněk Stanjura.
    The final amount the city will pay for the property was a frequent topic of discussion today. Councilors agreed that something needs to be done about Slezanka. "The coalition is willing to pay the price. From the perspective of the future of the city and its appearance, it is worthwhile," said the spokesperson for the municipality, Jan Šindler, to ČTK.
    If the city purchases the building, it will own more than half of the entire Slezanka complex. The remaining part belongs to three other private owners. The municipality also wants to negotiate with them about a sale. According to Šindler, it is still unclear what will happen to the building next. "The decision to purchase is the first step. Now there will be a debate about what comes next. Whether to revitalize the building and how, or to demolish it and build a new structure that would better connect with the historical center," the spokesperson explained. Slezanka's design, resembling a residential building, directly connects to the Gothic church. "It is an unfortunate solution in the heart of the urban heritage zone. Through the revitalization of the entire square, we want to bring life back to the center of Opava, which has shifted to the outskirts with hypermarkets," said Stanjura.
    The municipality has long sought to purchase Slezanka, but has never reached an agreement with its owners. However, the situation has now changed, and after several months of negotiations with the private owner, the city council approved the purchase agreement at the beginning of September.
    According to the mayor, the revitalization of the square will not be economically advantageous, but it will pay off for the city because it will gain an attractive center. "If the city becomes the owner of the shopping center, expert discussion about the shape of the entire square will begin, which could last up to four years," the mayor hinted. During that time, Slezanka will continue to function as a shopping center, with rental income contributing to the city budget.
    Slezanka, where ancient brewery houses stood in the 17th century, is either set for reconstruction or demolition. New development should primarily blend into the historical center, said Stanjura. If the city opts for the reconstruction of Slezanka, it should be opened up more and connected with the square, believes Opava architect David Wittasek.