Opava will buy another part of the decaying shopping center Slezanka

Opava – The city of Opava will purchase another part of the decaying shopping center Slezanka for six million crowns. The councilors approved this on Monday. The unattractive panel building is planned to be demolished by the city hall in the future. In its place, apartment buildings and commercial spaces are to be created. A part of the property was purchased by the city hall years ago. The city leadership is negotiating with the owners about the acquisition of the last part.

Without resolving property relations, the city cannot demolish the building. The fate of Slezanka has been a concern for the citizens of Opava for fifteen years, costing the city around 300 million crowns. The councilors have now approved a contract between the company Tempo and the city of Opava for the purchase of a share in the Slezanka building for 5.85 million crowns. Specifically, according to iDNES, Opava will acquire Tempo's share of the building above the Slezanka underpass, the part to the left of the underpass, and also the associated land.

City officials plan to demolish the lower part of Slezanka. It was supposed to be torn down last year, but due to unresolved ownership relations of its central part, this cannot happen. It is to be replaced by apartment buildings, a multifunctional hall, and an underground parking lot. About a quarter share in the same buildings in the central part of the structure with the underpass, held by the Prague company Avia Park V, still needs to be acquired. The second, four-story part of Slezanka towards Ostrožná Street remains in the hands of other owners and is not subject to demolition according to the server.

The Slezanka shopping center is a panel building built on the site where ancient brewing houses stood in the 17th century. The block, which has a residential appearance, connects to the historic development of the center and is adjacent to the Gothic church. The building has long been a problem for the city hall. The previous city leadership purchased the property in the central Upper Square in 2008 from a private owner. At that time, the representatives of the city hall expressed a willingness to invest in repairing the building or its demolition and the construction of a new shopping center. The city took out a loan of 270 million crowns to pay the purchase price.

The shopping center remained nearly empty for a long time, and it wasn't until 2012 that a prospective operator was found. However, it was long challenging to rent out the spaces. The city ultimately agreed to sell it to a development company. A new shopping center was to be established here. The previous city leadership signed a contract with the developer for its construction in 2015.

However, preparations dragged on, and ultimately prevailing opinions stated that the shopping center should not be built. The construction of the nearby shopping center Breda & Weinstein also influenced this change. It offers space for more than 100 shops, a multiplex cinema with six screens, restaurants, and a café on an area of over 25,000 square meters. After negotiations, the developer withdrew from the project. Since then, the city hall has been addressing what to do with Slezanka next.