The basement under the Reduta theater will be repaired by the future tenant of the space

Brno - The underground beneath the Brno theater Reduta awaits renovation so that social gatherings, wine tastings, and a restaurant can be held there. The restoration of the historical spaces has been approved by the city council. The reconstruction will not be funded from Brno's budget, but will be paid for by the future tenant of the space. The invested money will then be deducted from the rent. The investment should amount to eight to 9.5 million crowns, Brno's mayor Roman Onderka said to reporters today.
    The city will select the investor and future tenant through a competition. The commission will take into account the plan the interested party has for the cellar, as well as the offered amount for the investment and rent. According to Onderka, the Moravian Wine Bank has shown preliminary interest in the space. "Under Reduta, there could be a place that would highlight Brno as the metropolis of the region, where 92 percent of grapes in the Czech Republic are grown and where 92 percent of wine in the Czech Republic is produced," Onderka stated.
    For the first few years, the investor would not pay rent in the historical basement; that is, until they reach the amount they invested in the repairs. The sum would become income for the National Theatre Brno, which utilizes Reduta.
    The underground beneath the Reduta theater is one of many spaces that Brno wants to make accessible to the public in the coming years. The basement is set to become one of the main attractions for tourists.
    The city intends to primarily fund the repairs of the corridors and halls with European money. However, officials have found that the use of subsidies from Brussels for the Reduta basement would be limited; the European Union reportedly strictly evaluates whether its funds are being invested in a profit-making or non-profit enterprise. If the investment can generate income in the future, as is the case with the underground beneath Reduta, the subsidy tends to be significantly lower. Moreover, the recipient must later repay it to the union.