The Prague City Hall will lease the vacant Kafka House

Prague - The Prague City Hall will rent Kafka's house on Franz Kafka Square, which has become available after the relocation of officials to the Škodův palace on Jungmannova Street. The company V.J.Rott won the tender with a rent of 12.5 million crowns per year. They plan to establish a hotel in the building, said the mayor's deputy Rudolf Blažek (ODS) to reporters today.
    Eight interested parties applied for the competition, five remained in the second round. The offer from V.J.Rott was the highest. "It is an amount that roughly matches expectations," Blažek stated. The rent will be a net profit for the city, and all other costs will be borne by the tenant, he added.
    The city wanted to rent or sell the majority of the buildings freed up after the relocation of officials to the building on Jungmannova Street. The City Hall has already sold its share in the building on Paris Street to co-owners for 66 million crowns. The tender was for the sale of the house on Letenská Street. The successful bidder offered 95.8 million crowns.
    In the case of the house Na Strži, the city prioritized the public interest over profit and provided it to the House of Children and Youth. Valuable historical buildings U Minuty and U Radnice near the Old Town Square will not be used commercially. The City Hall will offer them for rent for cultural and social purposes.
    In the municipal building on Žatecká Street, a new headquarters of the Prague Water Management Company will be established, relocating from the building on Cihelná Street. The Technical Administration of Communications will move from Štefánikova Street.
    For the rent and services in the new building on Jungmannova Street, the city hall pays 204.5 million crowns annually. City leadership claims that the total annual savings compared to the state before the relocation will reach about 30 million. However, some opposition councilors argue that the relocation will ultimately prove to be a loss for the city.