Rokytnice bought the canteen Rotextile, turning it into a cultural center

Rokytnice nad Jizerou (Semilsko) - Rokytnice nad Jizerou in the Semily region has purchased the building of the former cafeteria of the bankrupt textile company Rotextile. The city paid 1.5 million crowns for the dilapidated and unused building, although the owners originally asked for nearly three times that amount. Rokytnice plans to renovate the cafeteria and transform it into a cultural center, as there is a lack of large halls for social events in the town. This was stated today by Deputy Mayor Petr Kadavý (Občané.CZ).

"In Rokytnice, we have a cultural center, but unfortunately, it has a stepped auditorium that does not allow for the organization of events other than theater performances or lectures," said Kadavý. According to him, a demand from the public emerged from a series of questionnaires to renew the cafeteria's operation in the form of a cultural house or a meeting place, just as it had functioned in the past. "Besides being a cafeteria, there were dances, balls, and similar events held there. There is no other such space in Rokytnice," the Deputy Mayor added.

The textile company Rotextile ceased production in Rokytnice nad Jizerou in mid-2006. Since then, the area has been vacant, and the cafeteria has been closed. In 2012, a project worth more than half a billion crowns was launched, which aimed to transform the 4500 square meter area into a relaxation and shopping center with apartment units. A foreign investor wanted to build a conference hall for 200 people and a restaurant with a microbrewery in the former cafeteria. Next to it, he planned beer baths. However, the project failed.

According to Kadavý, the area now has a new owner who is considering what to do with it. The city bought the cafeteria and is preparing its reconstruction. The preliminary cost is estimated to be several tens of millions of crowns. Just the insulation, heating, and air conditioning are estimated to cost 5.5 million crowns. According to a study prepared by architect Ladislav David's studio, the building is to have a large hall with a stage, a smaller conference hall, an exhibition hall, as well as an information center and facilities for organizing events. According to Kadavý, the town hall is looking for ways to obtain subsidies for the reconstruction. "If we did it from our budget, it would take a long time, and we would have to divide it into phases," added the Deputy Mayor.