The burned-out casino in front of the Brno train station awaits repair

Brno - The building with a former gaming room and casino opposite the Brno train station, which caught fire seven years ago and has been deteriorating since, may finally see repairs. The Brno city hall wants to normalize relations with the owner, with whom it is in a lawsuit regarding the underpass beneath the building, and thus enable the investment. The proposed agreement was approved by the city council. It must be confirmed by the assembly and then signed by both parties, said the mayor's deputy Oliver Pospíšil (ČSSD) to reporters today.
    According to Pospíšila, the city recognizes in the proposed agreement that the property, including the underground spaces with escalators, terraces, and underpasses, belongs to the company Porta plus Brno. The owner, in turn, accepts the easement that requires them to allow public access from the section beneath the station to Josefská street. "In return, the city would commit not to demand any money from Porta for the city's operation of the passage and cleaning there. At the same time, Porta would not want any funds from the city that it collected from the tenants of those spaces," the deputy described.
    The city has been in a legal dispute over the underground tunnels and terraces with the company for several years. It lost the lawsuit but filed an appeal to the Supreme Court. According to Pospíšila, it has been pending there for the second year.
    The agreement, according to the deputy, also rectifies the land relationships between the company and the city. According to it, both entities would exchange parcels of land - the city would contribute its plot under the building opposite the station, while Porta plus Brno would provide the land under the city building on Křenová street. Additionally, the company would have to pay an extra 18.5 million crowns because the land it offers in exchange is smaller and in a less attractive location.
    "A condition for the exchange is that the owners will have a valid building permit for the reconstruction of the property," said the deputy, adding that the city is thus trying to expedite the repairs.
    The building at station street number 2a burned down in 2002. Three people, including two firefighters, died in the fire. Since then, it has remained unrepaired. However, according to the city hall, it brings shame to the city, as it is one of the first buildings seen by people traveling to Brno by train.