Pardubice want to proceed with the preparation of the competition for the development of the Masaryk Barracks

Pardubice - The leadership of Pardubice aims to advance the preparation of an investor competition for the development of the former Masaryk Barracks this year. The city will retain only a part of the area, where it intends to build a new primary school. Funds for its construction could be obtained by selling land in the complex, said Mayor Jan Nadrchal (ANO) to ČTK.

"It will work on a similar principle as at Tesla Kyjevská, an investor will be selected, but he will have the obligation to prepare an architectural competition for the area in cooperation with the city," Nadrchal stated.

In March, the city plans to organize a seminar for councilors on the proposal. There is a spatial study for the area that will likely need to be revised. Instead of barracks, apartments and spaces for commerce and services, possibly even a healthcare center or doctors' offices, should be created. The buildings will have to match the height of the surrounding development, and proportions of built-up areas and greenery are also determined.

The city similarly proceeded earlier in the competition for the use of the former Tesla site on Kyjevská Street. The extensive brownfield near the regional hospital was purchased from the city in 2018 by Linkcity and has gradually been transformed into a shopping center, apartments, and parking lots.

Part of the area will house the primary school, for which the city is preparing project documentation. Last year, councilors approved 1.5 million crowns for the project of demolishing buildings and adjusting the location of existing engineering networks. The new building is set to be located near the former main entrance of the barracks, in front of which is a city park. The T. G. Masaryk Primary School would serve 540 students. Since 2020, strong demographic cohorts have been entering schools. The fourth district, where the building is set to be constructed, needs to increase capacity the most. The facility should include a cafeteria and a kitchen with a capacity of 615 meals, at least 18 standard classrooms, specialist classrooms, school clubs, a library, language and IT classrooms, and additional spaces for music and art education. It will also have a gym, a gymnastics hall, a multifunctional outdoor sports facility, and facilities for staff and school management. The estimated cost of the construction was previously around 500 million crowns without VAT.

The Masaryk Barracks have been abandoned since 2011. The Pardubice complex was acquired for free from the state in 2014. The area with buildings covers around ten hectares and belonged to the city until January 1, 1950, after which it belonged to the state. The state retained the buildings it constructed only after acquiring ownership.