The area of the former archbishops' sawmill in Ostravice will become the center of the municipality

Ostravice (Frýdecko-Místecko) - The site of the former archbishop's sawmill in Ostravice in the Frýdecko-Místecko region is expected to become a new center for the municipality in the future. The town hall will relocate there, a square will be created, as well as spaces for small shops, doctors, and services, or leisure activities. The estimated costs amount to 700 million crowns. The new solution was developed in an architectural and urban study by architect Kamil Mrva with the contribution of Josef Pleskot. The study was commissioned by the site owner, the company Ridera Reality, whose representatives presented it to journalists today.

Mayor of Ostravice Miroslav Mališ (TOP 09) said that the municipality welcomes the initiative. "Ostravice historically does not have a square or village green. Furthermore, the current town hall is made of prefabricated containers, their technical condition is beyond limits, and therefore we are faced with the decision to build a new town hall," he said.

The municipality views the relocation of the town hall positively also because its spatial location in the community will not change significantly. "A square area of about 5000 m² will be created here, where we will finally be able to host cultural and social events," said Mališ. He anticipates that the municipality would finance the construction of the square with the town hall, of which it would be the owner. The plan would have to be approved by the council. The old town hall would then be demolished, and a parking lot is likely to be built in its place.

The operation of the sawmill ended in 2011, when it became economically unfeasible for the owners. Ridera Reality purchased the site, which was already in poor technical condition, in 2013. Václav Daněk, chairman of the Ridera board, said that since then, it has invested 30 million crowns from its own resources. To finance further transformation of the site, they will seek partners. Deputy Governor Jakub Unucka (ODS) said that the Beskydy region around Ostravice is one of the tourist areas whose development the region supports.

The sawmill site covers an area of 6.5 hectares. According to Daněk, the front three-hectare part should clearly become the historic part of the municipality with a square and preserved original architecture. "And the back part calls for some broader discussion. It is prepared as fertile ground for some project. So far, surveys indicate that the municipality is looking for a leisure space that will not be just for athletes but for the whole family," said Daněk.

The central object of the former sawmill is rented by the SK K2 association. They want to create a Wood Arena there, which will include a wood production museum in the Beskydy region connected with a mountain and climbing museum or a wooden toy museum. The main part should be a wooden IQ park. "We would like to follow that up with escape games, where exhibits, saws, and cutting tools will be incorporated, meaning that people will have to cut through or break free from captivity and will need to use both strength and intellect to get out," said the chairman of the association, climber Libor Uher.

According to him, the aim is for children in the area to have enough movement and at the same time learn something in an entertaining way. "For each exhibit, we try to fit some physical activity. There will be a climbing wall, there will be rope obstacles or a rope center under the roof," said Uher. The first part of the former sawmill is expected to be a gathering space for concerts or balls. There should also be a floorball court, a laser shooting range, or an ice hockey shooting range. However, a change in the zoning plan is also necessary. The Wood Arena will therefore open according to Uher no sooner than in two years.

During the renovation of the site, a historic coat of arms of the former Olomouc Archbishop František Saleský Bauer was discovered in the attic of one of the buildings. Bauer was archbishop from 1904 to 1915; the coat of arms likely dates back to the years 1904 to 1911, when the sawmill started operations. The archbishop's coat of arms, weighing 300 kilograms, was ceremoniously consecrated today in the former sawmill by the Bishop of Ostrava-Opava František Václav Lobkowicz.