The Brno parking garages are to be built by a city-owned company

Brno - The Brno magistrate is changing its strategy regarding the construction of parking garages. Instead of the joint-stock company Brno Parking, which the city established with a private investor, the constructions will be handled by Brněnské komunikace, a company fully owned by the city. The city will cover part of the costs, while Brněnské komunikace may cover some through a loan. The construction of the first parking garage on Kopečná Street will start next year, Mayor Roman Onderka (ČSSD) told journalists today.
     There has been a long-term shortage of hundreds of parking spaces in the city center. The construction of parking garages has been discussed for several years. However, the previous collaboration with the private sector has been problematic. The projects have encountered delays. Therefore, the magistrate will withdraw from the company Brno Parking and sell 34 percent of its shares.
     The parking garage on Kopečná Street will offer drivers 90 spaces. The total investment amounts to 64 million crowns. Next in line is the parking garage on Panenská Street with a total investment of about 190 million crowns and approximately 360 spaces. The land on Panenská Street is currently owned by Brno Parking, but according to Onderka, the city has already agreed with the company on its sale to Brněnské komunikace.
     The company Brněnské komunikace will likely take out a loan from a bank for part of the costs. "Given that the parking garage should be profitable after completion, this is an acceptable solution," Onderka told ČTK.
     The city of Brno is already considering other locations for building new parking spaces. Areas in Besední Street, Křenová, near the Rondo hall, and the Central Cemetery are being discussed. For years, the city has been contemplating a project for underground parking near the Janáček Theatre, but without any concrete results so far. The capacity of individual locations ranges from 200 to 400 parking spaces.