Brno is likely to allow the construction of the controversial Erasmus residence

Brno - The Brno councilors indirectly supported the construction of the controversial Erasmus residence in the Královo Pole district. They approved a exchange agreement related to the construction. It still needs to be confirmed by the councilors. The public had previously protested against the plan. They argued with the zoning plan - it supposedly takes into account dormitories, while the company is building apartments. The mayor's deputy Oliver Pospíšil (ČSSD) today defended the agreement, stating that the validity of the building permit was confirmed by the regional office. It is valid and enforceable, he told reporters.
    The validity of the building permit was previously questioned by the magistrate. Officials stated that the investor did not prove ownership interest in the land. Furthermore, they claimed that the building permit had different parameters than those in the zoning decision. Regional officials rejected both objections.
    Brno is not directly involved in the matter. The exchange concerns the land under the residence, where there used to be a municipal parking lot. It was needed for the construction. The city therefore agreed in the past to give it up, provided that a new municipal parking lot would be built nearby as a replacement. The investor built it, and it remained to exchange the lands. Brno and the Brno University of Technology (VUT) are entering the exchange as landowners.
    The Erasmus residence is being constructed near Listovy dormitories. VUT, as the landowner, approved the construction with the understanding that it would be housing for academics and researchers. According to the agreement, part of the apartments is to be directly transferred to the ownership of the school upon completion. The remaining ones the investor is to "commercially utilize only for the accommodation of scientific research and teaching staff of universities in Brno," cites the municipality's press release from the document approved by VUT's administrative council. However, people had previously criticized that the investor is already offering the apartments on real estate websites.