The Skloexport building in Liberec was not sold by the state even after the price was lowered at auction

Archive of Jaroslav Zeman, www.liberec-reichenberg.net

Liberec - Another attempt by the state to sell the long-unused Skloexport building in Liberec ended in failure. Even in the second round of the auction, no bids were submitted, despite the State Representation Office in Property Affairs (ÚZSVM) lowering the starting price by 15 percent to approximately 67 million crowns. This is evident from the data on the property office's website. According to spokesperson Michaela Tesařová, the office will announce another round of electronic auctions. The conditions for this will not be disclosed by Tesařová, but the starting price will most likely be lower again.

"Although a potential buyer registered for the electronic auction and submitted the required deposit of 6.8 million crowns within the set term, no minimum bid was made during the auction," the spokesperson added.

The seven-story Skloexport building was constructed by builders according to the project of architect František Vahala at the corner of Žitavská and 1. máje streets between 1928 and 1930 for the tax and customs administration. The renowned exporter of Czech glass acquired it during the communist regime, and the company went bankrupt in the second half of the 1990s. The state took over the building in 2001, and the last tenants left the premises eight years later. The building mainly contains office spaces, warehouses, an archive, and a personal and freight elevator. The state has been unsuccessfully trying to sell the premises, with a floor area of 9,357 square meters, since 2008. According to estimates, it needs renovation costing more than half a billion crowns.

For years, the building belonged to the General Financial Directorate. The building was first offered in August 2008, when a court expert set the minimum price at 84.6 million crowns, but no interested parties were found. The premises could not be sold in subsequent years either, as the price gradually decreased to 45 million crowns. In May 2020, the building was taken over by the ÚZSVM. "For ÚZSVM, the former Skloexport building is unnecessary, and therefore, in accordance with the law, it is looking for a new owner," Tesařová added.

The city of Liberec expressed interest in the building, wishing to acquire it for free, but could not reach an agreement with the state and the city council refused to purchase it for 67 million crowns earlier this year. "The only option that would be acceptable is that we get it for free and additionally half a billion crowns for reconstruction," said city councilor Petr Židek (ODS) at that time. The Liberec Region also subsequently expressed interest, wanting to adapt the building to accommodate up to 500 Ukrainian refugees, but was also unsuccessful.