Č. Budějovice halted preparations for the construction of Kaplický's Rejnok

České Budějovice - The councilors of České Budějovice today halted preparations for the construction of the Antonín Dvořák Concert and Conference Center - the so-called Ray. The reason is said to be uncertainties surrounding the investor, whose project guarantor has not yet introduced. The construction, estimated at two billion crowns, was designed by the late architect Jan Kaplický. The decision of the councilors was reported by Deputy Mayor Petr Podhola (ČSSD).
    "If I speak for myself, I believe that the guarantor had enough time to introduce the investor to us. The uncertainties surrounding the financing led me to agree to halt the project as well," Podhola said.
    The Ray had previously received a zoning decision last year. The construction was set to take place over several tens of thousands of square meters at the site of the former barracks in the Čtyři Dvory district. "I personally was in favor of giving the project's guarantor another six months to announce the investor. But they would have to start paying rent for the land designated for the construction within a week," said another deputy mayor of České Budějovice, Miroslav Joch (ČSSD).
    The guarantor of the project is the South Bohemian Society of Friends of Music (JSPH). Its chairman, Antonín Kazil, stated that he would announce the investor in the near future. "We have more concrete details, but we wanted to publish the name only when everything is definitively settled," Kazil told ČTK.
    He added that he is disappointed with the councilors' decision but still believes this does not mean the end of the Ray project. "We want to continue the negotiations. If there is still interest from the other side," he said.