Workers have begun to demolish the barracks in Olomouc; they will be replaced by 300 apartments

Olomouc - Heavy construction machinery has begun demolishing buildings in the extensive area of the Sochor Barracks next to the historic center of Olomouc. The barracks were purchased from the state in 2014 for 68 million crowns by the company Snyze, owned by entrepreneur Josef Lébr. The entrepreneur subsequently sold the land to Sochorova stavební, which will build more than three hundred apartments on it.

According to the published official demolition permit, Sochorova stavební has until the end of September to tear down the barracks. The buildings are to be removed gradually under predetermined conditions to minimize the impact of the demolition on the surroundings. The construction of the apartments is set to begin in late summer and is expected to finish in 2020.

"The construction is being carried out by Sochorova stavební and a consortium of companies K-Stav stavební and Stafos - Real. The project will also include a green inner block and a stone square," stated the authors of the website Olstavby.cz, which tracks interesting construction projects in the Olomouc area. The companies K-Stav stavební and Stafos - Real each hold a half share in Sochorova stavební, which was only registered in the commercial register in 2015.

The army abandoned the Sochor Barracks in 2010. The area, covering 1.7 hectares, was mainly used by the sixth field hospital. The city showed no interest in the barracks located in a prime location because the investment would have been beyond its means. Lébr's company Snyze was the sole interested party in the Sochor Barracks two years ago, offering the defense ministry 68 million crowns, one million more than the minimum purchase price set by the ministry.

The Sochor Barracks stand next to the newly emerging urban district of Šantovka, which will span 11 hectares near the historic center and is expected to cost around ten billion crowns. In addition to the shopping center that is already operational, it will include a residential area and an office complex, featuring the controversial high-rise building Šantovka Tower.