Jablonec canceled the architectural competition associated with the dam

Jablonec nad Nisou – Jablonec has canceled the architectural competition for the design of the Sun Baths and the surrounding area of the dam. The new city leadership cites high costs that the city is expecting in the near future as the reason. This was reported by the city spokesperson Jana Fričová in a press release. The dam and its surroundings are one of the most valuable public spaces in Jablonec. However, it lacks basic amenities, such as changing rooms or showers.

Jablonec announced the competition on September 10, when Milan Kroupa, elected from ANO, was still the mayor. According to the current mayor Jiří Čeřovský (ODS), the city leadership recognizes the importance of the dam. "At the moment, we are forced to consider the level of investments that could bind the city in the future. Therefore, we have decided to halt the architectural competition," said Čeřovský.

The deputy for city development Petr Roubíček (ODS) stated that instead of the competition, they would like to invest the money directly into improving the dam. "We want to draw from projects we already have, including suggestions from citizens that were submitted, for example, during discussions before the holidays at the Mšen school or as part of the participatory budget," he said.

In the first phase, according to him, the city wants to focus on the social facilities around the dam. It also wants to improve the condition on Průběžná Street, where the city's goal is calmer traffic and safer movement for inline skaters, cyclists, pedestrians, and children.

The new leadership of Jablonec claims that this step will save millions of crowns. According to Roubíček, the rewards for the three winning designs alone amount to a total of 450,000 crowns, and the city would also have to pay 50,000 crowns for each submitted proposal as a so-called pencil fee. Moreover, according to the deputy, rewards for the jury members and the processing of the order cost nearly four million must also be added to this.

The future of the Sun Baths has been discussed in Jablonec for years. Some people want to preserve their historical form, while others are calling for more radical solutions. The Sun Baths were created on the shore of the dam in 1927 and offer a sun meadow fenced off and divided into women's and men's sections, in addition to refreshments. Access to it is only through changing cabins. The area belongs to the city, but its condition is deplorable.