Karlovy Vary Region wants the Imperial Baths, withdraws support for the hall

Karlovy Vary - The Karlovy Vary Region intends to acquire the historic building of the Imperial Baths from Karlovy Vary for an estimated price of approximately 97.7 million crowns. This intention was approved today by the regional council. At the same time, the region has decided to withdraw from the promised financial support for the construction of a multifunctional hall in the regional city with a maximum amount of 100 million crowns. The region had promised the city a grant for the construction of an arena worth more than one billion crowns last year before the construction began.
Against the decision of the council, its member and deputy mayor of Karlovy Vary, Tomáš Hybner (CSSD), spoke out. He labeled the actions of the regional leadership and council as pressure on the city. He did not understand where Governor Josef Pavel (ODS) obtained the results of the expert assessments, given that they were commissioned by the city. "I still do not have information on what the experts' conclusions actually are and how the baths and equipment have been valued. And yet specific figures are already being announced. We haven't even agreed on the wording of the contract. The council discussed the transfer of the baths this week and due to many ambiguities, postponed this matter until November," said Deputy Hybner.
The fact that the city will lose the promised money for the construction of the hall is considered unpleasant but not critical. Reportedly, this will not jeopardize further development of the multifunctional arena. Karlovy Vary will try to seek other sources of funding and also aim to maximize the use of funds within the integrated city development plan. "In the coming years, we should receive approximately half a billion crowns in grants for this program. Some projects related to this plan will focus specifically on the construction of the multifunctional complex. Moreover, the money from the region was not certain. It was just a promise," noted Hybner.
Governor Pavel rejected the notion that the region is exerting pressure on Karlovy Vary. According to him, the region's intention regarding the Imperial Baths has been under discussion for a long time, and concrete steps need to be taken. The resolution of the regional council officially confirmed that the region is interested in the historic building and is willing to invest in its restoration. Now it will be up to the city to decide whether to accept the offer. "We have already discussed all the details with Mayor Vlková and Deputy Keřka. If Deputy Hybner lacks information, that is not our problem. And as for the hall, he cannot simultaneously support two such financially demanding projects," added Pavel.
The Karlovy Vary Region already has a complete revitalization study of the Imperial Baths, prepared by Medika. According to the governor, the costs for the restoration of the building are estimated at 400 to 500 million crowns. For example, the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra should have a permanent location there, and a museum of the Karlovy Vary Region and an information center will be created. The atrium is planned to include a large hall with 500 seats. The Zander Hall is to be used as a café. "The project was worked on by an expert group including heritage conservationists," stated the governor.
Karlovy Vary has been unsuccessfully trying for years to find a way to save this significant building. The Imperial Baths were built in 1895 according to a design by Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. The city only uses them occasionally, for example, during the film festival. From time to time, filmmakers rent them for shooting. Many opposition councilors from the city are also against their transfer to the Karlovy Vary Region.