The hamster began to deal with the devastation of the department store Ostravica

Brno - The representative of the ombudswoman, Stanislav Křeček, has begun addressing the devastation of the heritage-protected buildings of the former Textilia-Ostravica department store and the Moravian-Ostrava Commercial and Industrial Bank in Ostrava. The spokesperson of the public defender of rights' office, Iva Hrazdílková, said today that current findings suggest that the owner of the buildings, the company Amádeus real, is neglecting their maintenance. If this is indeed the case, it would be acting contrary to the Building Act and the Heritage Conservation Act. Křeček will now investigate the actions of state authorities towards the company.
    The destruction of the department store began 13 years ago when the ceiling collapsed during an unauthorized renovation. The subsequent inadequate securing of the building against unauthorized entry led to a deterioration of its structural condition, which is now critical.
    Workers from the National Heritage Institute found that water is leaking into the building due to missing roofing over the courtyard sections. Parts of the gutters are missing from it. The destroyed windows contributed to the worsening of the structural defects, leading to the destruction of trusses, damage to ceilings, walls, and the devastation of interiors. Due to the lack of security, thieves stole parts of the steel load-bearing structure from the building.
    The building is listed among the most endangered cultural monuments in the country. Authorities attempted from 2011 to 2013 to compel the owner to take proper care of the buildings. So far, there has been no change, despite the company being ordered to undertake necessary measures to secure the building by the end of February this year.
    According to Křeček, "the similarity to the case of the devastated Kyselka Spa complex cannot be overlooked." The investigations of the ombudsman's office, thorough work by the authorities, and public interest have created pressure on the monument's owner, who subsequently began to take care of it. Křeček hopes that a similar outcome will be reached in the Ostrava case.