Liberec will want at least 20 million CZK for the former eye sanatorium

Liberec - Liberec aims to raise at least 20 million crowns through the sale of the dilapidated chateau in the Machnín district. The intention to sell the premises, which was once a renowned children's eye treatment center during the past regime, was approved by the city council today under this condition. The opposition criticized the form of the sale.

The chateau on the outskirts of the city was a splendid residence set in a well-maintained forest park, but is now in a deplorable state and has long been leaking. The city plans to offer it on the real estate market at the beginning of next year. Opposition councilor Ondřej Petrovský from the Změna party was against the sale today. According to him, it is an interesting location. "The city should keep the premises and use them for its own purposes," he stated.

Deputy Mayor for Economics Zbyněk Karban (ANO) countered that the city purchased part of the premises last year for 2.8 million crowns with the condition that it would consolidate and sell it. He pointed out that the municipality does not have the resources to do anything with the premises. Deputy Jiří Šolc (Starostové pro Liberecký kraj) added that the current state of the chateau poses a risk to the surrounding area. "We do not have the money for repairs or demolition," he said.

The opposition was also dissatisfied with the proposed method of sale. Jindřich Felcman (Změna pro Liberec) pointed out that the value of the premises is diminished by the fact that it is designated in the land use plan as an area for civic amenities. "In this regime, we do not know what we would like to have there. And for anything else, we would get a better price," he stated.

According to his party colleague Josef Šedlbauer, it would be better if the city announced a competition in which interested parties would present their proposals for the use of the premises, and the best one would be selected. "And then adjust the area to it, if it is in accordance with the interests of the city," he said. He believes that this would enable the municipality to achieve a better financial and urbanistic outcome.

According to Karban, interest in the premises will also be demonstrated by the approved intention to sell. "We will make inquiries and know more by March," he said. The city is not obliged to accept any offer if the proposed use is unacceptable to them.

The chateau is believed to have been commissioned as a family residence in 1882 by factory owner Adolf Schwab, a politician and textile mill owner. After nationalization under the previous regime, it became a sanatorium where children with visual impairments from across the country were treated. The city owned the premises until 1999 when it sold the chateau together with the caretaker's house and a guard tower on nearly 500 square meters of land, retaining only the surrounding land, approximately three hectares. Plans by several Liberec doctors who committed to building a modern sanatorium collapsed. Liberec regained the chateau and other buildings last year.