At the council meeting in Brno, people protested against the exchange for the stadium

Brno - Dozens of people came today to protest at the Brno city council meeting against the exchange of nine houses for properties that obstruct the construction of a football stadium on city land. The city is considering exchanging the houses for properties owned by businessman Libor Procházka, thereby resolving a 13-year dispute. Until then, the stadium cannot be built; it has already lost a court case and risks having to pay millions of crowns. However, the residents of the houses do not want the exchange and fear what will happen to them. The opposition ČSSD proposed to include an agenda item regarding the city’s stance on the exchange, but the councilors did not approve it.

The construction of the stadium is expected to cost two billion crowns. The facility is set to rise on the site of the old stadium. Zbrojovka previously won a title there and left at the beginning of the millennium. Since then, it has been falling into disrepair. The new stadium is to have a capacity of 30,000 seats.

The possibility of an exchange pertains to houses on Czechá, Masaryková, and Průchodní streets, among others in the historic center. A resident of the houses, Zdeněk Černín, said that people living in the houses fear for their roof over their heads, and the conditions that may arise. "Mr. Procházka is an unreadable entity; he set up one company for each house. He has no experience in this and we fear what will happen to us," Černín told reporters.

The ČSSD proposed to include an agenda item in which the councilors would express the city’s stance on the possible exchange. However, the councilors did not approve the inclusion of the item on the agenda. The opposition ČSSD, KSČM, and ODS were in favor, although no one was against it, but coalition councilors from ANO, Žít Brno, KDU-ČSL, the Green Party, and TOP 09 either abstained or did not vote at all.

"This is a disappointment for us. For example, the people’s party told us they would support our stance. And now they did not vote," Černín added. According to him, representatives of most parties in the council communicate with citizens, but the ANO movement does not communicate, he added. According to him, residents are preparing requests for the purchase of the properties, even though the city hall had previously refused to sell them. "If it can be sold to a businessman, why not to the citizens who live there and have invested in it," Černín emphasized. People are also preparing a petition.

Mayor Petr Vokřál (ANO) stated that assessments for the houses and Procházka's properties are not yet completed, nor are the final positions ready, so it is premature to include the item on the agenda. He wants to negotiate with citizens only if the exchange is to take place. Procházka's property, which the city needs for the construction of the new stadium, includes underground garages, tennis courts, and a hall, and has an estimated value of about a quarter of a billion crowns. The houses are supposed to cover the costs, but the city is considering whether to give Procházka either money or houses, or a combination of both.

The houses in question are demanded by Procházka. Brno previously lost a court case concerning the use of Procházka's properties as parking lots or thoroughfares where people park and drive. Another lawsuit threatens the city, and according to Vokřál, it could cost the city up to 16 million crowns annually until the dispute is resolved. The city is negotiating with Procházka about maintaining the rent for tenants in case of an exchange and investing in the houses. The city would offer other apartments to those interested in relocating.