The apartments in the Litvínov Koldom are not of interest

Litvínov (Mostecko) - The leadership of Litvínov has abandoned the plan to offer tenants the option to purchase apartments in the city's largest residential complex, the so-called Koldom, which has 353 apartments and 604 tenants. A city survey showed that people are not interested in purchasing the apartments, and therefore Koldom will not be sold, informed ČTK today the mayor Daniel Volák (ODS).
    "We promised that we would not sell Koldom to anyone other than the people living in it. Most of them did not express interest in privatization, so the sale will not take place," stated Volák. The city contacted tenants in 339 apartments in the complex with a questionnaire. 148 people expressed their opinions on privatization, which represents 44 percent of the surveyed tenants. 130 tenants wanted to purchase their apartments, but only 42 of them were willing to establish a cooperative, which is a condition for privatization. 17 residents of Koldom rejected the purchase of their apartments.
    According to Volák, the city now needs to resolve necessary renovations, especially needing to replace hot and cold water lines, vertical sewage systems, and electrical installations. The estimated costs for the most essential work are estimated by the city hall at 60 to 70 million crowns.
    "The city currently does not have this money. However, it is necessary to think about the investment. Annually, there are leftover funds from the rent payments. We can therefore consider financing the renovation through a loan," added councilor Petr Myšák.
    The city offered studio apartments, two-room, and three-room apartments in Koldom for 500 crowns per square meter of floor area, which is the same price as when the privatization of the housing stock began in the 1990s. Thus, people would pay between 12,000 and 32,000 crowns.
    Litvínov has already sold nearly its entire housing stock. Apart from Koldom, it now owns only 24 apartments in renovated buildings, for which the city received state subsidies and may not sell them for 20 years. It also owns two shelters for residential buildings on Valdštejnská Street and a residential building on Vinohradská Street and on U Zámeckého parku Street.
    The city spent almost 150 million crowns on an extensive renovation of Koldom from 1998 to 2005. The repairs included a complete replacement of all eight elevators, the construction of fireproof walls and two reception areas, laying a new roof, insulating the building, complete replacement of the heating system, new vertical water distribution, and window replacement.
    Koldom is one of two such buildings in the Czech Republic, the other being in Zlín. They were built in the early 1950s as an experiment. They were intended to be self-sufficient, with the project accounting for a service network within the building, including a nursery and kindergarten, shops, restaurants, and gaming halls. However, gradually, businesses in Litvínov ceased operations. Currently, Koldom features a hotel, a restaurant, a grocery store, a sauna, a hair salon, and a newsstand.