Opava councilors did not approve the purchase of the dilapidated OD Breda

Opava – The Opava city council today did not approve the purchase of the dilapidated former department store Breda in the city center for 39.5 million CZK. Mayor Tomáš Navrátil (ANO) is to meet with the chairs of individual clubs to finalize the conditions and possibly their proposals. The building is a listed monument and has been deteriorating for years. It is being offered to the city by the bankruptcy administrator responsible for the failed company of Kamil Kolek.

The city is following the proposal of a specially appointed working group. It includes representatives from various organizations, entrepreneurs, and the owner of an extensive collection of African culture, Jiří Blata. According to the plan presented to the council today, the building should be used commercially for half of its space, while the other half would be for public purposes. The operation of the building should not significantly burden the city's finances.

The city administration wants to invest nearly 300 million CZK in the building with a floor area of 10,000 m². Besides the purchase price, this includes the costs for the reconstruction of the building. The annual operation of the building is expected to cost about 17.7 million CZK. Conversely, the city should earn 15.8 million CZK from rental income and fees for provided services. The difference would then be made up by a city subsidy for the operation of the building.

The project envisions that two of the six floors will house a year-round market and additional spaces for commercial use. Another floor would be used by the city for a community center. The spaces, including a dance hall, would serve associations, for example. Two other floors would feature galleries—one composed of Blata's African collections and another in collaboration with the Institute of Creative Photography.

Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD) promised last February during a visit to Opava that the state would help with the costly reconstruction if the building belonged to the city and found a meaningful cultural use.

At the time of its opening in 1928, Breda was the largest department store in the republic. The building, which was created by converting the original store built in 1927, is now deteriorating. Kamil Kolek's company, which owns it, is in liquidation. "Everyone can think that Kolek is to blame for everything. But the state of Breda greatly troubles me," said the entrepreneur to ČTK today. He claims he has unsuccessfully tried for many years to reach an agreement with the company that purchased his claim against the building. "There was no willingness; in the end, Breda ended up in bankruptcy," Kolek told ČTK earlier.