Repairs to the deteriorating Šlechta Restaurant will not begin this year either

Prague - The dilapidated historic building of the Šlechtova Restaurant in Prague's Stromovka will not see the start of promised repairs this year either. The city council has reallocated 45 million crowns from the budget intended for the restaurant's renovation to the construction of the Šutka swimming pool. This comes from the council's resolution concerning the second reading of the budget. The councilors will approve the budget at the end of November.
     The capital city of Prague, which owns the monument, has been planning the renovation of the restaurant for several years. The last decision to start the work was approved by the council last year. According to the original plans, renovations amounting to about 180 million were supposed to be completed by September 2012. So far, however, Prague has not signed any contracts with the contractor.
     According to the explanatory report available to ČTK, part of the funds for the restaurant will be swallowed up by the construction of the problematic Šutka swimming pool. Construction of the facility began in 1987, but was halted several times due to a lack of funds or restitution of land. The remains of the pool have already cost Prague about 100 million crowns. The completion of the aquapark was previously estimated to cost an additional nearly 600 million.
     The Šlechtova Restaurant building, formerly known as the Royal Hall, is a cultural monument. The dilapidated historical building has been brought up again in connection with a massive landslide that occurred in early June near the restaurant. The landslide did not threaten the foundations of the historic building but damaged the wall behind it.
     "The condition of the Šlechtova Restaurant is long-term deplorable. Restoration is prepared, but has not yet begun,” said Ondřej Šefců, head of the National Heritage Institute. The property is secured, so imminent damage and degradation of the monument are not currently at risk. According to historians, visitors to Stromovka are deprived of a beautiful excursion spot and remarkable architecture. "The dilapidated building only mars the park,” Šefců added.
     The Šlechtova Restaurant is named after its last owner, Václav Šlecht. Its oldest part dates back to the late 17th century, but the building was completed in the mid-19th century. In 1978 and two years later, the building caught fire, and it has been deteriorating ever since. It was also damaged by flooding in 2002.