Pardubice want to build a primary school in the former barracks

Pardubice – Pardubice want to build a new elementary school in the former Masaryk Barracks. The area is gradually being developed with new residential buildings, where new residents will move in. The city hall could apply for subsidies in 2023 and then proceed with construction. This was stated by Mayor Martin Charvát.

"Analyses indicate that this will be the most burdened area in terms of population density. Construction has taken place at Na Spravedlnosti, S. K. Neumann, and there will still be construction at the Masaryk Barracks," Charvát said.

Since 2011, the complex has been abandoned. The Pardubice complex was acquired free of charge from the state in 2014. The area belonged to the city until January 1, 1950, after which it was transferred to the state. Now, there are empty, dilapidated buildings, a drive-in testing center, and long-term parking.

The elementary school could be located at the former main entrance of the barracks, in front of which lies a city park. Pardubice was inspired by the construction of an elementary school in Jesenice in the Rakovnicko region, which the city completed this year.

According to Charvát, with subsidies, it would be possible to build an energetically advantageous school, possibly even with a green roof. The project in Jesenice cost 434 million crowns, with the city contributing 150 million crowns. "With the subsidy, this is a realistic investment for us. If the project could be advanced in 2022, we could apply for subsidies in 2023," Charvát said.

In Dukla and Višňovka, the area around the Masaryk Barracks, there are four elementary schools, which will not be sufficient in the future in terms of capacity, the mayor added.

The city will retain the land for the elementary school. Another part near S. K. Neumann street belongs to the state, which plans to build a new labor office there. The project has had several start dates already, but construction has not yet begun. The city wants to sell the remaining area, which is about eight hectares.

"We have a professional advisor and want to follow the same path as with the sale of the former Tesla complex, which was a very complicated process. Until the last moment, we will monitor as a municipality what will be developed there," Charvát said.

Tesla went bankrupt in the 1990s; over 20 years ago, it was purchased by Foxconn, which intended to renovate it. However, they then built a new factory in Černá za Bory and donated the Tesla complex to the Pardubice Region. The region partially rehabilitated it and sought its use. After lengthy negotiations, it was handed over to the city with the condition that the city would ensure transportation connections.

The sale of Tesla took the city of Pardubice almost nine years. The investor first had to obtain a land use decision and register a study, and the land was rented for four years before the actual sale took place. According to Charvát, the brownfield was very well utilized. The Telegrafie building is now owned by the University of Pardubice, which will renovate it for the needs of the Faculty of Health Studies. LinkCity Czech Republic is building residential buildings there, and there will also be a traffic exit or supermarket. The entire project will be completed in 2024.