The Plzeňská barracks Světovar will be transformed into apartments, an archive, and a museum

Plzeň - Apartments, park, library, gallery, city archive, and museum of historical vehicles will be created in a five-hectare area of barracks in Plzeň at Světovar, the main part of which the army is supposed to transfer to the city in the coming days. The proposal for the use of the area, which the soldiers will completely vacate and transfer to the city within a maximum of two years, was approved by the Plzeň city council. ČTK was informed by the deputy mayor Stanislav Hajný.
"The development scenario is based on a financial feasibility study," he stated. This was followed by discussions with the city district of Slovany, the University of West Bohemia, and civic associations, which agreed on the use of the preserved area.
Immediately after the transfer to city ownership, the city council will commission a project to convert one large building into an educational center with a city library, and another building will be converted into a city archive and museum of historical vehicles. The city council will convert three smaller houses into apartments. The reconstruction will begin next year.
The government approved the transfer of more than half of the area last March. However, the property has not yet been transferred to the city. "I hope this will happen by May 6, when the Minister of Defense is supposed to come to Plzeň," said deputy mayor Petr Náhlík. In the transferred part, there is a preserved former brewery, office and storage spaces. The army will transfer the second part towards the tram depot in about a year; the city council plans to expand the public transport base there.
The Světovar area is in decent condition. The area along Koterovská street does not represent a large investment; both the technical and transport infrastructure are in good condition. The city council will seek funding for the development of the area primarily from the EU.
The area is expected to house one of the largest collections of historical cars in the country. "The museum would attract more visitors to Plzeň," said Irena Vostracká from the concept and development department. "I estimate that it can accommodate 70 veterans," said Jiří Karban from the Škoda Hispano Suiza association. The museum will utilize the ground floor of the massive reinforced concrete building of the former brewery, which the soldiers used as a storage facility. It is unclear how much the reconstruction will cost and who will pay for it. According to Náhlík, the work could be done by the city and then the spaces could be lent out.