<praha 8 wants to negotiate with the owner of the Palace of Light about the future of the building</p>

Prague - Prague 8 wants to negotiate with the owner of the Palác Svět about the future of the building. The city hall is asking the owner, Italian businessman Antonio Crispino, to either start the reconstruction of the building or sell it. The spokesperson for the city hall, Marcela Voženílková, informed ČTK about this. The palace has been deteriorating for many years, and the owner received a fine in the past while Prague 8 filed a proposal for the liquidation of Crispino Properties. Deputy Mayor Petr Vilgus (SZ) was supposed to meet with the owner today, but he canceled the meeting. The palace, which was most famously associated with the writer Bohumil Hrabal, was built in the 1930s and is a cultural monument.

"It is not possible for a similar ruin to exist in the center of Libeň for another decade. And I am not even talking about the historical and cultural significance that Palác Svět has for Libeň," said Vilgus. The building also housed Automat Svět, which Hrabal frequented.

According to Vilgus, the city hall is interested in the renovation partly because it plans to reconstruct Palmovka and Elsnicovo Square. Therefore, it wants a clear position and guarantees from the owner that he will either start the reconstruction or sell the building. It will also demand the restoration of the commercial parterre, including Automat Svět and the tiled façade. "I firmly hope that Mr. Crispino will begin to take seriously the demands of the city hall and the citizens who are concerned about the condition of this monument," stated Vilgus.

The potential imposition of a fine or other measures is not currently being considered by the city hall. "Primarily, we want to negotiate with the owner," Voženílková said.

Crispino purchased the palace in 1998. For example, in July 2011, the city hall fined him 180,000 crowns, and in September of the same year, it filed a proposal for the liquidation of Crispino Properties. In 2013, the municipality considered a fine of two million, but ultimately did not impose it.

Talks about the restoration of the palace began as early as 2006 when the city hall approved a reconstruction study. However, since then, the repairs have not advanced significantly. Although Crispino carried out some work inside, according to the city hall, the reconstruction efforts did more harm than good to the building.

Palác Svět was built from 1932 to 1934 by builder František Havlena. The reinforced concrete building was named after the businessman who commissioned it. The complex comprises a residential and commercial building with two basements and a cinema hall. The first floor housed a restaurant, café, and gaming room. In 2002, the building was damaged by a flood. Since 2003, the complex has been a cultural monument.