Prague wants to buy the area near Hostivař Reservoir from the state

Prague – The Prague City Hall wants to purchase the swimming pool area near the Hostivař Dam from the Office for Representation of the State in Property Matters (ÚZSVM) for 52.2 million crowns. Jan Chabr (TOP 09), the city's councilor for property, told ČTK. According to him, the office is willing to sell the land to the city, and now the city hall is to present its plan for its use. The councilor added that he would like to complete the purchase before the elections in the autumn of next year.

The swimming pool area is managed by Prague 15, which, however, according to the deputy mayor of the city district, Václav Bílek (ANO), does not have the funds for its purchase, so it turned to the city hall. "It doesn't matter whether it will belong to the city district or the city," he told ČTK. He added that it would also be possible for the city to give Prague 15 a grant for the purchase and then operate the area.

According to Chabr, the city is considering a direct purchase because the area is significant for the entire city and is also used by residents of other city districts, such as Prague 11 and Prague 10. He added that the plan has already been approved by the property committee of the Prague city council, and meetings with representatives of ÚZSVM have already taken place. The city would prefer to exchange the swimming pool for another property, but the office insists on a sale. The city hall is now tasked with presenting a proposal for the use of the area, which according to Chabr should happen in January.

"We do not want to repeat the mistake that happened, for example, in the case of Džbán, because it is a unique natural site in this part of Prague," said the councilor, referring to the case of the recreational area around the natural swimming pool Džbán in the Šárecké valley. In 2012, it was obtained from the state enterprise in liquidation Prague Sewer and Waterways in an auction by the company Molepo. Subsequently, they wanted to build on the land, which encountered resistance from locals and the Prague 6 town hall.