Prague will pay more for the renovation of Šlechtova restaurant, the council approved the agreement

Prague – Prague will pay the company Pracom 160.9 million crowns including VAT for the first part of the reconstruction of the Šlechtova restaurant, which is about 38 million more than the original price. The price increased due to amendments and the company's requests for additional work, most of which the city acknowledged. Additionally, the magistrate will pay 20.8 million with tax for the construction of connections, which is approximately two million less due to the application of a contractual penalty for delayed completion. This follows from the settlement agreements approved by Prague's councilors today. The repair of the monument in Stromovka began at the turn of 2017 and 2018, and is expected to cost a total of 290 million crowns.

The first part of the repairs, which was completed in October of last year, involved the historical building itself, including the restoration of facades and the original stuccos, paintings, and the grotto with a stone fountain. The original contract price for this part was 122.8 million crowns, which was increased to 150.1 million crowns by the last amendment from last April, as per the document approved today.

However, Pracom requested additional funds for extra work and the total amount they sought from the city was 163.5 million. The city commissioned an expert assessment to evaluate the legitimacy of the claims, based on which it plans to reimburse most of the amount to the company. According to the approved document, the original contract is contentious, and in the case of a legal dispute, the city could lose; at the same time, the magistrate was aware of the extra work and has already paid a significant portion of it.

The second part of the reconstruction will involve completing the extensions necessary for the operation of the restaurant, which will be managed by the city’s Municipal House. Necessary project modifications are currently being completed, after which another tender for a construction company will be announced. "Alongside these works on finishing the extensions, the roofing of the rear section and adjustments to the slope above the Šlechtova restaurant will take place," states the document.

According to information from the magistrate, the work should be completed by the third quarter of next year. Subsequently, the city plans to restore the adjacent Kaštanka garden, where original horse chestnuts were cut down due to poor condition.

The monument-protected building of the Šlechtova restaurant was established in the 17th century as a baroque villa. A restaurant has been located there since the 19th century, and the building is named after Antonín Šlecht, during whose time it operated until World War II. It was subsequently nationalized and closed in the 1960s due to its dilapidated state. The building was damaged by fire in 1978 and 1980 and was affected by floods in 2002.