Přerov city councilors have definitively approved the purchase of the Strojař hotel

Prerov - Prerov city councilors today definitively approved the purchase of the abandoned seven-story hotel Strojař located near the city center. The city will buy it from the Ministry of Defense for 42.1 million crowns. The original amount increased by 1.6 million crowns due to the property transfer tax, which the city will have to pay according to the purchase agreement. The increase in price was the subject of discussion at today's council meeting, but the proposal was ultimately approved. The city wanted to acquire the hotel with a capacity of 369 beds to prevent the establishment of another lodging facility. There is currently no use planned for it.

Councilors discussed today whether the property transfer tax could be paid by the seller, as is customary, which in this case would be the Ministry of Defense. However, there was a prevailing concern in the council that modifying the agreement could lead to the Strojař falling into the hands of the second interested party in line. "If this contract was submitted as part of a tender and we agreed to the conditions, then we must adhere to them. Personally, I don't think 1.6 million crowns is worth the risk of Strojař being bought by someone else to establish a lodging facility," said councilor Petr Hermély (Independents).

The purchase was approved by the councilors almost unanimously today, with councilor Břetislav Passinger from the Communist Party abstaining from the vote. The reason was that the city has no current use for the property. "We will address the intention later, within a working group. It would also be suitable to hold a public hearing with citizens, which we can organize only after we acquire Strojař," said councilor Petr Vrána (ANO).

The Prerov city council had previously announced that the property would be paid for from its reserves. Its future remains uncertain. According to Mayor Vladimír Puchalský (Together for Prerov), the city is addressing it, and the council has already met with representatives from all parties regarding this issue. Suggestions have previously been made to convert the hotel into social housing or move the city hall there, and there was also a proposal to completely demolish the building. However, a final position has yet to be reached.

The Strojař hotel on Velká Dlážka Street, which was vacated by soldiers at the end of 2013, has been offered for sale by the ministry since January 2014. Initially, the army demanded 62 million crowns for it, and the price was gradually reduced. The city originally tried to acquire the property free of charge, which ultimately did not succeed. After two interested parties contacted the ministry in the final round of the tender, the city decided to purchase the building. The reason was the concern that it could turn into another social lodging facility. There are already two dozen of them in the city.