The councilors of Prague approved two large property exchanges with the state for 2.2 billion CZK

Prague - Prague plans to approve two major property exchanges with the state in the coming months, with a total value of 2.2 billion korunas. Today, the councilors supported it, and the representatives will still vote on it. As Jan Chabr (TOP 09) told reporters after the council meeting today, in the first exchange, the city will acquire, among other things, barracks in Karlín, an area in Bohdalec, or a building on Hybernská in exchange for the majority of the Na Bulovce hospital complex. In the second exchange, the city will trade its parcels in the Na Homolce Hospital and Faust's House on Karlovo náměstí for Veleslavín Castle and other lands.

The city leadership has been negotiating the exchanges with the state for several years, but progress was blocked during the previous government due to the question of city-owned land in Letňany, which former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) wanted to acquire from Prague for the construction of an office complex. According to Chabr, negotiations are now unblocked, and the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for the exchanges through the Office for State Representation in Property Matters (ÚZSVM), views the transactions positively. The representatives are expected to vote on the first package in April or May and on the second in June, the councilor said.

In the first exchange, valued at approximately 1.8 billion, the city will receive, in exchange for most of the Na Bulovce Faculty Hospital complex, empty barracks in Karlín, land in Bohdalec suitable for the construction of municipal apartments, parcels near the graphic school on Hellichova Street in Malá Strana, parcels next to the Eden Elementary School, land in Záběhlice for the construction of a school, and the former Ministry of Interior building, into which the Hybernská Campus is expected to expand, according to Chabr.

In the second exchange, valued at about 400 million korunas, the city will hand over land in the Na Homolce Hospital and Faust's House, which is used by the General Faculty Hospital but owned by the city. In return, Prague will acquire Veleslavín Castle, part of the Na Balkáně gardening colony, and land next to the Sokol building in Riegrové sady.

Chabr added that the city is also negotiating with the state to begin using Veleslavín Castle based on a loan agreement already now. According to him, a school for Ukrainian refugee children could be established there. "Within a week, a maximum of two, we will be able to take over the castle," said the councilor.