The squatters left the Šatovka estate, they departed without conflicts

Prague - The squatters today left the Šatovka estate in the Šárka Valley in Prague. Their departure was without conflict. Prague 6, as the property owner, gave them until today to vacate. According to the city hall, the building is not safe, has destabilized structure, and is infested with wood rot. It was originally planned to become a senior center, but newly, according to the spokesperson for the city district, Martin Churavý, the city hall is considering that the building could again contain rental apartments.
The estate was originally secured against unauthorized entry with chipboard panels. "We will now seal the ground floor windows," said Petr Macháček from SNEO, which manages properties in Prague 6. The estate will also be monitored further to prevent anyone from trying to enter it again.
The squatters left the building peacefully, departing shortly before 1:00 PM. They did not want to speak with reporters. "We don't have the stomach for further conflict, police harassment, and costly lawsuits, so we decided to leave Šatovka voluntarily. The question remains about the nature of a system that does not hesitate to use violence to protect empty houses, but does not vanish," the activists stated in a declaration to ČTK.
The squatters occupied the building before Christmas. "To the owner, who is currently unable to take care of the house in any way other than bricking up the windows, we offered to manage the property for free and create a space that would serve people. Our offer was not accepted," they further stated in the declaration. They want to continue negotiating with the city district about the potential use of another property in Prague 6.
Prague 6 informed about a plan to rebuild the building in May 2014 and to invest approximately 180 million to establish a retirement home and a care center for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease with 125 beds. However, neither the city hall nor the district will ultimately invest in the senior center at Šatovka.
The estate has been empty since 2011 and is gradually deteriorating. It is owned by the city district, while the surrounding land is entrusted by the city hall. The residential building dates back to the 18th century. In the past, it also served as an inn. The land around Šatovka used to be vineyards, pastures, and fields. The squatters moved in on December 21 of last year.