In the 9th round of the Hanácké kasárna auction, the first bid was made, with the bidder offering 89.1 million CZK

Olomouc - The state might find a buyer for the Hanácké barracks in the center of Olomouc on its ninth attempt. In the electronic auction that started today, the first bid has been made. The minimum purchase price has been reduced in the ninth round of bidding to 89 million from 111 million crowns. The auction participant, who remains anonymous to the public so far, bid 89.1 million crowns. The auction will end on Wednesday at 10:00. ČTK obtained the information from the website of the Office for State Representation in Property Affairs (ÚZSVM). The state has been trying to sell the Hanácké barracks since September 2021. Initially, the auction price was set at 262 million crowns, which ÚZSVM gradually reduced.

The ninth round of the electronic auction could begin today because, as in previous attempts, at least one interested party submitted a deposit of 15 million crowns. For the auction to be successful and find a winner, at least one bid must meet or exceed the minimum announced price of 89 million crowns. Further bids must increase the amount by at least 100,000 crowns.

The property office decided to continue the auction of the Hanácké barracks after the operation of the Regional Assistance Center for Help to Ukraine ended on its premises, and the Olomouc region refused to take over the property free of charge. The heritage-protected building, which consists of a four-wing structure, was transferred to ÚZSVM based on a government resolution in 2017 from the Ministry of Defense. The government approved its sale in 2020. The minimum price of the property has been gradually decreasing. Last year it was reduced from 262 million to 249 million crowns, this April to 248 million crowns, in May to 199 million, in June to 149 million, and in July to 111 million crowns.

Some time ago, the Olomouc region, together with the Olomouc city hall and Palacký University, expressed interest in the property. However, experts pointed out the poor technical condition of the Hanácké barracks and the high costs of renovation. As a result, the regional council annulled its previous resolution at the beginning of this year, which had opened the way for the municipalities and the university to acquire the barracks free of charge.

The Hanácké barracks were used by the army for 170 years and have been empty since 2013. The building has office space of over 2000 square meters. It was considered that hundreds of employees from state offices, which currently occupy several locations in Olomouc, would move there. However, according to the Ministry of Defense, relocating state officials would be more expensive than selling the property and possibly constructing a new administrative building.

The Olomouc region expressed interest in the Hanácké barracks back in 2014, intending to use it for museum and library storage or offices. Ultimately, the regional government abandoned this plan. The renovation of the heritage-protected building will be costly. According to a 2020 estimate, it would cost about 815 million crowns, and since then, the prices of construction work and materials have risen significantly.