In Česká Lípa, the reconstruction of Kounic House has begun, which burned down nine years ago

Česká Lípa - In Česká Lípa, the reconstruction of the historically protected Kounic House has begun, which burned down nine years ago. The restoration will cost 262 million crowns and is expected to be completed in 2026. The Libertin House of Children and Youth will move into the area, as its current rented facilities are insufficient. The house is currently undergoing demolition work and an archaeological survey, said the city hall spokeswoman Kristýna Kňákal Brožová to ČTK today.

The contract was awarded to a local association of companies CMB led by CL-EVANS. "Due to the reconstruction, Berkova Street is partially closed, both to cars and pedestrians. However, all shops in this street are accessible," added the city hall spokeswoman.

The civic house, also known as Kounic House, was completed in 1771 by the then owners of the Kounice estate. It was built on the site of the manor brewery, which was destroyed by fires in 1611 and 1698. The house originally served the estate's officials, and in later years it housed a salt storage, a military hospital, a customs office, a Czech gymnasium, and in the second half of the 20th century it served the Svazarm. In May 2015, the house burned down, caused by welding work on the roof, which the building lost in the fire.

At the time of the fire, the building was not owned by the city; it belonged to the Association of Sports Federations of the Czech Republic, which did not repair the damages caused. For several years, rain fell into the roofless monument, and it was in a state of emergency. There was a risk not only of its destruction but also of damage to neighboring buildings or injury to passersby. Therefore, in 2018, Česká Lípa purchased the building for 1.9 million crowns, and the city invested additional millions into structural safety, temporary roofing, and preparation for reconstruction.

According to Mayor Jitka Volfová (ANO), the city is prepared to finance the expensive construction from its own funds. "We are looking for a grant from the brownfield or cultural monument funding program. It is possible that we will be able to partially obtain something," Volfová added. However, the costly investment will not jeopardize the finances of Česká Lípa, as the city leadership is trying to manage funds effectively and save. As a result, Česká Lípa had nearly 1.123 billion crowns in its funds and accounts at the beginning of this year.