In Prague's Štěrboholy, a new town hall was ceremoniously opened

"In the past, the office was located in a building that had to be returned in 2017 as part of the restitution to the heirs of a Jewish family from Štěrboholy, who moved to Israel after World War II. After that, we had to move to temporary quarters and we diligently searched for a solution to the situation. The offer of buildings for the new office was inadequate, so the council decided to build a new town hall on the district's land in the center, near the park," stated Mayor František Ševít (ODS).

The architectural design was prepared by the MFA s.r.o. with architect Michal Fischer. The building stands at the corner of Ústřední and Hrušovská streets, near a bus stop. At the site of the new town hall, there used to be a manor courtyard with a fortress and later a farm. During the foundation digging, a historic cellar was uncovered, which was archaeologically examined. "We are on the foundations of one of the oldest buildings in Štěrboholy," said Ševít. The neighborhood could further develop, for example, with a bakery, hairdresser, or other services.

Since 1991, the office was in a villa that is part of the property settlement with the Propper family from Israel. The court dispute over the family's restitution claim lasted from 1994 and reached its final phase in August 2016. The Klinger family from Štěrboholy was sent by the Nazis during World War II to the Auschwitz concentration camp, from which they did not return. Part of the family fled from the Nazis to the USA and part to Israel. The family in the USA was compensated through post-war international agreements, while the family in Israel was not. The lawsuit dealt with whether the Israeli family was entitled to the entire property or just part of it. The court ruled on the family's claim to half of the properties and a third of the built land. In August 2016, an agreement was reached for the settlement and settlement of the property. The settlement was 80 million crowns and included the villa where the office was located.

Štěrboholy is one of the smallest districts of Prague, with approximately 2,240 residents. It is in the Prague 10 municipality and borders the districts of Dolní Počernice, Hostavice, Kyje, Malešice, Hostivař, Dolní Měcholupy, and Dubeč. Four years ago, only ODS and TOP 09 competed for voter support in the elections for the seven-member council. The Civic Democrats won four mandates and their leader František Ševít became the mayor of Štěrboholy, a position he has held since 2007. In this year's autumn elections, he will also defend his mayoral seat. Only ODS and TOP 09 will compete again in the elections.