In Špindl. They are demolishing a historic building at the mill, according to the mayor, without a permit

Špindlerův Mlýn - The demolition of the former Pětiletka recovery facility, which included the Špindlerovská inn, has begun in the center of Špindlerův Mlýn. The demolition started on September 26, despite the construction office not issuing a permit for the removal of the building. Vladimír Staruch, the mayor of the largest Krkonoš resort, told ČTK today. The building has deteriorated in recent years, and the operation of the Špindlerovská inn ceased last August. The case was highlighted by the server Novinky.cz.

"I learned that the demolition had started when I was on my way to work. I immediately pointed out that there was probably illegal removal of the building," Staruch told ČTK. According to him, the construction office received a request from the building's owner for the removal of the building, to which the city, as a party to the proceedings, responded, but the office did not issue a permit; the demolition began solely based on a static assessment.

According to the server iDNES.cz, the goal of the building's owner, Projekt centrál company, is to build an apartment complex on the site of Pětiletka. Tomáš Kapoun, the chairman of the board of the Projekt centrál company, did not want to answer questions from MF DNES about why the company started demolition without a permit and what plans it has in Špindlerův Mlýn.

"They requested preliminary consent to know the preliminary positions of the city regarding the building permit process. The city council issued a favorable statement for the removal of the building on the condition that a proper construction process would take place. We knew that the building was in poor condition and there was an effort to replace it with a new one. However, we assumed there would be a proper construction process, where the condition of the building would be assessed, and a demolition procedure would be proposed. That is, a decision would be made as to whether it would be partial or complete demolition and the extent to which the building would eventually be replaced," Staruch told ČTK.

Demolition, according to him, continues despite the construction office issuing a call to stop work. "The construction office acted according to the building law, subsequently sent the first call to stop the work, but the work continues," the mayor stated.

For demolishing the facility without a demolition permit, the investor faces a fine of up to 200,000 crowns. "The question is whether the amount of the fine will correspond to the actions taken by the builder. We currently have no legal means to prevent the demolition from continuing. As far as I know, the police should already be investigating the matter," Staruch said.

The mayor also told ČTK today that the town hall expected that the dilapidated building would be replaced in the future, but in the context of the current zoning plan and the spatial study of the center. "It was anticipated that one day there could be removal of the building and its replacement with a new building, but on the condition that the building would be in such a state that it would not be possible to carry out its reconstruction. If there was ever talk at the town hall about what might be built there, it was always only about a hotel. The city never agreed that the new building should include apartments," Staruch said.

The Špindlerovská inn was established at the beginning of the 20th century, probably on the site of an older building, and it is not protected as a historic monument.