The government will discuss the proposal to sell the Hanácké barracks in Olomouc

Olomouc – The government will discuss on Monday the proposal of the Ministry of Finance to sell the Hanácké barracks in the center of Olomouc, which the army has used for 170 years. However, since 2013, the extensive property has been empty, and its further use for state officials would be, according to the ministry, much more costly than selling it and possibly building a new administrative headquarters. If the government approves the proposal to sell the Hanácké barracks building, the real estate transaction should be completed by the end of 2023. This is indicated by the materials for the government meeting on Monday, which are available to ČTK.

The Hanácké barracks building has office space of over 2000 m². Originally, it was considered that hundreds of state office workers, who are currently located in multiple places in Olomouc, would move into it. This option has been abandoned; according to experts, it would be less advantageous for the state than a sale.

According to the materials for the government, the sale of the barracks could bring the state about a quarter of a billion Czech korunas. In contrast, the reconstruction of the monument-protected building is estimated to cost around 815 million CZK. Most of the rooms in the Hanácké barracks, according to the submitted report, are not suitable as office spaces due to high ceilings and their shape.

The estimated cost for building a new administrative headquarters in Olomouc is about 575 million. It would be intended for employees of state organizations currently located in rented spaces or state buildings whose operation is too expensive. Possible candidates include, for example, the Olomouc branches of the General Directorate of Customs, the State Veterinary Administration, the Cadastral Office for the Olomouc Region, or the Czech School Inspection.

According to the Office for Representation of the State in Property Affairs, a new administrative building could be built on the land of the General Directorate of Customs not far from Polská Street. "It is expected that the General Directorate of Customs would be one of the future users of the new administrative center, thereby resolving its unsatisfactory property, rental, and dislocation situation in the city of Olomouc," states the material for the government.

In 2014, the Olomouc Region expressed interest in the Hanácké barracks building, wanting to create a repository for the museum and library, offices for organizations managing European funds, and a regional food store. The regional authorities eventually abandoned this plan.