Unknown perpetrators have probably probably dismantled a substantial part of the tin roof of the building. In addition, according to the data of the Prague City Hall, its owner paid only one of the five fines. That is why the municipality has now intervened. He is considering having the building expropriated.
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“I am generally a strong supporter of private property and its inviolability. However, it is necessary to realize that ownership means not only rights, but also obligations to take care of property according to the relevant regulations, “said Jan Chabr (United Forces for Prague), Prague councilor for property. “If someone buys a property and knows that it is a cultural monument, they have a duty to take proper care of it as well. The owner of a cultural monument is obliged to take care of its preservation at his own expense, to keep it in good condition and to protect it from endangerment, damage, degradation or theft. It is possible to provide the necessary remediation and static work at the expense of the owner, directly from the local government, ie the city. “
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In the past, the Department of Monument Care fined the owner repeatedly because it did not allow access to the building. However, he paid only the first fine of less than two million.
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See what the dilapidated former train station looks like today:
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“On behalf of the capital city of Prague, we are sending a letter to the Ministry of Culture whether an agreement has yet been reached with the owner on the sale of the state railway station building. If the state confirms this, there should be nothing to prevent the start of the process of expropriation, which we are ready to start from the position of the capital, and we will proceed in accordance with the law on state monument care. However, we will continue to discuss these possibilities and continue to negotiate, “added Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček (United Forces for Prague).
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“We strongly support the capital to acquire the historic building of the Vyšehrad railway station. We would like this building to be renovated by the city and then used for cultural purposes. Personally, for example, I can imagine if the work Slavonic Epic by Alfons Mucha could be placed in such a reconstructed building. I would be really happy about that, “said Jiří Pospíšil, chairman of the United Forces representative club for Prague.
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The unhappy condition of the station bothers the relevant city district of Prague 2. Councilor Michal Zuna (TOP 09) is convinced that the roof was dismantled intentionally.
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“It is necessary to ensure the safety of the building’s surroundings and not to allow the building to continue to suffer from a significantly damaged roof structure. In this matter, the city district of Prague 2 urgently communicates with the owner’s representatives and has also filed a criminal complaint for a general threat, “Zuna explained. “I can say that I do not understand why a private owner treats his property in this way, but it would not be true. When viewed from the walls, it is clear that someone deliberately dismantled a large part of the roof. Time is relentless and the building needs to be saved. The capital city of Prague must continue to take steps to acquire the building from a private owner into its ownership as soon as possible. “
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A local survey will take place in the building this week. “It simply came to our notice then. For example, whether the repairs can be started by Prague 2 itself or what is the legally correct process so that the city district can move on to the necessary repairs and rescue of the building, “said Vít Hofman, a spokesman for the municipality.
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The Art Nouveau building is owned by RailCity Vyšehrad, which has not been interested in the status of a cultural monument inscribed on the UNESCO list for a long time. The city district of Prague 2 has been negotiating its purchase since 2007. However, all negotiations with the owner of the building have not led anywhere yet.
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RailCity objected to allegations that it had the building collapsed in a paid statement published by the ČTK agency. “RailCity Vyšehrad has been attacked for several weeks by controversial statements by Prague 2 municipal politicians, who are publicly threatening to expropriate the Vyšehrad Railway Station building. These statements are an unacceptable encroachment on private property and balance on the edge of the law, “she said.
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Period image of Vyšehrad railway station.
According to the company, the station building was already in a state of disrepair at the time when it was buying it – the state, which has not invested in the monument for decades, is said to be to blame. According to RailCity Vyšehrad, blaming the current state of the monument on the current owner is at least incorrect. It is said that the situation did not benefit even the lengthy, long-lasting zoning procedure before it was possible to obtain the necessary permits for the reconstruction of the original station building and the completion of two buildings that are to form a new multifunctional complex. “RailCity Vyšehrad is doing everything to save this monumental building and is intensively looking for an investor for the prepared project. At the same time, it invests considerable funds in maintenance so that the condition of the building does not deteriorate further, “says the statement. “We are opposed to the deliberate media distortion that the roof of the building has collapsed, which is supposed to be the reason for the city’s drastic action against its owners. The facts are that the roof and facade of the building were intentionally damaged, in addition, someone intruded into the secured building without authorization. The whole case is being investigated by the police and allegedly caught specific perpetrators who were supposed to intentionally damage the roof and facade. “
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RailCity Vyšehrad added that the roof will be repaired and the building will be adequately secured. “It is very worrying that the suspicion of a violent intrusion into a railway station falls on those who call so loudly in the media for a radical approach, including the process of expropriation. We consider this to be a piracy of property rights, and we have filed a criminal complaint against the perpetrators. Our company was approached by the City of Prague with a proposal whether it did not want to sell the building or exchange it for other lands. We do not oppose these agreements in principle, but it is not possible to sell the object below cost at the estimated price of the appraiser hired by the municipality. Our company works with completely different opinions and it is clear that a compromise must be sought. In any case, the introductory negotiations have taken place and we are now awaiting the opinion of the municipality. It is also important for us to preserve the Vyšehrad railway station building for future generations, “concluded the owner of the dilapidated monument.
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The building was built between 1904 and 1905, the operation of the station was stopped around 1960. In private hands is the building, which was declared a cultural monument in 2000, since 2007. Restoration of the original function is not possible because modern standards do not allow to place the station in a bend. . The city is planning a train stop on Výtoň instead.
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