The town of Chodov has bought the former Harmonie guesthouse in the town centre. It plans to use the building for education or social services. One of the main reasons why the town bought the guesthouse from a private owner for CZK 21 million was to prevent it from becoming a hostel for the socially vulnerable. The former Harmonie guesthouse will remain preserved for some time, according to Chodov Mayor Patrik Pizinger (Místní).
“We are the proud owners of the Harmonie building. At the moment we are taking stock of the entire property, because we took it over on 1 September. We are preparing for its partial conservation. And we are continuing to look at whether we can use it for social care or whether it could be used by school facilities, perhaps as a dormitory,” Pizinger said.
A final decision is expected by the end of October this year. After that, the city should begin preparations for a new use of the building. If the city decides on a social use, the former boarding house would probably have to be rebuilt, which would take more time. If the city were to use the building as a dormitory, the modifications would be minimal, as it has also been a residential facility.
According to the mayor, Chodov, with a population of 13,000, is currently better off putting money into real estate, given that there is still a risk of the vacant buildings being used by poverty merchants. It is not the only city in the region to similarly oppose the uncontrolled use of buildings to profit from social welfare benefits for the poor. Sokolov, for example, recently bought two buildings in the city centre and is looking for a similar use for them.
Source: Chodov and CTK
