Nový Bor in the Českolipsko region is interested in buying a representative building of the Czech Post in the city center. In the future, it could include, among other things, the museum of glass artist and designer Bořek Šípek.
The Czech Post offered the city an Art Nouveau building on náměstí Míru for CZK 22.5 million, the intention to buy the building, including the courtyard, has already been approved by representatives, the mayor of Novoborsk Jaromír Dvořák (Mayors for the Liberec Region) announced.
“For the price of ten flats in Nový Bor, we were given the opportunity to maintain a significant building in the very center of the city for future generations,” the mayor added.
The magnificent Art Nouveau building made of red Lasvice sandstone near the main street of T.G. Masaryk and náměstí Míru was built between 1903 and 1905 according to the design of the Českolip architect and builder Emil F. Ruehr. Even then, it served the needs of the post office and the savings bank. It is not only the most important building and the dominant feature of Nový Bor, but also, thanks to its architecture, one of the most important buildings in the entire Liberec region.
“After a wild privatization from the 1990s, we are left with a memento along the main avenue of TG Masaryk in the form of a number of dilapidated buildings that the owners are not interested in and which literally fall on our heads. , “said the mayor. Based on this experience, according to Dvořák, the prevailing opinion among the representatives was that the public administration should take care of such an important building, both from a historical and architectural point of view, as the Czech Post building.
If the city actually buys the building, postal services will remain. According to Dvořák, the free spaces on the other floors could be used for interesting projects. “One of them is the location of the planned exposition of the Bořek Šípek Museum. In connection with this intention, the Liberec region expressed interest in the premises.
According to the mayor, the Czech Post itself also came up with an interesting offer, which would like to set up a Postal Museum there. “For commercial use, the lease of state offices for the needs of the building authority is offered, which should be completely separated from local governments after the currently approved amendment to the Building Act,” Dvořák added. However, according to him, the actual purchase and the specific use of the building must first be approved by the representatives.
Source: CTK
Photo: Bořek Šípek Museum
