On Tuesday, the city assembly approved a proposal for the exchange of land owned by Masaryk University and built-up local roads owned by the City of Brno, as well as a draft purchase contract for land affected by unresolved restitution claims. The city will also purchase the observatory at Kraví hora from the university. Photo: By Ben Skála, Benfoto (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
Brno, Nov 8 (BD) – In January, Masaryk University withdrew plans to acquire the building at Žerotínovo náměstí 6, known as the White House. However, the university is still interested in owning the remaining land, currently owned by the City of Brno, that lies under Masaryk University premises in Bohunice and Starý Lískovec, as well as local roads that lie within the University Campus in Bohunice. Therefore, the land in Bohunice and Pisárky will be included in the planned exchange, instead of the premises in Žerotínovo náměstí. The land exchange will also include the university dormitories at namesti Míru 4, land at the MU Rectorate, the MU Campus, and the Faculty of Law. The university will pay almost CZK 14 million as part of the exchange.
Other lands owned by Masaryk University in Bohunice, which are built on local roads, will be subject to an approved future purchase agreement. These lands cannot be exchanged yet, as restitution claims have not yet been finalized. The purchase price for these lands has been negotiated at CZK 800 per square meter.
Representatives also agreed to buy the observatory on Kraví hora, including its technological equipment. The 1954 building is part of the Brno Observatory and Planetarium, which has a NEWTON telescope (installed in 1999, with technical improvements made in 2013), including a control system, MI G4-16000 scientific camera, and meteorological station. The purchase price of the observatory including equipment is CZK 4.27 million.
“The observatory will continue to be used for astronomical purposes, both for educational projects run by the Brno Observatory and Planetarium, and professional activities such as monitoring of the night sky by the facility’s astronomical equipment,” added Robert Čuma (Piráti), council member for city property.
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