THE LONG-AWAITED regeneration of the troubled O’Devaney Gardens flat complex in Dublin has been granted permission by An Bord Pleanála.
The 1950s council complex was one of five social housing schemes in the city which were to have been developed under a public private partnership between developer Bernard McNamara and Dublin City Council.
Following several delays, the deal with Mr McNamara collapsed in May 2008. Attempts that summer to rescue the schemes were unsuccessful, and the council formally terminated its relationship with the developer in August 2008.
Later that year the council announced it would rebuild the social housing in the three largest estates – St Michael’s, O’Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street.
Built in 1954, O’Devaney Gardens originally consisted of 278 flats in 13 four-storey blocks, of which all but five blocks have been demolished. An Bord Pleanála has granted permission for 120 homes, 60 of which will be used to house council tenants, with the remainder being offered as private or affordable housing.
A later stage of development is ultimately planned to bring the number of residential units to just under 400, but this is still fewer than half the number proposed in the McNamara scheme. The proposals agreed with the council in 2006 for 820 units, mostly private apartments, would at the time have made it the second largest regeneration scheme in the city after Ballymun.
Unlike the McNamara proposals, two-thirds of the accommodation will be houses or duplex units, with just 43 apartments. The board has also approved plans for a new tree-lined “boulevard” one-third of a kilometre long, and a 4,680sq metre park.
The entire estate will be rebuilt in three phases over 10 years, with two further applications due to be made by the council to An Bord Pleanála. The council has estimated the cost to the State at €32 million.
A spokesman for the Department of the Environment yesterday said it had agreed “outline” plans with the council for the regeneration, but it was awaiting detailed funding proposals.
Regeneration board member and Labour councillor Emer Costello said the board would be meeting next month to discuss the application for the first phase of funding and the tender for a principal contractor.
The board hoped a contractor would be in place early next year and that the first units would be ready to be occupied by council tenants by 2014.
“We want to move on this as quickly as possible, the residents have waited long enough in terrible circumstances,” Ms Costello said. The new scheme was “vastly superior” to the McNamara plan as it had a 30-35 per cent lower density of units and would be about 50 per cent lower in height, she said.
The estate, which has been dogged by criminal and anti-social behaviour over several decades, was the scene of riots in the summer of 2008, which included arson attacks on homes and vehicles. Violent incidents reached their peak that August when fighting after a wedding led to the attendance of several dozen gardaí at the complex. In recommending a grant of permission, An Bord Pleanála inspector Stephen Kay noted the council’s master plan for the site sought to “design out” the potential for anti-social behaviour.
“The combination of a greatly improved physical environment, design features to significantly reduce the potential for anti-social activity and unsupervised areas, and the creation of a mixed residential environment with a mixture of private and social housing would, in my opinion, lead to a reduction in the likelihood of criminal activity and anti-social behaviour,” he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label o'devaney gardens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label o'devaney gardens. Show all posts
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Plans lodged for €60m regeneration of inner city flats
PLANS FOR the long-awaited €60 million regeneration of the Dublin City Council flat complexes at O’Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála.
The dilapidated estates were two of five schemes in the city which were to have been redeveloped under a public-private partnership (PPP) deal between developer Bernard McNamara and Dublin City Council.
The deal with Mr McNamara collapsed in May 2008 following the downturn in the property market. Attempts were made throughout that summer to rescue the schemes but these were unsuccessful and the council formally terminated its relationship with the developer in August 2008.
The following December the council announced it would rebuild the social housing in the three largest estates – St Michael’s, O’Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street. The other two proposed developments at Infirmary Road and Seán McDermott Street were not existing social housing complexes with residents needing rehousing, and the schemes have been shelved.
The council expects to spend around €32 million over a 10-year period to build around 200 houses and flats on the site of O’Devaney Gardens, a 1950s flat complex near the Phoenix Park. The application being made to An Bord Pleanála today is 110 units. The buildings, 60 of which will be social units and 50 of which will be private housing, will be between two and four storeys in height. A public park is also included in the application.
At Dominick Street, the 1970s flats are to be replaced by 120 social units over a 10-year period at a cost of about €27 million. The current application is for 58 apartments and duplex units ranging in height from two to six storeys. The plans also include a community centre, a civic plaza and a new street. Both developments must go now through the planning process with An Bord Pleanála. The period for observations or objections to be made in relation to either development will not start until January 10th and will run for six weeks.
While the plot for the new apartments at Dominick Street has been cleared, demolition is ongoing at O’Devaney Gardens, which was the scene of riots following the collapse of the PPP scheme in 2008. Violent incidents reached their peak in August when fighting after a wedding led to the attendance of several dozen gardaí at the complex.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The dilapidated estates were two of five schemes in the city which were to have been redeveloped under a public-private partnership (PPP) deal between developer Bernard McNamara and Dublin City Council.
The deal with Mr McNamara collapsed in May 2008 following the downturn in the property market. Attempts were made throughout that summer to rescue the schemes but these were unsuccessful and the council formally terminated its relationship with the developer in August 2008.
The following December the council announced it would rebuild the social housing in the three largest estates – St Michael’s, O’Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street. The other two proposed developments at Infirmary Road and Seán McDermott Street were not existing social housing complexes with residents needing rehousing, and the schemes have been shelved.
The council expects to spend around €32 million over a 10-year period to build around 200 houses and flats on the site of O’Devaney Gardens, a 1950s flat complex near the Phoenix Park. The application being made to An Bord Pleanála today is 110 units. The buildings, 60 of which will be social units and 50 of which will be private housing, will be between two and four storeys in height. A public park is also included in the application.
At Dominick Street, the 1970s flats are to be replaced by 120 social units over a 10-year period at a cost of about €27 million. The current application is for 58 apartments and duplex units ranging in height from two to six storeys. The plans also include a community centre, a civic plaza and a new street. Both developments must go now through the planning process with An Bord Pleanála. The period for observations or objections to be made in relation to either development will not start until January 10th and will run for six weeks.
While the plot for the new apartments at Dominick Street has been cleared, demolition is ongoing at O’Devaney Gardens, which was the scene of riots following the collapse of the PPP scheme in 2008. Violent incidents reached their peak in August when fighting after a wedding led to the attendance of several dozen gardaí at the complex.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Council to submit plans for O'Devaney Gardens project
THE REGENERATION of the troubled O’Devaney Gardens has moved a step closer with the decision by Dublin City Council to submit planning permission to An Bord Pleanála for the project in November.
City councillors will today be asked to approve the demolition of five blocks of flats known as “the luxuries” to pave the way for the new development.
The 1950s council flat complex was one of five social housing schemes in the city which were to have been developed under a public private partnership deal between developer Bernard McNamara and Dublin City Council.
Following several delays, the deal with Mr McNamara collapsed in May 2008. Attempts were made throughout that summer to rescue the schemes but these were unsuccessful. The council formally terminated its relationship with the developer in August 2008.
Later that year the council announced it would rebuild the social housing in the three largest estates – St Michael’s, O’Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street.
O’Devaney Gardens was the scene of riots during the summer of 2008 which resulted in several arrests. Violent incidents reached their peak in August when fighting after a wedding led to the attendance of several dozen gardaí at the complex.
Four blocks of empty flats, which were repeatedly set ablaze during these incidents, were subsequently razed. The council now intends to demolish a further five blocks of 80 flats to make way for the construction of social and affordable housing at a cost of about €30 million.
The flats are known as “the luxuries” as they were originally built as private housing in the 1950s but were taken over by the council for social housing soon after construction. However, they are in a similar state of neglect and dilapidation as the other blocks in the estate which were known as “the long balconies”, so called as access to each flat is off a communal balcony.
Some of the long balcony flats will remain after the demolition programme as they are not needed for the first phase of development.
While the plans to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála have yet to be finalised it is envisaged that a supermarket could occupy part of the land where the luxuries now stand.
Local Labour councillor Emer Costello, who will today support the demolition proposal, said she was glad progress towards regeneration was finally being made.
“The demolition of the luxuries, along with the previous demolition of the derelict blocks will give sufficient space to get development under way,” she said.
“Hopefully we could see construction starting by next September.”
The council’s plans for regeneration were superior to the McNamara proposals as they were far lower density with blocks of four storeys instead of eight, Ms Costello said.
While residents were happy progress was being made, there was still frustration over the delays in regeneration, she added.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
City councillors will today be asked to approve the demolition of five blocks of flats known as “the luxuries” to pave the way for the new development.
The 1950s council flat complex was one of five social housing schemes in the city which were to have been developed under a public private partnership deal between developer Bernard McNamara and Dublin City Council.
Following several delays, the deal with Mr McNamara collapsed in May 2008. Attempts were made throughout that summer to rescue the schemes but these were unsuccessful. The council formally terminated its relationship with the developer in August 2008.
Later that year the council announced it would rebuild the social housing in the three largest estates – St Michael’s, O’Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street.
O’Devaney Gardens was the scene of riots during the summer of 2008 which resulted in several arrests. Violent incidents reached their peak in August when fighting after a wedding led to the attendance of several dozen gardaí at the complex.
Four blocks of empty flats, which were repeatedly set ablaze during these incidents, were subsequently razed. The council now intends to demolish a further five blocks of 80 flats to make way for the construction of social and affordable housing at a cost of about €30 million.
The flats are known as “the luxuries” as they were originally built as private housing in the 1950s but were taken over by the council for social housing soon after construction. However, they are in a similar state of neglect and dilapidation as the other blocks in the estate which were known as “the long balconies”, so called as access to each flat is off a communal balcony.
Some of the long balcony flats will remain after the demolition programme as they are not needed for the first phase of development.
While the plans to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála have yet to be finalised it is envisaged that a supermarket could occupy part of the land where the luxuries now stand.
Local Labour councillor Emer Costello, who will today support the demolition proposal, said she was glad progress towards regeneration was finally being made.
“The demolition of the luxuries, along with the previous demolition of the derelict blocks will give sufficient space to get development under way,” she said.
“Hopefully we could see construction starting by next September.”
The council’s plans for regeneration were superior to the McNamara proposals as they were far lower density with blocks of four storeys instead of eight, Ms Costello said.
While residents were happy progress was being made, there was still frustration over the delays in regeneration, she added.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 16 November 2008
'Painting over the cracks'
Residents at a local authority estate designated as one of the state's largest regeneration schemes have been delivered the final insult in their futile quest for new homes.
Neglected for nearly a decade while their flats awaited the wrecking ball, Dublin City Council has finally started work at the complex – by giving the exterior of the housing blocks a fresh coat of paint.
It is the first significant maintenance to take place in O'Devaney Gardens since plans for its redevelopment were first mooted a decade ago.
The city council said the repainting project would cost in the region of €250,000 and would be carried out along with the scheduled demolition of four blocks of empty flats.
A statement said: "The demolition has been priced at €440,000. The figure for painting the complex is €250,000.
"Dublin City Council believes that these works, together with the planned playground will prove to be of benefit to the local residents in the context of the delay to the regeneration project.
"[Dublin] City Council is in the process of painting the exterior of nine blocks in O'Devaney Gardens." These are the blocks that will remain.
"Demolition started last Monday on the four blocks. It is anticipated that the demolition will be finished in January 2009."
Labour's Joe Costello said the council were quite literally "painting over the cracks."
The local TD said: "This certainly isn't going to fix very much. The city council are responding to the fact that things got out of hand over Hallowe'en and it was a warzone over the holiday period for about three days and three nights.
"They are faced with a situation where they
have to come up with new plans and this is obviously going to take considerable time.
"All of the tenants, except for 79 people, want to leave the estate entirely. There are less than 180 families now and more than half of them want to get out of there and you cannot blame them.
"They had agreed to stay there with the expectation of a brand new village with all mod cons and a good standard of accommodation.
"All of that has been blown out of the water by the decision by property developer Bernard McNamara to pull out of the project."
The plans had been officially launched in February 2007 when then taoiseach Bertie Ahern and McNamara came together to celebrate the official signing of the project.
Ahern had also been the first to congratulate local residents in December 2005 when the developer had first been chosen.
A spokesman for McNamara said at the time the projects were cancelled: "The decision in relation to these PPPs was taken because of a combination of two things – the downturn in the marketplace and fundamental changes to the schemes that would have required a new planning application."
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Neglected for nearly a decade while their flats awaited the wrecking ball, Dublin City Council has finally started work at the complex – by giving the exterior of the housing blocks a fresh coat of paint.
It is the first significant maintenance to take place in O'Devaney Gardens since plans for its redevelopment were first mooted a decade ago.
The city council said the repainting project would cost in the region of €250,000 and would be carried out along with the scheduled demolition of four blocks of empty flats.
A statement said: "The demolition has been priced at €440,000. The figure for painting the complex is €250,000.
"Dublin City Council believes that these works, together with the planned playground will prove to be of benefit to the local residents in the context of the delay to the regeneration project.
"[Dublin] City Council is in the process of painting the exterior of nine blocks in O'Devaney Gardens." These are the blocks that will remain.
"Demolition started last Monday on the four blocks. It is anticipated that the demolition will be finished in January 2009."
Labour's Joe Costello said the council were quite literally "painting over the cracks."
The local TD said: "This certainly isn't going to fix very much. The city council are responding to the fact that things got out of hand over Hallowe'en and it was a warzone over the holiday period for about three days and three nights.
"They are faced with a situation where they
have to come up with new plans and this is obviously going to take considerable time.
"All of the tenants, except for 79 people, want to leave the estate entirely. There are less than 180 families now and more than half of them want to get out of there and you cannot blame them.
"They had agreed to stay there with the expectation of a brand new village with all mod cons and a good standard of accommodation.
"All of that has been blown out of the water by the decision by property developer Bernard McNamara to pull out of the project."
The plans had been officially launched in February 2007 when then taoiseach Bertie Ahern and McNamara came together to celebrate the official signing of the project.
Ahern had also been the first to congratulate local residents in December 2005 when the developer had first been chosen.
A spokesman for McNamara said at the time the projects were cancelled: "The decision in relation to these PPPs was taken because of a combination of two things – the downturn in the marketplace and fundamental changes to the schemes that would have required a new planning application."
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 5 January 2007
O'Devaney Gardening: Sowing The Seeds Of Regeneration In An Inner City Community
Thia article on Indymedia is worth reading:
Lena Jordan talks about the upcoming plans to redevelop O'Devaney Gardens in Dublin 7
O'Devaney Gardens redevelopment is only beginning. The tenants of the local authority complex are trying to organise themselves, so they can demand what their community needs effectively when the tender is given to a developer.
O'Devaney Gardens (ODG) is a local authority housing estate comprised of just under 300 flats, located at the end of the North Circular Road in the west of the inner city. It is a 16-acre site adjacent to the Phoenix Park, close to the Red LUAS line, Heuston Station and within walking distance of the city centre, the 'new' Smithfield and the courts district. At present Dublin City Council (DCC) have put out a tender for redeveloping the entire site. Three private developers are in the running for the awarding of the tender. The plan for development has not been finalised yet, and the tenants of ODG are unsure of what the final outcome of the transformation of their home will look like.
For the rest follow this link: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/71921?topic=housing&comment_limit=0&condense_comments=false#comment178423
Lena Jordan talks about the upcoming plans to redevelop O'Devaney Gardens in Dublin 7
O'Devaney Gardens redevelopment is only beginning. The tenants of the local authority complex are trying to organise themselves, so they can demand what their community needs effectively when the tender is given to a developer.
O'Devaney Gardens (ODG) is a local authority housing estate comprised of just under 300 flats, located at the end of the North Circular Road in the west of the inner city. It is a 16-acre site adjacent to the Phoenix Park, close to the Red LUAS line, Heuston Station and within walking distance of the city centre, the 'new' Smithfield and the courts district. At present Dublin City Council (DCC) have put out a tender for redeveloping the entire site. Three private developers are in the running for the awarding of the tender. The plan for development has not been finalised yet, and the tenants of ODG are unsure of what the final outcome of the transformation of their home will look like.
For the rest follow this link: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/71921?topic=housing&comment_limit=0&condense_comments=false#comment178423
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