Grangegorman Update

As the Dublin City Council representative on the Agency I am anxious to ensure that all residents in the Grangegorman neighbourhood are fully informed and consulted at all stages of the development. Recent developments include:

The Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) is still awaiting a Government decision to put the Strategic Plan out to public consultation. It had been hoped that the consultation would take place in the first half of 2009. I have stressed my opposition to conducting the public consultation in August, during the holiday season.

• The GDA has commissioned a report on the employment opportunities for the area arising from the developments at Grangegorman. The study carried out in conjunction with number of stakeholders, including the Dublin Institute of Technology(DIT), Health Services Executive(HSE), City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee(CDVEC), FAS and the North West Inner City Network, identifies significant employment, education and training opportunities for people in the North Inner City. A copy of the report is available from the Grangegorman Development Agency or can be downloaded from their website http://www.ggda.ie/


• The GDA intend to submit a planning application in May for replacement mental health facilities to accommodate the existing patients.
  Planning permission has been granted for the renovation of the Laundry Building to accommodate medical consulting and administration services.
  Planning permission has been granted for a temporary D7 Educate Together School at Grangegorman Lower/Fitzwilliam Place. Work has started on the construction and the new school should be open in September.

I will keep you informed of developments. If you would like to discuss this or any other matter please contact me at the above telephone number/email address.

Dominick Street: “Plan B” Update

Following the collapse of the McNamara Public Private Partnership regeneration programme, Dublin City Council established a multidisciplinary “Special Task Force” to examine alternative options for the redevelopment of this site. The proposals of the Special Task Force were presented to the December meeting of the City Council and the proposals were approved.
The new “Plan B” proposes to build 200 social, affordable and private housing units on the site with community centre, crèche facilities, commercial retail and a New Public Open Space / plaza to be created along with two new streets improving connectivity, and access through site to Parnell Square. Dublin City Council propose that the development will be carried out in three phases betweeom 2009 and 2019.

The full proposals can be downloaded from the Dublin City Council website: www.dublincity.ie
As a member of the Dominick Street Regeneration Board, I am completely committed to working to ensure that Plan B is delivered on time and in consultation with the residents. I received the following information in reply to a question to the City Manager at the May City Council meeting:

“Dublin City Council is now progressing with Phase 1 of these projects and tenders have been invited for a design team to work with Dublin City Council’s in-house team to develop the design and delivery of an integrated social and affordable housing scheme. Tenders have been received and are currently being assessed.
It is anticipated that planning for the social and affordable elements of this project will be applied for early next year.”

Hendron’s Building - Permission Granted and Appeal Lodged to An Bord Pleanala

A planning application was lodged in August 2008 for a 14-storey apartment/hotel and retail development at the Hendron’s site in Broadstone. There was significant local opposition to this proposal and Dublin City Council received over 50 objections to the proposal. Both Joe Costello and I strongly supported residents’ objections to this development.
On 21st April Dublin City Council decided to Grant Permission for this development subject to 23 conditions including the removal of the 14 storey tower building. The permission granted is subject to the following revisions:
§ The proposed tower element (51m high) shall be omitted from the development.
§ The applicant shall provide 887m2 of Gallery/Studio space within the remainder of the development.
§ The details of the proposed openings and the treatment of the protected boundary stone wall along Western Way shall be submitted.
Both the residents and the applicant have appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala. A decision is due by 17 September 2009. Any member of the public may submit an observation on this planning appeal by Thursday 11th June on payment of the €50 fee, even if they have not submitted an objection to Dublin City Council. We will keep you informed of developments.

Smithfield Update

There is increasing concern in our community regarding the space at Smithfield Square as the space is becoming progressively more sterile as more and more businesses have closed down. I am seeking a partnership approach between all stakeholders, i.e. local business, residents and community groups, public representatives and the City Council, to bring about the revitalisation and regeneration of the Square.

I received the following reply from the City Manager in relation to this matter at the May City Council meeting. I will continue to look for the engagement of all stakeholders in this process:
Cllr E Costello: In view of the large number of business closures, to ask the Manager to establish a special task force for Smithfield to look at the reasons and to seek measures to regenerate the area and ensure that Smithfield can become the vibrant urban space it was intended to be.

CITY MANAGER’S REPLY:
The Smithfield area has experienced a number of business closures this year including the Park Inn and the Thomas Read pub. However there are also new businesses moving into units in the Space.

Dublin City Council applaud the recent initiative of the local business community in setting up The Smithfield Area Business Partnership to address these and other issues of concern to local business. Dublin City Council staff meet with them when requested to do so.
Dublin City Council set up a senior in-house steering group on Smithfield led by Michael Stubbs, Assistant City Manager to address the public realm issues in the area. An in-house design team, reporting to the steering group, is completing the design for the second phase of the Smithfield Plaza. These designs include the area south of the LUAS line and the major access routes to the Space. They also include provision of additional event infrastructure, new lighting, planting, street furniture and some child-friendly installations. The completion of the design will also allow the identification of facilities that can be provided by future planning permissions adjacent to the space.

While major capital expenditure on the space was deferred until 2012 there is some HARP Community Gain funding to provide some of these additional facilities in 2009/2010. The Events Unit facilitated the provision of over 80 days of events in 2008 and is presently inviting expressions of interest from event organisers for the organisation of events in 2009 and 2010 for all spaces in the city including Smithfield.

O’Devaney Gardens “Plan B” Update

Following the collapse of the McNamara Public Private Partnership regeneration programme, Dublin City Council established a multidisciplinary “Special Task Force” to examine alternative options for the redevelopment of this site. The proposals of the Special Task Force were presented to the December meeting of the City Council and the proposals were approved.

The new “Plan B” proposes to build 500 housing units on the site with community centre, crèche facilities, commercial retail and a new public open space of 2,800 metres to act as a focal point for the wider community and create a new village green.

Dublin City Council propose that the development will be carried out in three phases:
Phase One (2009 – 2012) will start with the demolition of two more blocks and the construction of 130 social and affordable units.
Phase Two (2013 – 2014) will continue with the construction of social and affordable Housing, the Development of Community Facilities & Rooftop Pitch, the creation of a new “village green” & playground and a new commercial centre, such as a supermarket.
Phase Three (2014 – 2018) will see completion the project with affordable and private housing, landscaping and an overall “area upgrade”.

The full proposals can be downloaded from the Dublin City Council website: www.dublincity.ie
As a member of the O’Devaney Gardens Regeneration Board, I am completely committed to working to ensure that Plan B is delivered on time and in consultation with the residents of O’Devaney and the surrounding communities.

I received the following information in reply to a question to the City Manager at the May City Council meeting:

“Dublin City Council is now progressing with Phase 1 of these projects and tenders have been invited for a design team to work with Dublin City Council’s in-house team to develop the design and delivery of an integrated social and affordable housing scheme. Tenders have been received and are currently being assessed.
It is anticipated that planning for the social and affordable elements of this project will be applied for early next year.”