£2m-plus expected for lease of Tower Records building

With an increasing range of commercial property investments coming on to the Dublin market, agents Davin have begun marketing…

With an increasing range of commercial property investments coming on to the Dublin market, agents Davin have begun marketing an unusual investment opportunity at the Tower Records building at 6/8 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2. The vendor, Blasco Properties Ltd, expects to secure in excess of £2 million for its long leasehold interest in the building, which currently produces a profit rent of about £150,000 per year. With the store rent due to increase by 10 per cent every 2 1/2 years, it is estimated that the profit rent will gradually rise to £200,000 by the year 2001 The four-storey over basement building, which occupies the site of the old Wicklow Hotel, is located opposite the side entrance to the Brown Thomas store. The freehold is held by Hibernian Insurance, which developed the building. Blasco holds a 999-year lease and sub-lets the five floors to the various tenants, including Towner Records, and collects the rents. Tower Records occupies 8,200 sq ft at ground and first floor level at a rent of £182,500. The second and third floors have 6,000 sq ft of offices and the tenants include Med Lux Financial Services, Career Paths Recruitment Consultants and Edinburgh Trust Financial Services. The self-contained 5,800 sq ft basement is used as a bar and restaurant at a rent of £120,000 per annum. The current entire rent roll exceeds £400,000. The investment is to be sold by private treaty.