The Dublin Christian Mission and the Drug Treatment Centre Board have appealed planning permission for a seven-storey extension to the Trinity Capital Hotel on Pearse Street, Dublin 2, to An Bord Pleanála.
The hotel is also proposing knocking down the Grace Bible Fellowship community centre fronting Cards Lane and Spring Garden Lane, and building a bigger four-storey over basement community building as a replacement.
The Dublin Christian Mission owns 28 and 29 Pearse Street - the latter adjoins the hotel. It says the seven-storey over basement development to the rear of the terrace of houses on Pearse street will overshadow and overlook its properties, particularly number 28. This is also known as the lighthouse and provides meals, clothes and counselling to the homeless and those in need.
In its appeal, the Drug Treatment Centre Board, based at 30-31 Pearse Street, says the windows on the facade facing onto Spring Garden Lane will overlook their property. It says the nature of work carried out there requires confidentiality, and it asks either that no windows are permitted or they are fitted with obscure glazing.
They have also called for an enforcement of restrictions imposed on "the arc of the loaded jib" of the crane passing over client's property during construction. It says that, during a previous construction phase, the drug treatment board premises was struck by a crane. "This resulted in trauma for some of the occupants and could have had very serious consequences."
It says it has no objection in principle and welcomes "the aspiration to enliven Spring Garden Lane with the overspill of light and introduction of a bookshop and café", but has asked that the windows in the bookshop and café be of obscured glazing. It also queried the wisdom from "a safety point of view" of allowing hotel patrons exit onto a lane with no footpath.
