Glasnevin: Park Development is on target to score another success with a new homes development beside the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin 9.
Michael Cotter's company has already sold 102 of the 140 apartments and houses in the first phase of Addison Park and with a good level of inquiries continuing to come in, the remaining units should also be booked in the near future. Park's reputation for top class building standards and high specification finishes have been a strong selling point.
Park was also the developer of the Mount St Annes housing development in Milltown, which has been one of the most successful schemes in the Dublin area over the past decade. Before that the company also had a runaway success with Carrickmines Wood in Foxrock.
The Addison Park development has been bought by first-time buyers, couples trading down and also by investors looking for a good return on their purchase. There are only two five-bedroom homes available at this stage, both priced at €715,000. Otherwise, prices start at €260,000 for one-bed apartments, €329,000 for two-bed homes and €419,000 for three-bed duplexes.
The 18-acre site forms part of the original grounds of the Holy Faith Convent, which still runs primary and secondary schools there. The location is ideal for most people, less than four miles from the city centre and within walking distance of a range of shops and bars close to both the Botanic Gardens and the striking Met Office.
It's a solid middle class area with leafy roads and rows of redbrick houses from the turn of the last century.
One of the advantages of buying here is that prices are significantly lower than on the south side of the city. With some of the purchasers already in situ and many more homes ready to move into, buyers will be able to see exactly what they are getting for their money.
The apartments are located in a five-storey block with handsome entrances housing lifts, stairwells and full length windows. The lifts also run to the underground car- park.
All the apartments and duplexes have either private terraces or balconies overlooking the grounds, which have been tastefully landscaped. The one and two-bedroom apartments have floor areas of 45 and 73 sq m (492 and 790 sq ft) including an open-plan kitchen and reception room. The kitchens are exceptionally well finished. All have SieMatic wall and floor units, a stainless steel hood over the cooker and a full range of integrated electrical appliances. The livingroom has lots of space and atmosphere and comes with a sandstone fireplace piped for natural gas. The main bedroom in the two-bedroom units has an en suite.
Anyone looking for extra space is likely to opt for the three-bedroom duplexes which have a floor area of 100 sq m (1,085 sq ft). The open-plan kitchen/reception room on the lower level opens on to a spacious balcony overlooking the bottom end of the Botanic Gardens. There is also a toilet on this level and plenty of space in a utility room and cupboard. The upper floor has thre large bedroom, with a main bedroom en suite and a separate family bathroom.
The five-bedroom homes have sold particularly well, hardly surprising given their clever layout over three floors with a total area of 199 sq ft (2,152 sq ft).
An important factor is that stamp duty is payable on the site rather than the house. The main reception room and main bedroom are located at first floor level with the ground floor given over to a second livingroom and a separate kitchen and utility room. Three of the five bedroom are en suite.
The show apartments and houses will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 pm.