Rathfarnham: A further 30 apartments in the ongoing residential development in the grounds of Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham are being released for sale today.
The release coincides with the opening of a show apartment by selling agents Hooke & MacDonald. An initial 40 apartments have already been sold off the plans in the first phase of what is a two-phase development involving 260 apartments on the 12.1-acre site around the old abbey buildings.
The apartments now going on sale are all one and two-bedroom, with floor areas ranging between 43 sq m (463 sq ft) and 80 sq m (861 sq ft). Prices for the one-bedroom units begin at €285,000 and rise to €315,000, depending on size. The two-bedroom units will sell for between €350,000 and €400,000.
The development is taking place on what is one of the city's more historically interesting sites; Loreto Abbey was originally Rathfarnham House, built on rolling acres in 1725. The listed abbey and subsequent 19th century buildings will remain as an integral and interesting part of the development; the apartments are being built to the north and east of them and will have the benefit of both mature and new landscaping.
Loreto Abbey is being developed by Danninger, who acquired the 12.1 acres six years ago and is probably best known for their work on the Charlotte Quay docklands apartments. John Fleming Architects' design has seven blocks of two-to-five storeys with open space between them and the historic buildings on the site.
The ground floor, two-bedroom show apartment has 69.7 sq m (750 sq ft) of space, an en suite main bedroom, large living/diningroom leading to a compact kitchen, family bathroom and utility room. Features, which are standard to all apartments, include solid ash doors with walnut inlay, granite worktops in the kitchen, fitted wardrobes, wall tiling and recessed lighting in kitchens and bathrooms, and fitted kitchen units. Most have balconies while others have terraces.
The living/diningroom in the show apartment has a wall of ceiling-to-floor windows, as well as a glass door onto the terrace. The terrace is bricked and railed in; higher floors will have balconies surrounded by glass and railings. A square arch leads to the kitchen which has a range of floor and wall fittings as well as others for the integration of a fridge freezer, dishwasher, oven and hob. The worktop is of polished granite and there is a stainless steel extractor.
In the main bedroom there is a wide window and built-in wardrobes. The en suite has beech panelling around the bath as well as to the back of the toilet and wash-hand basin. A separate, family bathroom has a large, free-standing shower, toilet and wash-hand basin. The second bedroom has a window and fitted wardrobes while the plumbed utility room is off the entrance hallway, along with a separate hot press.
Apartments in this first phase are expected to be completed for occupancy by April/May. The second phase, to the east of the abbey buildings, is expected to be go on sale later in the year and to be completed in the autumn.
It is expected that the existing listed abbey buildings, which include a fine Victorian Gothic-style chapel, Georgian house, Victorian concert hall and late Victorian dormitory blocks, will in time become a nursing home.
The show apartment will be open today, tomorrow and over the weekend.
