Oakmount, the rapidly expanding development company headed by Paddy McKillen jnr and Matt Ryan, has acquired a new site at 2 Cardiff Lane, South Docks, Dublin 2, where it plans to develop high-end apartments and a commercial unit.
Architects Lawrence and Long designed the ultra-modern, eight-storey building which will be situated directly behind the Ferryman pub on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay. The plans include seven spacious two-bed apartments, each one occupying its own floor. The generously sized apartments will cover about 96sq m (1,033sq ft) each, comprising an entrance hall, two en suite bedrooms, a large open-plan kitchen, living area and diningroom, a separate utility room and a storage room.
In addition to the interior space, each apartment will have a 7sq m (75sq ft) balcony, spanning its width, with views of the Liffey and and sliding bronze screens for additional privacy, while a landscaped communal roof garden will also be provided.
Rapidly expanding
A cafe unit is planned for the ground floor of the building and given that Oakmount's many developments tend to be occupied by ventures forming part of McKillen and Ryan's rapidly expanding Press Up Entertainment group, it is likely they will install one of the group's trendy restaurant chains – which include WowBurger and Elephant & Castle – at the new unit. Its location at the heart of the docklands, adjacent to large residential communities and offices such as Facebook, suggests there would be no shortage of customers.
The Cardiff Lane site was acquired around 2014 by Hone Properties, a company registered in the Isle of Man, when it was offered for sale with an asking price of just €400,000. The company succeeded in securing planning permission and subsequently listed the property for sale last year at a much higher €1.35 million, with Oakmount emerging as the winning bidder.
Crown Decorating Centre currently occupies the site and it is anticipated that construction of the new building will start almost immediately once the building is vacated, following the expiry of the lease in August 2018.
