Dublin 3/ from €299,950:Seventy years after it first opened its doors, the former cinema in Dublin's North Strand has been turned into an apartment scheme, writes Fiona Tyrrell

Seventy years after it first opened its doors, the former Strand Cinema in Dublin's North Strand is entering a new phase of its life as an apartment scheme.

The landmark cinema, which at its peak could seat 1,000 punters, was damaged during the German bombing of the area in the 1940s.

After its closure in 1970 the building was used as a bingo hall and later a bowling alley. The building was later bought by Costello Construction which has retained the art deco facade and built 66 apartments in two blocks on the site.

The first 30 apartments will go on sale this weekend and the selling agent, Savills HOK, will be taking bookings from two show units on site.

The art deco theme has been carried through into the main foyers of the two blocks with handsome black and white terrazzo tiling and glamorous black and white stills from the golden era of Hollywood on the walls. The original main entrance doors have been restored.

The apartments themselves are thoroughly modern.

Standard features include laminate wooden flooring throughout and butcher-block worktops and appliances in the kitchens.

Prices, starting at €299,950 for one-bedroom homes and €349,950 for two-bedroom apartments, will suit the pockets of young professionals looking to get on the property ladder.

With strong rents in the area, The Strand may also be of interest to investors.

Selling agent Carolyn Coyle from Savills HOK says that one-bedroom units would earn rents of around €1,100 and two-bedroom apartments would bring in about €1,600.

Parking spaces cost an additional €30,000.

The Strand is in a great location, being within walking distance of the IFSC and Connolly Station.

Costello Construction is a Dublin-based builder whose previous schemes include the Five Lamps apartment scheme, also on North Strand.