One of the biggest local authority flat complexes in Dublin is to be demolished and redeveloped, with four times the number of dwellings built in their place.
Residents of O'Devaney Gardens, beside the Phoenix Park, have given a cautious welcome to the plans announced by Dublin City Council yesterday. The proposed €180 million redevelopment follows two years of negotiations with residents - all council tenants - culminating in a community charter.
Dick Whelan, the council's project manager on the redevelopment of the 12-acre site, said yesterday that negotiations had opened with Michael McNamara and Castlethorn Developments as the "preferred" developers.
He said specific proposals from the developers, expected in the next six to eight weeks, would have to encompass the aspirations of the residents as set out in the charter. "The plan under consideration proposes 823 dwellings in place of the current 276 flats."
The new dwellings will comprise 280 units of social housing, 250 of affordable housing and 292 of private housing. The social housing will be duplexes and apartments and the remainder apartments. The council has secured 2.4 acres from St Bricin's Hospital, bringing the total area to over 16 acres. Mr Whelan said the housing density would be 60 dwellings per acre, "which by modern standards is still not high".
There will be a very extensive community centre including a roof-top football pitch. Acknowledging anxieties among residents two years ago, that they would be "swamped with yuppies" in the event of a large-scale influx of private residents, he said he hoped these fears had been allayed by the detailed consultations since then and the development of the charter. Nadine Murphy, a resident and member of the O'Devaney Redevelopment Board, said there were still some concerns.
"People are mostly looking forward to it but are waiting to see the specific plans before giving a verdict. It's all great talking about building these lovely houses but the social agenda has to be taken on board." She is a granddaughter of one of the original residents of the flats and said there was a "very strong community here".
"In the local shops they know the names of all our kids. We look out for each other's kids crossing the road. We look out for each other. They are simple things about the feel of a community that are very important and which we don't want to lose in a big new development.
"That's what we want to make sure the developers take into consideration - not to change the area totally."
She said the area had "had a bad name over the years" and that the ills of deprivation, such as drugs and car thefts had caused difficulties.
Residents were happy "something positive seems to be about to happen, but a bit anxious until we see exactly what".
