Tenants celebrated last night after it was announced that Dublin Corporation had bought 54 flats in the Crampton Buildings, Temple Bar, for £3.5 million to ensure that the tenants will be able to stay there.
The owners had planned to sell the flats and 16 shops on the ground floor in one lot but agents Ganly Walters finally agreed to offer the property in one or two lots to allow the corporation to tender for the residential element.
There was jubilation at the complex last night as residents celebrated the news that their tenancies were secure, with champagne provided by Dublin Corporation.
Mrs Lilly Caffrey (63), who was celebrating with her grand-daughter Stacey (11), told The Irish Times that Stacey was the "fifth generation of my family to live here. My father and mother and my father's father before them lived here. This is great news."
A neighbour, Mrs Carmel Murphy (72), came to live in Crampton Buildings when she was aged three. "I'm delighted," she said. "I couldn't sleep for wondering what was going to happen." Also celebrating was Mrs Dorothy Fennell (71), who has lived in the complex for 51 years. "All my friends live here and now my grand-daughter is getting a place here. We're all delighted."
Ms Margaret Tuffy, who has lived in Crampton Buildings fewer than two years, said the residents originally hoped to buy the building themselves but that plan had fallen through. They had approached the corporation for help and were very pleased with the response. Mr Eric Mooney, another tenant who has lived there for fewer than two years, was anxious to establish that the rents would not shoot up.
Mr Brendan Kenny, housing superintendent with Dublin Corporation, was happy to oblige. "We hope to keep the community and the existing arrangements in place. We have been very impressed by the pro-active and positive attitude of the people here," he said.
Existing rental levels, many of which are fixed and some of which are supported by the Eastern Health Board, are to be maintained by the corporation. The complex, which is enclosed and protected by automatic gates, also includes a number of one-bedroom flats, the rent of which is in the region of £80 per week.
The shops were bought by Treasury Holdings for £5 million.