O’Devaney flats set to falls as regeneration programme restarts.
Plans are finally afoot for the demolition of the O’Devaney Gardens’ flat blocks that formed part of one of the city’s major regeneration schemes which collapsed in 2008 when property developer Bernard McNamara pulled out of the proposed e180 million social housing scheme.
Demolition of five of the notoriously dilapidated blocks is due to take place in December or January. The move is being hailed as a “step in the right direction” by the many who have waited almost 15 years for the long-promised regeneration to take place.
Dublin City Council is in the process of finalising arrangements for the demolition of the five of the flat blocks in the Dublin 7 development.
A silver lining to the collapse of the regeneration is in that the new masterplan for the complex is “superior in quality than the original proposals”, according to local councillor Emer Costello (Lab).
“It will certainly be a better quality development with more thought and planning going in to what the development needs,” she told Northside People.
“It is encouraging to see progress on the O’Devaney Gardens Regeneration Project and fixing a date for the demolition will mark a major milestone in the project.
“However, it is over two years since the McNamara Regeneration Project collapsed in May 2008 and it is still very difficult for the more than 80 families living in O’Devaney who have been waiting over 15 years for the long-promised regeneration to take place.”
Dublin City Council has given notice that it intends to initiate the process for the demolition of five existing flat blocks incorporating almost 80 flats.
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