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Locals furious over fourteen storey plan

Tuesday, 16 September 2008

A CONTROVERSIAL planning proposal for a massive development on the Northside has been met with furious opposition.
The site of the Hendron’s Building near Dominick Street, Dublin 7, could be demolished and replaced with a mixed-use apart-hotel, which could reach up to 14-storeys in height if the planning application gets the green light.
However, a number of objections have been made in relation to the plans.
Local councillor Emer Costello (Lab) is just one of many people opposed to the proposal in its current form.
“It’s quite a worrying application and one which I hope will get rejected,” she told Northside People.
“The houses on Palmerston Place would be very adversely affected by this development and I think the number of objections reflects this concern.

“The density, scale and bulk of the development would have a detrimental impact in terms of overshadowing and overlooking and it would be visually obtrusive on the surrounding houses at Palmerston Place, Mountjoy Street, Royal Canal Bank and surrounding streets.”
The proposed development includes three buildings which will be arranged around a landscaped courtyard.
The first building, which will range in size from four to 14 storeys, would comprise a shop, offices, and 20 one, two and three bedroom apartments. A restaurant will sit on the fifth storey followed by 32 apart-hotel units from the fifth to the 13th floor.
The second element of the building will be a primarily residential six-storey block which will include 15 housing units.
The third element will also be a mainly residential block of five storeys in height.
According to Cllr Costello, the proposed 14-storey development is “excessive to say the least”.
“From the photomontages submitted it could not be contended that the design of the tower building is ‘exceptional’, ‘elegant’ or makes a ‘positive contribution to the skyline’,” she argued.
“In fact, it is unsightly, bulky and detracts considerably from the existing vista. There is no precedent for such high buildings in area and it will be out of character with surrounding residential area.”
The application also requires that the traffic system in the area be changed to cater for the new development.
“The vehicular access arrangement will involve reversing the existing one-way circulatory regime along Palmerston Place so that all traffic must enter at Dominick Street Upper and exit at Mountjoy Street,” the application states.
“In addition, the section of Palmerston Place between the proposed access and Dominick Street Upper will be opened up to two-way traffic.
“The proposed development will also result in the removal of seven existing pay and display parking spaces in Palmerston Place.”
The traffic proposal is believed to be a particular bone of contention among many local residents.
“Loss of parking spaces is unacceptable,” Cllr Costello said.
“There is a demand for the parking spaces on Palmerston Place for residents’ parking in the evening which is not referred to in the traffic report submitted.
“Moreover, the proposal to have two-way traffic on this quiet street would not be acceptable as the proposed office space/hotel and apartments will generate significant additional traffic in the area.”
The closing date for submissions on the planning application was September 4. Dublin City Council will make a decision on the proposal by September 25.

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