Dublin People - Fears grow for village revamp

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Fears grow for village revamp

Wednesday, 04 June 2008

FEARS are growing that the long-awaited revamp of Finglas village could be abandoned by the same developer who pulled out of five major social housing projects last month.
The planned works, which would transform Finglas Main Centre, are being managed by Marumba Properties (McNamara Construction/Spain Courtney Doyle) and Dublin City Council.
Developer Bernard McNamara recently pulled out of five housing schemes across the city blaming falling house prices and new housing regulations which he said had left his firm’s involvement “unsustainable”.
But the decision has left locals wondering if the Finglas plan - which includes the development of 160 apartments and 14 retail units - will be scrapped for the same reasons.

“The council is already telling us that the project may not go ahead,” said Declan Moloney of the Finglas Traders’ Association.
“Negotiations between the developer and traders in relation to settlements and alternative accommodation while the works are underway must be completed before June 30.
“However, we recently got word that negotiations with some traders are at a standstill.”
However, Mr Moloney said he found this puzzling as he was unaware of any disagreements between his fellow traders and developers.
“I’ve talked to all the traders involved and no one seems to know what the problems are,” he explained.
He added: “Traders are 100 per cent behind this project going ahead and with less than a month to go, we know there is no time to waste on this matter.”
Another local trader called on the developer to put pen to paper.
“I was approached informally by the developer’s people about four weeks ago who offered me a new unit in the village,” Tom Sheridan told Northside People.
“I accepted the offer, which is something that I’ve been offered for the last five years. The problem is that all communication has been verbal – there seems to be a lack of commitment.”
He added: “I feel that if some trader is causing a problem then they should be exposed. Otherwise, how will we ever know what is really going on?”
Traders recently received an update from Dublin City Council in relation to the project.
“Negotiations with a small number of tenants/occupants have not yet been successful,” it was stated.
“These negotiations are proving to be very difficult and it appears at this stage unlikely that these negotiations will be successful.
“However, Marumba Properties will make every reasonable endeavour to reach a successful conclusion.”
The council has confirmed that the looming deadline of June 30 cannot be moved.
“If the agreement of all parties is not in place by such time, Marumba Properties propose to park the proposed re-development of the Finglas Main Centre to a future date,” it was revealed.
“In this event Marumba Properties will carry out maintenance improvements to the main centre and let any vacant units.”
Local councillor Dessie Ellis (SF) said he was almost 100 per cent certain that the Finglas plan would be shelved.
“It seems the developer will let it run its course until June 30 but in reality the redevelopment is dead in the water,” he believed.
He added: “I think it’s all down to profits and in the current climate projects such as that in Finglas are not regarded as a good investment. I think they will definitely close up shop.”
However, Cllr John Lyons (Lab) was hopeful that the project would come to fruition.
“It’s not over yet and I think if Dublin City council are willing to call in an arbitrator then the issues can be resolved before June 30,” he stated.
“I think locals and traders have been left very much in the dark on this issue and if it is a case that the developer is pulling out then the reasons should be outlined.”
When contacted, Dublin City Council and developers Bernard McNamara and Spain Courtney Doyle declined to comment on the matter.

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