Dublin City councillors look set to approve a long-contested and controversial housing deal in Dublin’s O’Devaney Gardens.
The now-demolished O’Devaney Gardens apartment complex was originally developed as a social housing scheme in 1954, and had been approved for demolition and redevelopment between the city council and a private developer in 2008.
However, the deal collapsed, and the buildings and land surrounding the area have been derelict ever since.
The new deal with property developer Bartra Capital for more than 800 homes at the site has also faced roadblocks, after a council report revealed that “affordable” homes proposed for the site would cost an average of €300,000, with some three-bedroom apartments priced at €420,000.
After much opposition from council members, the council decided to defer the vote on the development until Monday evening, which looks likely to pass as a majority group, made up of Fianna Fail, Green Party, Labour and Social Democrat councillors say they have come to an agreement with the developer.
Speaking to media in Dublin’s Mansion House on Monday morning, representatives from each party, collectively known as the Dublin Agreement City Councillors repeatedly stated: “This is not a perfect plan” at least seven times, before calling for the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy to resign.
The amended proposal now reduces the maximum “affordable” purchase price to €310,000, with 80% of all new units will be social and “affordable”, an increase of 30% from the initial proposal.
The exact mix will now be: 30% social, 30% “affordable” rental, 30% “affordable” purchase and 20% private purchase.
The group says it has secured a commitment from the developer to sell 30% of the overall units to an approved housing body, which will raise funds for the purchase.
As yet, no housing body has agreed to purchase the units.
