THE vacant and boarded-up houses at St Laurence’s Park in Stillorgan are set to finally be redeveloped.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council confirmed last week that the cul-de-sac of 16 maisonette style houses are being examined for future redevelopment.
The units previously consisted of 16 one-bed apartments and were designated as senior citizen units. Now, just two residents remain.
Last year, plans to demolish the homes to build a swimming pool to replace the closed Glenalbyn Pool were scrapped.
Calls to refurbish the houses have long been made by many local representatives, who have branded the vacancies “unacceptable”.
“A number of people in the area have contacted me about the site expressing concern over the vacated units that have been boarded up,” Cllr Deirdre Donnelly (Ind) told Dublin Gazette.
“I was told by council officials that the houses were being vacated so that the site could be redeveloped. I wasn’t happy about the vagueness of this proposal which has been under discussion for some time and insisted on a specific date for news of the site.”
Council management announced last week that this housing and nearby library site is being examined to see the potential for the re-development of the area.
The aim is to provide a new modern library and an increased number of social housing units on the existing site.
A topographical survey has been carried out and an engineer has been appointed to carry out site investigations. These investigations will be commencing on December 18.
Cllr Donnelly said she welcomes the plans but needs some guarantees.
“If the area is suitable for redevelopment and new modern homes will be built alongside a state-of-the-art library to cater for the community, then I would most certainly welcome this news,” she said.
“If however, the site is deemed unsuitable then I would insist on the refurbishment of the boarded up units as they exist to help relieve the housing crisis.”
Minister Shane Ross said: “I am heartened to hear that the council is finally taking steps to redevelop the houses. Any waste of valuable housing space in our community is a travesty.”
