City Council in local shopping centre takeover

DUBLIN City Council is set to take control of Ballymun Shopping Centre in an effort to rejuvenate new life back into the traditional heart of the area.

The local authority confirmed last week that it had reached a deal with NAMA to secure the 53 per cent of the town centre owned by the state agency.

It’s also hoped vacant land just north of the centre will be snapped up soon by a major retail name allowing for a complete redevelopment of the site.

Once the agreement with NAMA is officially rubber stamped the council says it will work with tenants remaining in the centre as part of a plan to create the conditions necessary to revamp the entire area.

The decline of the centre has been a major blight on the Ballymun Regeneration Project. While new homes, parks and hotels were being built around it the heart of the area was decaying at an alarming rate.

Last March Tesco, the last major retailer in the centre, announced it was pulling out as the store was no longer viable. Dismayed residents demanded action to save the local shopping centre and last month a petition with over 7,500 signatures was handed into Dublin City Council offices.

The creation of a vibrant town centre was one of the key aims of the Regeneration but plans became bogged down in planning difficulties and financial problems that have dragged on for over a decade.

Last week’s revelation that the council had secured an agreement with NAMA and its Receivers to take full control of the shopping centre will be widely welcomed in the area.

“Both parties believe that the current issues affecting the centre can best be dealt with by a single owner, in this case being the council, given its objectives and wider interests in the area,

? an official statement reads.

Council Assistant City Manager, Dick Brady, expressed optimism for the future of the shopping centre saying it would work to

“create the conditions necessary to advance the complete redevelopment of the site and the completion of a new modern heart for Ballymun town.

?

Continued on page 2

Local TD, John Lyons (Lab) described the announcement as

“excellent news for Ballymun and the wider area

?.

“It makes complete sense for the council to have control over the entire centre given their role in creating a viable retail heart for Ballymun,

? he said.

“A new shopping centre has rightly been described as the final piece of the jigsaw for the new Ballymun and its community. Local residents have waited far too long for the shopping facilities they deserve and today’s news brings that a step closer.

?

Cllr Paul McAuliffe also welcomed the decision but believes councillors should have been given the opportunity to be more involved in the process.

“It will speed up the delivery of neighbourhood shops and ensure the old building is not left lying idle,

? he said.

“But while I and other elected reps had campaigned for the purchase, we have not been informed of the details or the timing.

“I can’t therefore say if this agreement is good value for the city or the taxpayer who effectively owns NAMA.

“City officials have to realise that elected reps have a direct mandate on major matters such as this, and they must be involved in the process.

?

Newly elected councillor, Noeleen Reilly (SF), said the deal was

“a really positive step

?.

“I think the council, along with local stakeholders, are best placed to make decisions in relation to the future economic regeneration of Ballymun,

? she continued.

“The closure of Tesco only highlighted the need for a new shopping centre with a supermarket and also a range of different stores servicing the needs of the residents.

“This will certainly be something I will be pushing for on the council in the near future.

?

Another new Ballymun councillor, Noel Rock (FG), also welcomed the council’s move to take over full ownership of the shopping centre.

“This is a positive development and a forward-thinking move from the council,

? he said.

“I had called on them in the past to consider this, and I am glad it is now happening.

“Ballymun needs a strong retail presence. Currently we have a relatively empty shell facing out on to Ballymun Road, and I think we should be working to ensure that this is renewed, revived and regenerated.

“Many Ballymun residents, including my own mother, don’t drive to the shops – so it’s important that we have as strong a local retail presence as possible, and having one owner who has an interest in seeing Ballymun prosper is a definite step forward in that sense.

?

Local TD, John Lyons (Lab) described the announcement as

“excellent news for Ballymun and the wider area

?.

“It makes complete sense for the council to have control over the entire centre, given it’s potential in creating a viable retail heart for Ballymun,

? he said.

“A new shopping centre has rightly been described as the final piece of the jigsaw for the new Ballymun and its community. Local residents have waited far too long for the shopping facilities they deserve and today’s news brings that a step closer.

?

Cllr Paul McAuliffe also welcomed the decision but believes councillors should have been given the opportunity to be more involved in the process.

“It will speed up the delivery of neighbourhood shops and ensure the old building is not left lying idle,

? he said.

“But while I and other elected reps had campaigned for the purchase, we have not been informed of the details or the timing.

“I can’t therefore say if this agreement is good value for the city or the taxpayer who effectively owns NAMA.

“City officials have to realise that elected reps have a direct mandate on major matters such as this, and they must be involved in the process.

?

Newly elected councillor, Noeleen Reilly (SF), said the deal was

“a really positive step

?.

“I think the council, along with local stakeholders, are best placed to make decisions in relation to the future economic regeneration of Ballymun,

? she continued.

“The closure of Tesco only highlighted the need for a new shopping centre with a supermarket and also a range of different stores servicing the needs of the residents.

“This will certainly be something I will be pushing for on the council in the near future.

?

Another new Ballymun councillor, Noel Rock (FG), also welcomed the council’s move to take over full ownership of the shopping centre.

“This is a positive development and a forward-thinking move from the council,

? he said.

“I had called on them in the past to consider this, and I am glad it is now happening.

“Ballymun needs a strong retail presence. Currently we have a relatively empty shell facing out on to Ballymun Road, and I think we should be working to ensure that this is renewed, revived and regenerated.

“Many Ballymun residents, including my own mother, don’t drive to the shops – so it’s important that we have as strong a local retail presence as possible, and having one owner who has an interest in seeing Ballymun prosper is a definite step forward in that sense.

?