Work begins on inner city flats regeneration project

RESIDENTS of a north inner city flats complex can look forward to a bright 2018 after work got underway on a major regeneration project in their area. 

Before Christmas Clúid Housing began a €21 million redevelopment of the St Mary’s Mansions flats complex. 

Former and future residents of the social housing scheme joined Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy TD, and Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure & Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, to mark the beginning of the highly anticipated project.

The flats complex was built by Dublin Corporation nearly 70 years ago and is in need of total refurbishment to bring it up to current standards. 

The regeneration works are scheduled for completion in mid-2019 and, when complete, will provide high quality social housing to 80 local families and single people. 

The work will include the addition of two new floors and will be laid out as one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments and duplexes.

The regeneration will cost just over €21 million. Clúid will finance the project through a combination of loans from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA), European Investment Bank (EIB) and financial support from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Clúid’s New Business Director, Fiona Cormican, said: “Clúid Housing is absolutely delighted to see this regeneration project get underway. 

“The redevelopment of St Mary’s Mansions will provide much needed social housing for local people and it is going to have a phenomenal impact on the local community.”

The project is being delivered through a partnership between Clúid and Dublin City Council, Dublin North East Inner City, the European Investment Bank, Ganson, the Housing Finance Agency, Inner City Organisations Network (ICON) and Rebuilding Ireland.

Minister Murphy said the regeneration is a wonderful example of partnership. 

“My Department is providing funding of €6.4 million and I am looking forward to seeing the results of this innovative collaboration between Rebuilding Ireland, Clúid Housing and Dublin City Council,” he said. 

“This redevelopment will provide much needed social housing for the North East Inner City area. The project will provide a safe, comfortable home for all residents whilst communal features such as the central courtyard and community room will help build upon the existing community spirit in the area.”

Former St Mary’s Mansions resident Elsie Campion, who lives in Clúid’s nearby Killarney Court scheme, said: “The whole community is thrilled to see this going ahead. It’ll make a huge difference to the area.”

Minister Donohoe, a local TD for the area, said St Mary’s Mansions is home to a thriving Dublin inner city community but, “like many others, has faced the challenge of anti-social behaviour over the years.” 

“This redevelopment signals a new chapter in the St Mary’s Mansions’ story, which I have no doubt will be as community focused as it has been down through the years,” said Minister Donohoe. 

“The work undertaken by the Department of Housing, in conjunction with Clúid Housing and Dublin City Council, is to be strongly commended.”