THE Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Mark Ward, has said he is delighted to see a vacant site receive planning permission to be turned into homes.
The former council depot in Quarryvale, Clondalkin, known locally as the ‘Coffee Shop’ has been vacant for over 20 years.
According to Cllr Ward, the site has become a hive of anti-social behaviour over the intervening years as well as an eye sore.
“The ‘Coffee Shop’ in Quarryvale has been vacant for over 20 years now,” Mayor Ward said. “It is a blight on the landscape and to see it boarded up for all these years, especially in the midst of the biggest housing crisis in the history of the State was shameful.
“The Coffee Shop was originally a community house that was a hive of activity during my childhood and I have many fond memories of time I spent there as a youth. The people who ran the coffee shop were old fashioned community activists that had the heart of the community at its core.”
Cllr Ward said that over 20 years ago the facility was returned to the council and it was used as depot and storage space for years. However, it was “a complete waste of space”, he added.
“It is a hive of anti-social behaviour and illegal dumping and it brings my area down.
“I’m delighted that my campaign to see it developed into housing was successful. As soon as I became a councillor, I have worked on the issue of turning this facility into much needed housing stock.
“This was a key objective of mine when I was elected Mayor this year and I want to thank the council management in working with me on this and delivering this project.”
According to Cllr Ward, the site will now accommodate two new houses, a three-bedroom and a two-bedroom home.
“While this alone does not solve the housing crisis it solves the housing crisis for the two families that will move into them,” Cllr Ward pointed out.
South Dublin County Council is has passed plans to build 69 new homes along with a new community centre at Griffeen Avenue.