Urban Abandonments and Derelict Locations

by d Thu Apr 09, 2009 15:30

good work, keep it up

by Michelle Clarkde - Social Justice and Ethics: Dignity Sat Apr 11, 2009 17:15

Well constructed site, in fact a well sculpted social awareness site at a time of the latest indication of the toxic debt fall out affecting Banking and Developers, in particular.

TV3 and Vincent Browne. If I remermber, I like to watch this programme. The Discussion, the Panel, the derision, the topics all prove challenging to the Ireland we live in........the Ireland that needs its people roused to anger and frustration at a Government and its inability to meet the needs of its people,

Our Minister of Finance, Mr. Lenihan.......has taken a huge step forward...............not unlike the CAB (only this bears relationship with criminality) the new body NAMA will have a designated group of people who will oversee the maximum return from those toxic debts that apply to the Banks, Developers etc..,..

It really sounds positive but does it.

I like Professor Lucey's comment the other night....about let's start in Bohola................and I add then lets go to the 'Wastelands' in say the US. The wastelands in this case are global.....and Ireland and the taxpayer need to be protected. Lenihan has good qualities but his profession is the BAR but not an Economist. We need to learn diversity and creative thought. I would recommend the views of Brendan Keenan, McWilliams, Professor Morgan Kelly, and the newly appointed Chairperson of the DDDA, Niamh Brennan. We are in a quandary and we need collective thought to get out of it.......

Given the dereliction as shown on this site.......................how will NAMA locate the one third of overseas properties/locations. Just look to Spain and the demolition of properties for roads.....

Michelle

by Irelandseye - Barely There Ireland Tue Apr 14, 2009 20:34

Thank you for the feedback, Us barely there members think its mad how many properties are popping up derelict or left abandoned. In fact some amazing historical buildings neglected e.g Bolands flour mills..... Some government we have, they could turn that place into something of a tourist attraction.

by CPO. Wed Apr 15, 2009 16:32

Link below has more derelict buildings, mostly houses. Hasnt been updated for a while though.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics: Dignity Wed Apr 15, 2009 19:11

Given that the topic is dereliction of Dublin and its environs, I suspect it is the CPO and a reminder to people about WHAT DRIVES DEVELOPERS, POLITICIANS, PEOPLE WITH THE GREED MOTIVATING FACTOR...................

I found this site the photos, the commentary, the reality and most of all the question mark as to why would people allow such property to fall into such a state of dereliction.

First of all, the writer addresses The Thomas Read House Pub, in the heart of Dublin 8. The walls of this pub before it was re-designed and re-developed to meet the Celtic Tiger swash-buckling set, was a pub of the inner city, its tales, its hardships, its people, its soul. The writer suggests that this ought to be a cautionary tale of the Celtic Tiger......

Then there is "Cabra Farm" - prime development location, yet who pays the cost. If this property is to be sold now - let us think of the Economist Mr. Lucey and his comments on Toxic Debt and NAMA (Euros estimatedf 90 bn) - the property might only be worth a 50% discount and that is if any developer is willing to take a chance and purchase and redevelop.

What about Mobhi Road in Glasnevin? What does the community think here. It must be only one house surely in this settled area.

Then 202 Clonliffe Road - how about this? Who is 'sitting on their hands too long' here. This would highlight Clonliffe College. Here I ask the question about taxation and spact utilisation in prime areas of Dublin City. It is not the first time we have had to look at taxing space. Look to large buildings and you will often see a blocked in window. This was about a taxation on the number of windows in a house, the more windows you had, the more tax you paid. There was tax avoidance then, when people blocked up windows rather than pay tax......what has changed.

Ireland is famous for some of the most splendid Georgian Squares in Europe. We must consider the periods when these were built. Ireland was a leading light of the British Empire, an example - that merited it as the Second City of the British Empire.

Why then are so many floors, houses, vacant and under utilised in our City. It is not just in Dublin 2, it is Dublin 4. I have written about roads such as Elgin Road where some houses sold for 4 m. euros during the Celtic Tiger and others are near derelict with bedsits and very poor accommodation. Pembroke Road hosts several houses too as does Baggot Street (upper floors particular), Waterloo Road, Leeson Street, Ranelagh Road, Rathmines......................there is plenty of fodder here to entice some form of utility tax. Otherwise as making property more 'Green' there could be an incentive to encourage people back into the city, to live in smaller spaces and bring into play again the Square Gardens.

As long as places like Summerhill Parade exist.....derelict.....people will lose the will within their community because their basic self worth is being diminished. Again, I would suggest Moyross and the number of derelict houses just boarded up has had a negative impact on their community. Who benefits? Those who hold the property, so that they can hold the location so that they can attract the developers who will bid up the price until all are happy......no matter what the time span is. Surely, these people ought to pay a tax on these properties. Exceptions can always be made.

Then we have York Street. This is adjacent to the Royal College of Surgeons. This area was contrast in the real sense of being rich and really poor. Who owns these houses that once housed in rooms families of 13 or 14 people. Where is this social history? I wonder has the College of Surgeons gathered the social history of the young doctors who visited these houses to deliver babies, and deal with TB and other health related matters. The National Archives have an excellent site on this Dublin ------ we show middle class Ireland in Merrion Square House but maybe York Street could become a reminder of what tenement Dublin was like. I think this would attract tourism. Add to this the experience gained by doctors from the plight of tenement living and the survival factor that the real Irish pubs provided for the people.

The House at Sutton Cross....this is a well positioned large house in a 'good' area. Who knows something here that is not being shared with ordinary punter...? What are the plans? Someone has an idea.

I really ernjoyed the two foregoing enlightening websites.

The quays along the Liffey in the 1970's merited a comment or so it was said then 'that visiting Germans passed the comment 'that they hadn't realised Dublin City was so badly bombed during the WAR'................................hence, a comment became an idea, that attracted me of vision.......etc.

We need to keep money circulating in our economy hence I tend to take a taxi from town ..... 6 euros and a view point ..... it is worth it for me as a person with mobility difficulties and ABI. Today, we chatted about the small businesses and how they may re-actyivate the economy. I had just come from Kildare Street and spotted ISMEoffices. The state of the building they occupy raised the question......who owns it and what a dereliction of duty to maintain such a property. So close to Government Buildings - why have these houses been allowed to deteriorate.

Keep up taking photo graphs and let's keeping putting forward questions. The taxi driver told me that small businesses had come together to form a network site; he thought the name is smallbusinesscan.ie. It was talked about on the radio yesterday and that one business has made connection with a business in Japan.

TOXIC DEBT 90 BN

WE ALL HAVE SOME POWER TO REDUCE THE VALUE OF THIS DEBT BY FOCUSING ON GROWTH

A psychologist once shared this saying with me 'WHAT YOU FOCUS ON EXPANDS'

Michelle

by P.C.Worlde - Panoramic Viewer. Thu Apr 16, 2009 01:56

What a splendid piece Michelle Clarke and well done in your painstaking research ,

I had reason recently to walk back into the past and some 3 weeks ago i strolled under the arch way and into Pembroke Lane, Dublin 2 ,

The same area long long ago was a thriving family orientated lovely old fashioned lane , totally free from any traffic as it being a one way entry to some lovely old mews houses and various little business's long since gone , i knew a certain young lady in the 90s who resided in Pembroke Lane and
her mother had reared a large family over a 50 year period , the lovely olde dublin stories i listened to were priceless ,not to forget the School near Stable
Lane where many a young dubliner went to school all those years ago , There is a huge difference now to me and i see nothing but apartments where
beautiful little houses once stood, and away the history went with the folk to God Knows Where .

The same area is so quiet on a summers evening it would amaze any one who happened to be passing through .

A beautiful lady once lived at the Morehampton Road end of Heytsebury Lane at the rear of Wellington Road , her lovely home demolished circa '97and
now in its place stands an apartment block , quite nice as a matter of fact , nice quaint apartments and so well blending within .

Lest we forget the beautiful areas such as Merrion Square ,Upper Mount Street , and others such as Fitzwilliam Square where once Lovely families
began their early venture through life and all its mysteries Good Old Dublin Town .....

by Doc.Martin - walkers assoc. of earth Sat Apr 18, 2009 05:49

Another lovely walk i would recommend ..... Baggot Street Bridge onwards in towards The Stephens Green Shopping Centre .

The most wonderful Buildings are in full view for all to see ,try it you will not be disappointed ,

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics: Dignity Thu Apr 23, 2009 23:06

PC worlde

Thank you for your kind comments. I wonder were you referring to Kathleen Goodfellow and her bequest of land and properties at corner of Fitzwilliam Place and Mespil Road. By chance, I was watching RTE 1 tonight and to my great surprise, one topic covered this woman, a Quaker, I believe and how she left the land now wooded as a haven for wildlife. The gateway stands resplendid (to the manor borne) and inside is the sanctuary for wildlife, animals and birds.

Apparently members of An Taisce are now involved in its preservation and certain people ensure bird feeders are in place and maintained for birds. I know also late at night foxes can be seen wandering the roads ....... Clyde Road, Wellington Road, Pembroke Street and no doubt the lanes that you spoke off, that once housed the horses and carriages and lodgings of workers. Today, they are known as Mews Houses that back on to the original Georgian houses.

Associated with Miss Goodfellow was the famous Irish Artist of Sean Keating. A painting by him - The Woman in the traditional red woollen skirt and the farm labourer talking in the potato field was sold during the week at D4 Lansdowne Road...........for over euros 125,000. The auctioneer commented at the time of the final bid, that he hoped it remained in the country. As it happened the man who bought it stood in front of me.......he left the auction suite and as I left, I saw him again, and just had to ask if it was him that bought it and if so, I hoped it would stay in Ireland as part of our Irish culture......Yes, I think he said.....with a smile.

Capital D then showed a young man who had inherited a house on the death of his father, in Dublin. This young man acknowledged the space but wanted to share it with others, on the basis of values as distinct from cost. I like this concept. He and a few friends decided to take a walk up Grafton Street and take a look up and see just how much space exists.....we all should take a leaf out of his book. Non utilised space in the inner city areas of Dublin ought to be productive rather than lie idol.

Colaiste Mhuire was also shown in its dereliction. As it happens my school friend Sandra and her husband were the last teachers to leave. This school provided much needed Irish spoken education for the inner city.......why has it been allowed to go derelict.

Keep up the work with the photos.........and bit by bit the plain people of Ireland will access their heritage with a degree of compassion.

Michelle Clarke

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics: Dignity Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:41

Doc Martin

Yes, Baggot Street Bridge constructed over a century ago, and the walkover the lock, is such a pleasant walk. There is such a history around the area and quite a few books written. Adjacent to Baggot Street Bridge, was the bookshop Parsons (no gone) but to be found on Google. All kinds of people, writers, artists were to be found gathering in this book shop.

Did you know that Thomas Davis (1814-1845) lived at 67, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2 (I am sure as you have walked by, you saw the nameplate on the left hand side of the door just above the doorway.

Thomas Osborne David died at the age of 31 but in his short life. he achieved a considerable amount. Thomas Davis lived with his mother and invalid sister.

His obituary in the Dublin University Magazibne noted

'his own family in whose bosom he lived and died in all peace and affection, entertained political opinions quite opposite to his'

The strong word tolerance applied to different opinions between Davis and his beliefs and that of his family - there was diversity in views.

Davis was the son of a Welsh father, a surgeon in the Royal Artillery and an Irish Motrher. The young Davis attended Mr. Mangan's mixed seminary' in Lower Mount Street.

Davis was a poor mixer but read voraciously. He was called to the Bar 1836 and called to the Irish Bar in 1837.

It is this Thomas Davis while walking in the Phoenix Park with two other men (John Blake Dillon and Charles Gavan Duffy, barrister and journalist respectively), agreed to establish and collaborate on the publication of a newspaper.......THE NATION

Davis laid it down for the Nation.....'it must embrace Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter - Milesian and Cromwellian - the Irishman of a hundred generations and the stranger who is within our gates' published October 1882.

History is all around is Dublin 2, Dublin4, Dublin 6........Ireland is about history both oral and written and this ought to provide hope........

I would love to see the young students to live out their history in the days of being at the colleges here and explore it to gain creativity and innovation to invoke the Knowledge Economy that we are well capable of putting in place......The Challenge is here before our eyes......Jonathan Swift spoke of 'Giving vision to the visionless'

Michelle Clarke -

by Kevin T. Walsh - Michelle Clarke Fri May 01, 2009 19:45

Michelle

I really enjoyed the photos and commentary of our history especially in Georgian Square bricks and mortar. (Irish Georgian Society have a good website www.igs.ie
Ireland is the beneficiary of strategic philantrophy. I would recommend that people access Atlantic Philantropics.ie to view their web page and the contributions that are made to projects in Ireland. Their latest contribution to Ireland and Chuck Feeney is involved in it is the Irish Penal Reform Trust and it is a most informative site....given our aspiration of being a knowledge economy.

Another Fund is Ireland Funds. The website deals with donated money at work.

The Monks in Moyross are beneficiaries (the comment is Blessed are the peace makers).

The message is challenging........the monks are present. They say that there are well kept houses alongside houses that are boarded up, cracked windows and covered with graffiti.

Moyross was built in 1973......the State provided the houses and are responsible for the upkeep. 1160 houses were built back then and the population is now 4,000, some people left, but the critical FACTOR IS THAT 50% are under the AGE OF 24.

The monks presence alone gives support to people, isolated to the name of Moyross, the dereliction caused by angst, gang warfare that nobody is able to address as yet.,

Well done to the Monks for their efforts and to Irl Funds and their strategic philantrophy.

We all have something to give.....altruism, compassion can make a difference

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics: Dignity Sun May 03, 2009 22:24

Kevin.....you gave some interesting leads.

By co-incidence, page 32, Irish Mail on Sunday, May 3rd 2009, 'The man who wants to hand out Euros 1 m. per day for life' is featured. The Secret Billionaire - Chuck Feeney Story will be shown on RTE1 Tuesday night at 10.10 p.m.

Chuck Feeney has already donated over Euros 1.2 bn. to this country and it sounds as if Ireland is going to receive more.......what a positive for a country in recession. Chuck Feeney made his money when he co-founded Duty Free Shoppers and then sold on the business. Look out for the Atlantic Philantropic Funds......already a considerable amount has been contributed to several universities in Ireland. Also Atlantic Philantropics have contributed funds to the much in need Irish Penal Reform Trust (www.iprt.ie)

Urban Dereliction.......lest we forget. Most important is to halt dereliction for the profit motive in community areas. The photos on the site provided by CPO are excellent and worth looking at.

Someone mentioned Pembroke Road. This is a road for which the major developers had plans but as to what will happen now, it is anyone's guess!!!. Some houses appear to be the old pre63 flats, while others are offices, or private homes. Certain houses have been converted to modern apartments with extensions and mews houses.

Patrick Kavanagh lived on no. 62 Pembroke Road.
Patrick Kavanagh (1904-67) came from Co. Monaghan but believed that the City was the place for writers and moved to Dublin. Aged 13, Patrick Kavanagh left the local national school to become a shoemaker-farmer - neither job appealed to him. He was a day dreaming mindset and drawn to the literary life. By the age of 35. Kavanagh had migrated to Dublin. The infamous AE (George Russell gave him his first Guinea for a poem he published in the Statesman.

If you ramble down Pembroke Road, through Baggot Street to the Bridge, where once was the literary gathering bookshop, turn left and walk a little, you will see a Bench with a genleman smoking a pipe, with spectacles - this is in commemoration of this writer. 'It is the canal bank seat for the passer by'.

In the interests of tourism, it would be a nice point to meet and for those enthusiasts of Kavanagh's poetry to recite it - to share their gift with others who may not be able to recite, but are good listeners. Starbucks have a coffee shop adjacent to the Canal and his poem in large format is to be found on the wall.......

Poems: Stoney Grey Soil, Canal Bank Walk........books Tarry Flynn, The Green Fool

Michelle

by leitheoir Mon May 04, 2009 09:35

I am surprised at AE (George Russell) being described as "The infamous AE " as I thought he was a benevolent person among the literary set during the early years of twentieth century Ireland. Didn't he write a famous letter to the Irish Times during the Dublin lockout of 1913 supporting the ITGWU and shaming the employers? And wasn't he editor of The Irish Homestead, a magazine of the co-op movement?

Other comments by Michelle about derelict sites and the unsocial nature of developers sitting on unused building sites for years I support of course. But I admire the social conscience of George Russell, who worked for a better Ireland in his day, along with Dublin accountant Horace Plunkett, in promoting the co-operative movement.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics: Dignity Mon May 11, 2009 18:18

Leitheoir

Groundhog day thought she had replied to you and while scrolling discovered no. You are absolutely correct - 'Infamous' was a most in approrpriate description given to AE.

This is a site I would recommend to anyone interested in contributing to the social history that has become part of a past and left aside, alas with scarce dignity.

As the summer approaches, I am thinking of sun and the criteria that make Dublin quite a unique European City. I am looking at the photos produced by brareltheredublin.com.......

Sandymount is a quaint village, and quite evidently was once a seaside attraction. The photographer with time to spare, cycled out on an exploratory trip and has written a little synopsis on Sandymount Baths.......on Sandymount Strand.....They tease out memories as to what existed in past times and what purposes they served.......
Past times are now a long time ago for Sandymount which had a pier, a Bandstand where concerts were performed.

Alas in the 1920's, the pier deteriorated and was demolished.....and the remnants of times past lie in a kind of unappreciated setting and squalid. Why!!!

To the Green Party I ask the question. Is it to do with Pollution and the smell ....... The sea is our treasure surely.

There is another photo of Dun Laoghaire Baths....a disgraceful scene that once provided facilities for people to enjoy and if necessary maintain a human dignity ... a place to wash....something which we now fail to provide.

Smurfits Print grounds make another interesting photo. This was one of first large public companies in Ireland involved printing......many people were employer here and this photo is poignant in the way it captures a pinky blue sunset with an old rusty skip to the fore, stating......there once was a life blood here but now it is no more. Nor does it eek out a sense of hope for future employment.

The photo of Bolands Mills.....makes one think of our history. It takes one to the Economic aspect of employment, flour mills, employees, the to our Political history....the shoot-outs and then most importantly the social history. The social history is linked to the economic history and how people move and live close to their place of work and especially where Cities have the advantage of Sea....Canals....Rivers......Air travel......

NAMA, it is said may be housed in the Treasury Holdings Building.....Let us ensure that the toxic assets as nicely outlined through the very many photos on this site, are not marked down excessively due to dereliction and negative market conditions globally.

Michelle Clarke
Quotation
Faith
'I began a Revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again. I'd do it with 10 or 15 and absolute FAITH.
Fidel Castro (born 1926) Cuban Revolutionary who ousted President Batista in 1950. (Now that is a challenge to NAMA appointees)

by squat Mon May 11, 2009 21:18

Article in todays examiner about people in cork being forced to squat, due to no other angles left...
Squats: Nowhere to turn: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/squats-nowhere-to-....html

He knows of about 20 to 30 young people of all nationalities – including Irish – living in squats around Cork city, he says.

by Eye in The Sky - Star Wars Sun May 17, 2009 07:26

;;Squat'' i have read the article which appeared in The Examiner ,i find it difficult to understand for one simple reason , And no i am not telling the man
from Latvia ,whose story is in the Examiner ,to go home ,for one simple reason ,He has nothing to go home too , at least he was honest with the
journalist who interviewed The Man From Latvia , why they are not in receipt of social welfare and a roof over their heads is quite puzzling , so why are they
living from hand to mouth ,scraping from day to day on handouts , Now ,Thats what i call Real Hardship ,God Help them And anyone in the same
situation , we dont realize how well off we really are ....

by Phoenix - Rule of Law Wed Jul 01, 2009 17:26

his site ought to be kept to the fore at all times on Indymedia. Ireland is rapidly being consumed by a recession the majority of our people have no idea about. It has been thrust upon them, all within the space of a year, and now unprepared they find themselves with qualifications and no jobs to match.

A greedy bunch of developers funded by greedy bankers have fuelled this recession to a pinnacle that a compliant greedy Government stands alone, afraid, overpaid, making decisions that do not necessarily relate to the ordinary man, woman or child, who are there on the street. Has anyone noticed the increased number of people begging on our streets? Has anybody noticed the shopping centre off Dawson Street already stripped of a number of their exclusive shops? Has anybody noticed that the franchised coffee shops are already feeling the pinch? Then has anybody noticed the number of taxis queued up in all the main streets off the main streets in Dublin City centre? Try talking to a taxi driver who will tell you they have earned only euros 15 for several hours work.

The people press and social networking has a most important role to play. They can contribute to Government in a subtle but effective way. Ordinary people with ordinary observations can make the difference. They live, walk, see, hear and engage in the reality our Politicians have lost through the 'heady days of the Celtic Tiger'.

Back to this site. View the derelict buildings. Ask what do these derelict buildingsdo for valuations of properties in their locality? They further cause a reduction in value. What can be done with these buildings? I would suggest if you take an example of Dublin 4 and look to those Georgian squares and streets and all the to let signs and all the quite evidently vacant floors that an inward drive of people driven urbanisation could be most cost effective. These houses stand resplendid for their period in time and their architecture. We failed in the 1960's and lost many to slums and then dereliction. Now - are we planning to do the same? We ought to be saying to NAMA / NTMA listen to us also.....we have something to say. We have a way of working out a value per square meter that properties are worth.....we can promote space utilisation by policy decisions....we can suggest appropriate taxes. Just include us and keep us informed.

I would suggest that a form of rates ought to be re-introduced (not a 200 euro tax on mobile homes, and second homes irrespective of income). There is a new Green rule that anyone selling a property or letting out a property must have a BER certificate. This is fine but it will lead to more houses for dereliction. Surely, there is a better way to promote space utilisation. We hear nobody discussion how to make our Georgian Houses properties compliant with the environment and self sufficient. One example is a mirror on the roof space. People out there must have more suggestions. We have had the slums....we should say via green initiatives, that we will not be returning to the slums. Look at Elgin Road. Half the houses cost millions and half are what I would call semi occupied slums that are funded by rent allowance. Is this what humanity is about?

Next time you are on the bus, take a look out for patterns in housing. Look at the houses in Leeson Street that still house many tenants and our in poor upkeep. Then look out for those houses that our probably stuck in limbo due to inheritance conflicts. Look at the beautiful squares say Fitzwilliam, Merrion and think of Mr. O'Gara who caught the locals out and bought the ground rent of the square. He along with others have opened up this park to use of all people......this is positive. This is reviving the history of Rathmines, Donnybrook, Baggot Street, Fitzwilliam Square.

Let us be diligent. Let nobody reduce an area to desolation because buildings are allowed become derelict. Moyross is the obvious answer. Let us take example from the people in Ballymun who revived their communit with spirit.

Realistically, we face the proposition that the International Monetary Fund may have to intervene in the running of our Irish Financial affairs. We have one saving grace that may prevent us becoming totally isolated and that is our alignment with the EU. It was this alignment to the EU and euro currency that attracted a lot of US companies to Ireland during the Celtic Tiger. Let us not lose site of this.

It is time to reform and promote community. People need to look out for each other and to support their local shops, their elderly, their young people. In London in the 1950's and 1960's, areas around Shepherd's Bush once homes of the rich famous fell into the hands of people like
Rachman ... gangsters that were cruel landlords. We don't want this to happen again and we have power as people to divert this. You see we have a political culture in Ireland, we can sell our history through tourism.......we have Peace on the Island of Ireland and it is our duty to promote it.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Disabilities Sun Jul 19, 2009 21:40

To the people who produced the photos for this site - have you noticed the decline in our Urban space? The 'For Sale' signs, the 'To let', the shopping centres like Rathmines with many vacant shops. It will only get worse. It will be like England in the early 90's with vacant premises dotted all over the place and then a myriad of charity shops will opt to take the locations, at no doubt reduced rents, if any.

What can we do? We know the potential, we have seen it in Ireland. Ireland, the new State, post the 1916 Revolution saw many of its mansions, tower houses, castles, burned to the ground and if not, become un-inhabited. For those who remained in the houses, often they lived spartan lives, occupying only the room space necessary.

This we need to avoid. We the people can intervene, we can volunteer information, views, and experience. An Bord Snip has made its recommendations and we the people have a right to agree or disagree. The internet is here. We can use it. In fact, we can make our statement that the proposed cut to Broadband funds put forward by the report, be discarded and promote high speed broadband throughout ireland. This allows our aspiration of moving forward as the Knowledge Economy.

NAMA/NTMA, I believe have taken space in the Treasury Holdings building in Dublin 2. Let us ask NAMA/NTMA to be participative in the sustainable development and refurbishment of property in the Dublin 4, Dublin 6, areas. We have ribbon development throughout Ireland and we should note the cost of same is highly expensive. Urban living, well promoted provides the cheaper altnerative. The time is now ideal with the necessity of the BER certification to upgrade our stock of houses to maximum standards in line with a 'Greener' environment.

Most people of a certain age group will be aware of the Gallagher family and their involvement in housing and development. I worked for Seamus Gallagher, son of Mr. James Gallagher, in the 1980's - yes at a time of great unemployment, companies going into liquidation, yes it was the beginning of times getting tough. Governments changed. Landbanks that ought to have received planning permissions were left in futility. Mr. James, as he was known to staff, was a TD. In fact, he had established BASTA locks in Tubercurry, Co. Sligo. This was another time but fear not developers then, as now, were involved in Politics. The name that will remain on the lips through the decades is former Taoiseach, Mr. Charles J. Haughey.

I note, that Abbey, one of the publicly quoted companies associated with the Gallaghers, has been forced to write down the value of its land bank by Euros 58 m. Abbey is in fact the largest housebuilder on the Irish Stock Exchange. This is where experience may count. Ahead of NAMA/NTMA, Abbey have taken account of the market forces that have forced them to reduce house values by 50% in some areas, and they have moved ahead to value the land at the appropriate discount value. This leaves them free to engage in a root and branch exercise of their current workload and to look to the future. Being a publicly quoted company, it means they have also engaged in an upfront way with their Shareholders. We must always remember that in public companies, the shareholders can play an important part in the ethos of the company. They speak now of corporate, ethical and social responsibility and of course a form of corporate governance attaches to this. Vision is so important especially in this time of severe Recession. (The IFSC was born out of the 1980's recession).

Mr. Soden, speaking about NAMA some time ago stressed the importance at arriving at a value per square meter of property per each city. It looks as if Abbey have paved the way and it is worth noting that they have a broad spectrum over time, here in Ireland and in England, to build up a plan of action for Recessionary periods.

Again I return to our Georgian Squares. I note an article by Ray Managh in the Irish Independent. It is about an artist who is in a battle about a 'Georgian' 4 floor over basement home in Middle Abbey Street. It has a Georgian doorway and albeit not as ornate as those found in Fitzwillian Square, Merrion Square, Henrietta Street, it is rather splendid. The premises has become an artists studio. A man has lived in the house for 20 years and is in battle with Dublin City Council regarding the ownership of the building. Dublin City Council claim to be the owners. Whoever owns it, it is representative of the unacceptable degree of dereliction so many of these houses are permitted to descend to. We need to stop this carnage. To hve dereliction scattered throughout our urban spaces only gives false history. (I refer to the Germans while travelling along the Quays of the Liffey in the 1970's who said they had not realised that Dublin was so badly bombed during the 2nd World War.

No matter what corruption has occurred, there was also Vision. Let us not lose sight of far we have come. Let us take care of our people and let us be inclusive. Regarding the house in Middle Abbey Street - July 23rd is the date of the Court hearing. Dublin City Council will seek a court injunction restraining the named person from trespassing in the building where, he is supposed to have tenancy in the basement. Watch and Wait. Ireland has the potential to witness many evicitions or ejectments. We have access to knowledge, we must use it wisely.

Michelle

Quotation randomly chosen from The Little Book of Rebels
Heroism
Spike Milligan (born 1918) British humourist, animal rights activist'
'I am a hero with coward's legs'

by Comyn - Social Justice Mon Aug 24, 2009 15:54

Yes, there is recession, even depression, but at grass roots level and by forming communities we can halt the decay that is already so visible.

I was talking to someone who had been over around the Meath Street, Francis Street, Thomas Street, Dublin City area a.m. and all they could say, was that an area which has a rich (even if impoverished history) is visibly showing the signs of the Recession. Shops are closing, money is scare and this makes it a hunting ground for petty thieves, burglaries etc. This does not have to be the outcome. We have learnt too much from previous times in our City of Dublin.

Libraries and bookshops are great havens to look up and study the history of our country and our people. Most libraries provide computers at no charge and if the librarian is keen, well they will show you how to link up.

A random choice of book in a Dublin bookshop gave me great insight to a part of our history that has been wiped away. The book was written by Mary Daly on the Population Decline and Independent Ireland 1920-1973. Previously in another book shop I had heard a man explain about the Congested Districts Board and how so many Irish people who worked towards the creation of the new independent Ireland had their works submerged by the new elites, which in 1920 of course, was Cumann Na Gaedheal, De Valera's party only gained power in 1932.

What I find fascinating about history is the formation of patterns and more so the patterns that tend to repeat themselves, mainly because of the impact of economics and financial markets, the commodities market, even the price of gold or oil.

We are all alert to NAMA and the NTMA that is in the process of being established. The offices have been chosen at Treasury Holdings near the old Bolands Mills site. The website is worth a look because it shows the structure of what NAMA/NTMA will be and how it will best implement buying back toxic debts from the many developers standing shame faced at present. They are not alone because the banks play a very strategic role in lending funds way above the asset values of the securities.

Back to history. I found out this interesting bit of history in the book mentioned above. It was about the Land Commission - the Irish Land Commission. There was a problem at the time of the formation of the state (not like now) with serious depopulation of our rural areas. The decline in population forced the Government to intervene. However, what we fail to recognise is that there was a body at work known as the Congested District Board whose function was to transfer land from the Landlord class to the occupying tenants. The British established the Congested Districts Board in 1903 who function was to purchase large tracts of land in the western counties. The concept is not too far removed from that initiated by Bacon and associates and proposed establishment of NAMA. The problem that the Congested District Board encountered was that the quantity of land was always insufficient. At the onset of the 1st World War, the British ended the function of the Congested District Board.

Ireland, paved a path towards independence with the view of a group of nationalists that England's misfortune, is Ireland's opportunity....There was the Rising by a relatively small group of men and execution of the 1916 Leaders.....At the time of the 1st Dail in 1919 there was an urgent need to curb social unrest and land hunger was top priority. Land Courts were devised to determine priorities for land re-distribution and similar I suppose to NAMA a Land National Bank financed the creation of 35 co-ops i.e. Land Societies (this did not in fact work out with a fall-out within a few years).

When the Government of the Free State came to power in 1923 it completely abolished the Congested District's board and by consequence a lot of work done by others appointed since 1903. The aim was to reform the Land Commission. The need was to access land by small payments so that it could be re-distributed to the declining population in our rural locations. Farms were divided and sub-divided. By 1934, the government was again under pressure and had to give a further undertaking to create as many as 4,000 holdings. Again, the Land Commission was unable to meet this target.

Between 1931 and 1949 (Ireland had opted for Neutral), the number of agriculture holdings had fallen by 17,000 while the Land Commission had taken over 2,700 farms and subdivided them into as many as 12,000 holdings at avg 21 acres per holding.

This forms the foundation of our State and Independence. It concerned the movement of capital assets i.e. land from one minority group of people to a majority. It is a similar approach to that taken by President Mugabe in Zimbabwe. We witness the discontent that exists in that country. It is true to say that we in Ireland had a more favourable transition i.e. until now.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that we moved from individuals in one minority moving to the Irish Sweepstakes, Celtic Tiger, minority in less than 100 years. What have we learnt and how can we survive without embracing social unrest.

NAMA/NTMA are faced with a challenge. The banks have built up a stock of toxic assets that are supposed backed by adequate securities by the developers who took out the loans in the first instance. Meantime, there has been a world financial crisis and the ripples have spread risk far and wide. What we don't know is will this turbulence cease soon or will we face a decade or more of depression. What we can do is remain alert to world market movements and Hope.....Meantime, it is up to us to become more forcused on Anti-corruption, Fraud, and seeking out those who have blatantly abuse the power of trust over people and send them to prison.

Look to Exxon in the US.....Corruption is a most serious crime against the State. The time for change is upon us. UBS Switzerland in a landmark decision in the UK have to reveal the details of as many as 5,000 account holders who are deemed to be evading tax.

Dale Carnegie 'Look to the day For yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow is only a vision. Today well lived is a dream of happiness.

by macnamara - Developers, Builders, Toxic Debtors Tue Feb 23, 2010 17:26

Today's Irish Times: Elgin Road, a three storey over basement property adjacent to the American Embassy is featured in all its abandonment and linked in ownership to the brother of a former Taoiseach of Ireland. The link is harrowing because of the recent Mossad (or supposed to be) assassination and the link to forged passports.

When does all the bad news stop, when can we start to progress yet again? Last night thankfully there was a programme about the history of the Docklands and the fact that in 1796 it was the largest canal programme by the British in the World. It was cycle tour by a man named Turtle Bunbury who has written book on both its history and more importantly on its recent advancement. This gives hope and do we need hope?

It made me think of this site and wonder if there could be a new vision and some inspiration !!!!

We sure need it. We each can make contributions. The Frontline had an interesting panel last night. A man by the name of Collins involved in the internet market spoke of the importance of the young acting on ideation via the web. I agree with hi, about the potential for Ireland (refer Pat Kenny website www.the frontline.ie). The scope is here to develop markets. Our environment has the potential and social networking sites have massive scope in a small island community like Ireland.

Looking at the houses on Elgin Road....it made me think of this site and someone's comment that how can we have houses of such value e.g. in the good times 8 m euros beside dereliction houses that have remained in situ without investment for periods of decades. Today, we witness the houses and again we must ask the same question. Why can such houses remain abandoned during the boom times and yet others are the homes of the 'elite'

Surely this would suggest a wealth tax on property or if not a wealth tax, a utility tax. How much space is not properly utilised because people choose to be wasteful in order to gain wealth via appreciation in property over decades. Why is there so much vacant space around Dublin 2, 4, and 6....

Motivation is vital to our people and this is a about creating an environment that inspires the ordinary people to be creative. - surely this was what created the ideation of a Celtic Tiger and the regeneration of areas e.g. Temple Bar and all the inspiration one can find therein.

Be it in Moyross or elitist Dublin 4 properties in this state of decay and dereliction cannot create an environment for inspiration and vision so the answer must be for people to react and start seeking change.

NAMA is real and it will behave like a real mercenary docking the value of properties by 85%, 95% and more. Likewise the Docklands will be held out to slaughter and the DDDA. What we need is a market and some equity? We do not need to crucify those developers who took a chance.

by John Henry - Is Nama defunct before it ever starts? Fri Feb 26, 2010 17:32

In those times, they referred to the 'Encumbered Estates' and something in the region of over 70% of large estate homes had to be relinquished to demolition.

If we look to economics and supply and demand, the equation appears to be that we have too many properties worth virtually nothing at this moment in time and the question is what do we do?

The 1911 census in the National Archives will leave us in no confusion as to what our poverty was like then. Our georgian houses were nothing but tenements with 12 to 16 people living in what would have been a formal drawing room or dining room or even library in earlier times when the nobility lived in Ireland. The answer here to the question is that the big houses were no longer wanted by the rich who had left the country (as is the case with tax exiles today e.g. Bono).

Take a look at Dublin these days. Look at the number of Estate agents advertising houses for rent or for sale, or flats within. Every second to third house around Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Square has a sign outside....what will be the outcome? Will these buildings become tenements of the future or will they be knocked down?

Going by the news today most of the Developers seem to be making statements that they are 'broke yes flat broke'

What does this mean for the Island of Ireland?

We seriously need to stop the blame game.

We ought to stand ashamed of No. 6 Elgin Road with its boarded up gate. For people who know this road i.e US embassy - about half the houses are refurbished while the other half are of the era of pre-63 potential tenement houses in flats.

We need to think our way out of situations where houses can be left vacant by owner landlords.

Prime Time last night showed our young men who have completed part traineeship in trades related to building out of work. Where is an Taisce, Anco, FAS in the harnessing of these talents in our Georgian Houses vacant in the affluent parts of our city

It was interesting to see a young man leave his home in an estate somewhere in the country and as he walked down his route, there was a house boarded up. He has a trade. Boarded up houses like this are bad for the social wellbeing of our people. Let us have a meeting of minds to generate potential and alternatives for these young men. They have the skills to refurb the house which could be used as a place for young people to gather and say learn computer training skills, etc.

The Royal Irish Academy is a haven we all should avail of. You enter the Georgian doorway from Dawson Street and you step back in time. Look out for the postcards advertistising Celebrating Thinking 2-30 March 2010 - this is for all people in Ireland to access, young and old, rich and poor

Elgin Road is shown to the public for us to think about property and utilisation of same. I was talking with a woman who lives in one of these houses and she made an interesting point. She said the like of an Taisce aren't going to look for houses to be upkept once the fire places and doors remain within. However she did make the point about dry rot. If this gets into one house, then it seeps and it ultimately damages all the houses in the terrace. Now this is something to review.
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We need to start reading books like Bertie Ahern suggested i.e. Bowling Alone by Putnam or another more recent book called Spirit Level - their ideation is a fostering of communities once more

by Hederman - Electric canal barge Grand Canal Theatre Thu Mar 25, 2010 17:38

Boomtime Ireland of the 1960's gave way the recession in the late 1970's when too many builders 'went to the wall' and many were heard of no more. Joe Duffy's show today indicated one major change - those thinking of suicide as the route out of desperation have Console to phone! Perhaps I am a little cynical but back in the 1970's the Samaritans were there, there was the secrecy code of doctors, priests and disaster just had to be faced. Realistically, things were a lot worse then.

We need Hope. We need to encourage those people who are for their own personal reasons 'hiding' little snatches of money be it Euro, Stg, US$ or even the old IR£ to start spending. Buy Irish, spend local and while you are doing it, think of those who have taken the risk to start up a business and support them, their community, their family and then maybe we can start the climb back to prosperity.

When the going gets tough the tough get going and when better than now to urge people to move forward. Well done to the like of Michael O'Leary, Ryanair and to his Horse that won in Cheltenham, he pays his taxes in Ireland and he promotes tourism with motivation, drive, innovation that can only be admired. We need his humour and get up and go to deal with this crisis.

P.C. Worlde Michelle Clarke Doc Martin Phoenix - you have created an appealing invitation to explore our city in Dublin. I want to add this new exploration: Yes, somebody inspite of the recesssion is willing to take a risk:-

The Grand Canal Theatre is open and there will be an electric canal barge which will have a kitchen and seating for as many as 48 people. It is called the MV Cadhla and its focus is tourists and theatre goers. Just imagine it will provide tours from Charlemont Luas station, near Ranelagh village, to the new Grand Canal Theater using the Grand Canal which was built by the Guinness Brewery.

What is interesting about this barge which cost euros 1 m to build - it is powered by batteries that cost euros 100,000 but they are charged over night and the carbon emissions are recorded. This is thinking ahead and we need more of this and it is people at ground level who can inspire. This is not a time to bring the country to its knees with strikes, we did this in the 1970's and 1980's with the Wage Agreements.

We need people to spend; to spoil themselves and go to the theater, go to the pub, interact, support those who are genuinely in need. Did anybody out there know that you can be sentenced to prison for begging. Yes you can. A man who sleeps outside told me he had been imprisoned for 3 months for begging. Yet what a paradox. People like this man who receives money keeps it in circulation whereas others still don't know what to do with their deposits in Anglo, B of Ire, AIB, when the Guarantee ends in September 2010. How bizarre - you would think one would have learnt the lesson from the shares price reductions (E 30 to 1 odd)