Greendale Court Feasibility Study.
Draft July 2004
Prepared by:Henchion Reuter Architects.
8 Parkview Place
Ringsend
Dublin 8
Tel:(01) 6674740
Fax:(01) 6674741
Email:
For:Dublin City Council
Tony Flynn, North Central Area Office
Northside Civic Centre,
Bunratty Road,
Coolock,
Dublin 17
Bernard Grimes,
City Architects
Civic Offices
Fishamble Street
Dublin 8
Introduction
The City Council are currently looking at ways of improving its housing stock through out the city and is carrying out a number of studies to look at existing housing stock. Greendale Court is one of the complexes included in this study.
Location
Greendale Court is located adjacent to Greendale Shopping Centre, Greendale Rd, Kilbarrack, D5. The complex sits on a 7000m2 (1.7acre) site. Its boundary extends to Greendale Rd, Thornville Drive & Thornville Ave.
The current complex comprises of 62 one-room units in two separate blocks. Community facilities include an industrial kitchen, Community/Dinning room area, Washing/Drying room & W.Cs.
Greendale Court is constructed on a large site with a lot of open space surrounding both buildings and a large courtyard to the front. The complex was constructed in the mid 1970s and has become outdated by modern living standards.
Accommodation
Greendale Court is a two storey development comprising of 62 one-room dwellings with a communal heating system for the entire complex. There is a shared entrance to the complex through a communal entrance. Access to individual dwellings is through a long corridor.
Issues
The accommodation provided by the City Council in all new modern housing schemes has separate bedroom space. Demand for one room type (studio) accommodation has fallen and residents prefer dwellings with a separate bedroom. Greendale court has become low demand and it is difficult to let units in this complex because there is no separate bedroom for residents.
There is a communal heating system in operation at Greendale Court. Residents have no control over changing the temperature in their dwelling,
Residents have raised the issue of upgrading of the existing heating system in the complex with the City Council in the past.
There is an on-going problem with insect infestation in the complex.
Their has been a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour occurring in the corridors and on the open space surrounding the buildings due to the lay out of the complex and the large amount of open space on the site, which is under utilised at present.
Recommendations
The City Council has set up a project team to look at the feasibility of developing Greendale Court and its environs. Members of the project team
Include the Area Housing Manager, Senior Architect, Manager of Services for the Elderly, Housing Development & Henchion + Reuter, Consultant Architects.
The project team has met a number of times to examine the most practical way of moving this project forward. The aims of the project team are to deliver a new Older Persons Complex, regenerate & develop the existing Greendale Court site with Housing, Community facilities & a new Area Office. Upgrade the adjoining open spaces to a neighbourhood park.
Proposal
To construct a new Older Persons Complex on a portion of open space located adjacent to Thornville Drive/Ave, Kilbarrack, D5.
This piece of open space measures 1800m2 (0.4acres) is under utilised at present and is a focus for some anti-social behaviour.
This piece of open space called Site A would be the location for a 45 one-bedroom Older Persons complex. The complex as outlined in the attached drawings would be 3 storeys in height and all units would have a separate entrance through a shared wintergarden/atrium central space.
To demolish the existing Greendale Court Complex & develop area 7000m2 (1.7 acres) called Site B. This is presented here in outline only. It is proposed that this would be the subject of a separate tendering process with a private developer providing affordable units or social housing units to the city council, the number of which would depend on the scale of the development.
The attached drawings and models shown an indicative masterplan for this area which would be the subject of a detailed planning application by a private applicant at a later date.
Summary:
The proposal presented here is to rezone 1800m2 (0.4acres) of open space located on Thornville Drive/Ave, Kilbarrack, D5.
This is currently zoned Z9 in the current Development Plan: ‘to provide, preserve and improve recreational amenity and open space.’
It is proposed to rezone this area to Z1: ‘ to protect, provide and improve residential amenities.’
The rest of the open area (approximately 2 acres in size) will remain zoned Z9. It is intended to upgrade the amenity quality of this space to a high standard with railings, contoured grass areas, pathway, tree planting, seasonal bulb planting etc.
To demolish the existing Older Persons complex called Greendale Court. Greendale Rd, Kilbarrack, D5.
To develop the site measuring 7000m2 (1.7 acres) called Site B for Housing, Community Facilities, New Area Office.
Gain:New modern Older Persons Complex
Upgrading of adjoining Open spaces to a high standard
Provision of new housing accessible to local people.
Provision of a number of affordable Housing units.
Provision of Community Facilities.
Regeneration of surrounding area with new development & new residents.
Reduction of nuisance & Anti –Social Behaviour Greendale Rd/Thornville Drive Area.
Documentation attached:
- Site Location Map.
- Photographic Study: Existing Context.
- Current Site Plan@ scale 1:1000
- Proposed Site Plan@ scale 1:1000
- Proposed Site Sections@ scale 1:1000
- Proposed Older Persons Complex
Ground Floor Plan @ scale 1:200
- Proposed Older Persons Complex
First Floor Plan @ scale 1:200
- Proposed Older Persons Complex
Second Floor Plan @ scale 1:200
- Proposed Older Persons Complex
East Elevation @ scale 1:200
- Proposed Older Persons Complex
West Elevation @ scale 1:200
- Proposed Older Persons Complex
South Elevation @ scale 1:200
- Proposed Older Persons Complex
Section @ scale 1:200
- Model Views.