Around the Block:Dublin City Council has thrown down the gauntlet to all the developers who have paid mighty prices to put their mark on Ballsbridge.
The area is something of a sleeping giant, having seen relatively little development through the frenetic boom years. All that is about to change, with the pending closure of Jurys and the decision by the Government and others to cash in on the phenomenal prices available from high profile developers who chased every inch of ground. Now the real test will come when the shape and form of the buildings there is decided after public consultation. This week's publication of the area plan for Ballsbridge won't impress the builders, given that it suggests that most of the Jurys and Berkeley Court sites would have a maximum of 10 storeys, and even that would be restricted to certain parts of the site. It's a long way from the 32-storey tower block that Sean Dunne wants to build there. His neighbours, such as Ray Grehan of Glenkerrin, Bernard McNamara and David Daly, will also be looking for more than 10 measly storeys after paying record prices for their adjoining sites.
There is bound to be a lengthy debate on the height and scale of these upcoming schemes, and Dublin City Council is keen to keep the residents in the picture. Its area plan is on show in the local library, as well as in the Civic Offices in town. While there has been acceptance of the notion of high rise in other parts of the city - with some 32-storey schemes already in the pipeline - Dublin City Planner Dick Gleeson needs convincing that these heights would be appropriate in Dublin 4, a predominantly residential neighbourhood where the highest planned development is likely to be Lansdowne Road stadium, just across the road from Dunne's site. Meanwhile, Dunne is likely to unveil his own master plan for the Jurys sites to the public in the coming weeks. Look out for front page coverage rather than a low-key display in the local library.
St Bernard gets bigger
Though Dunnes Stores still market some of its products under the St Bernard brand, they might consider selling the franchise to the patron saint of developers - Bernard McNamara. Not a week goes by without news of yet another purchase under the Bernard brand name. This week alone he made two substantial acquisitions, buying a slice of the Conrad Hotel for an estimated €45 million and also snapping up an office block across the road from Jurys for €46 million to add to the site he has already assembled on Pembroke Road. All this comes after he led the group that purchased the former glass bottle site in Ringsend for €400 million. In the last two years McNamara has bought a string of buildings and businesses - in most cases in partnership with other heavy hitters - and he is also lending his name to a business course in Trinity College Dublin where he is presently completing a massive scheme for the college on Pearse Street. What else will he snap up in 2007? ...
Castle back on market
Kinnitty Castle in Co Offaly is up for grabs again after the collapse of the sale last July to the Hanly Group, which has been investing heavily in country property to convert to country club type developments. They already own Lough Rynn in Leitrim which is being developed as a residential resort and golf course.
Joint agents CB Richard Ellis and John P. Younge are understandably not talking too much about the deal that fell through last year though the price agreed at the time was apparently €13 million - €1 million over the AMV. This time round, owner Con Ryan is looking for over €13 million for his haunted castle, which is a popular wedding venue. Fingers crossed there will be a marriage of minds this time round.
