The Dublin hotelier and property developer, Mr Noel O'Callaghan, has finally received planning permission to redevelop the site next door to Archer's Garage on Fenian Street two years and nine months after it was illegally demolished.
The listed garage, dating from the 1940s, was pulled down over the June bank holiday weekend in 1999 by Mr O'Callaghan, who owns the Mont Clare, Davenport, Alexander and Stephen's Green hotels. He is also a director of Bord Fáilte.
The developer forestalled prosecution by signing a legal agreement with Dublin Corporation to reinstate the building. Reconstruction started last year, but was halted some time ago after the concrete structure was completed.
Further work on the project had been deferred pending a long-delayed decision by An Bord Pleanála on an appeal against plans by Dellyberg Ltd, Mr O'Callaghan's company, for an L-shaped office development on the adjoining site.
This was the third appeal by local residents in relation to the site. Dellyberg's original scheme was refused by the appeals board in August 2000, in a decision that was seen by some as containing an element of retribution.
Although the appeals board had twice refused permission for earlier schemes, it has now decided to approve the latest version, which includes 15 apartments, saying it would form a "satisfactory relationship" with the former garage.
The board's decision, which is subject to 10 conditions, also took account of the zoning objective "to consolidate and facilitate the development of the central area, and to identify, reinforce and strengthen and protect its civic design character".
It had previously refused permission for an offices-only scheme on the grounds that it would constitute over-development of the site and that its scale, design and finish would "fail to respect the architectural integrity" of the yet-to-be-reconstructed garage.
Last February, the corporation decided to grant permission for a revised scheme consisting of a four-storey office block and 15 apartments, with a basement car park and a partial conversion to restaurant use of the former garage.
This decision was again appealed by two residents of Erne Street, Mr David Hughes, an architect with Iarnród Éireann, and his partner, Ms Carmel McCormack, whose principal concerns relate to overshadowing of their house.
In its ruling, An Bord Pleanála said a proposed atrium designed to link the new L-shaped block with Archer's Garage must be reduced in height and that the apartment block to the rear should be cut from 15 units to 13.
It also specified that the new building should be finished in brick "in the interest of visual amenity, to provide contrast with the architectural style of the EWL building [previously Archer's Garage] and to respect the surrounding context of the area".
