Destruction of Dublin – 21st century

@J. Seerski wrote:

It was always maintained that the reason why so much of 18th century Dublin survived was the economic stagnation of the city for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, and this was only threatened with the periods of boom in the 1960s. Up until recently, it appeared that the current boom would avoid the repetition of the wanton destruction of Dublin’s heritage.

However, the current property boom is now leading to the destruction of neighbourhoods in no small way. Pubs, churches, terraces, and gardens that were all part of locales for generations are no longer under threat but are being summarily destroyed. What started off as a trickle now seems to be a roaring flood of historical buildings and some pretty fine architecture being flattened, all in the name of Apartments, Apartments Apartments!

I could go into countless examples, but for brevity I will stick to where I grew up.

Glasnevin, specifically around the Botanic Gardens, is destined to be insensitively ruined by the imminent demise of the Addison Lodge. The original building is a quite pleasant victorian lodge with a fine staircase and some plasterwork intact. It is on nicely laid out grounds and while the pub itself was nothing redeeming, the fact it is up for tender for redevelopment is yet again another example of local history being erased – God knows suburbia is bereft of history as it is. Nearby, a terrace of single storey Victorian houses have been flattened at the junction of Finglas Road.

If Glasnevin was an exception I would leave it as such. But unfortunately the same process is underway throughout Dublin. In Crumlin, a pub (The Shaw Arms) that seems to have 18th century origins is heading for the knocking ball. A methodist church was flattened recently. Another pub, The Halfway House at the Long Mile Road is destined for the knocking ball. within five minutes WALK, five (yes FIVE) Petrol Stations are closed and destined for redevelopment – no way particularly worth retaining, but a further example of the relentless march of the destruction of Dublin for short-term gain.

This picture of local facilities, local architecture and local heritage disappearing at breakneck speed is repeated throughout the city. In the 60s up until recently, the efforts and the results of preservation groups were vaunted for their success in conserving the city. However, few, if any, seem bothered with the descent of an already bland suburbia losing all traces of its past and community focus. The march of the apartment block seems unstoppable.

Not is not just a problem in Dublin, it is happening in towns all over the country at the moment

@tjomeara wrote:

Not is not just a problem in Dublin, it is happening in towns all over the country at the moment

@j.seerski wrote:

within five minutes WALK, five (yes FIVE) Petrol Stations are closed and destined for redevelopment – no way particularly worth retaining, but a further example of the relentless march of the destruction

Garages and petrol stations are an endangered species. Margins are low in the fuel business and the costs are high (interest costs, insurance, EPA rules, etc.) In the Dublin area the return on capital employed is almost zero, so it makes financial sense to develop an apartment block on the site. In the countryside it is considerably worse. In the past the garages in most villages depend on a mix of car repairs, servicing, bodywork, and fuel sales for survival. Engines have become so sophisticated that the service interval has been greatly extended, most engines now require specialist computer plug-ins for diagnosis so that business is gone. Bodywork and repairs have also been affected due to the necessity of the NCT and the subsequent absence of older cars. Petrol sales are being heavily hit for e.g. in S. Kerry by Tesco who are selling petrol at cost. Result 1? Wife says “I’m taking car to Tesco to do shopping and will save price of trip due to low petrol costs and save on shopping also. ” Result 2? Local shops miss out, local petrol station closes due to competition. Result 3? Soon I will have to drive round-trip of 35 miles to buy a pint of milk or a can of petrol for my lawnmower. Even today I cannot get my car serviced within a 100 mile radius. So much for rural planning.

The destruction of Dublin continues, all dressed up in maurading over priced appartment dross…..however if there is one petrol station that I would like to see succombing to the demolishion ball is that god awful kip on the quays in Dublin. Please replace this with an appatment block and add some sort of uniformity back to this kip part of the quays.