Street/Area with most unrealised potential

Moomat

I think the North Circular Road from Hanlons Corner to the Phoenix Park Gate is fantastic. It has many of the ingredients to be a really desirable area. Close to city centre, tree lined route to the Phoenix park which is on your doorstep, Hueston station and luas close, short hop to N4/N3 and M50 and really magnificent houses. I love the way the Wellington monument is centred in your view as you head down towards the gates.
It's a shame to see so many of the houses dilapidated and abandoned. They would make such beautiful family homes. Hopefully there is some significant regeneration in the area soon.

Does anybody know anything of it's former glory?

Buyingcar2012

Moomat wrote: »

I think the North Circular Road from Hanlons Corner to the Phoenix Park Gate is fantastic. It has many of the ingredients to be a really desirable area. Close to city centre, tree lined route to the Phoenix park which is on your doorstep, Hueston station and luas close, short hop to N4/N3 and M50 and really magnificent houses. I love the way the Wellington monument is centred in your view as you head down towards the gates.
It's a shame to see so many of the houses dilapidated and abandoned. They would make such beautiful family homes. Hopefully there is some significant regeneration in the area soon.

Does anybody know anything of it's former glory?

from someone who knows, there are a lot of people living in bedsits along that stretch who would be no stranger to a Garda station. O'Devaney gardens are right behind it as well. Have a walk around there in the morning and see what crawls out in the direction of their nearest methadone clinic.

Chris_5339762

O'Connell street. It should be Dublins premier street with its location, history and public transport links. Its got some fantastic architecture to boot.

Sadly, its an embarrassing disgrace.

Moomat

Buyingcar2012 wrote: »

from someone who knows, there are a lot of people living in bedsits along that stretch who would be no stranger to a Garda station. O'Devaney gardens are right behind it as well. Have a walk around there in the morning and see what crawls out in the direction of their nearest methadone clinic.

I'm very familiar with it's current state, that's the point of my post, it's a shame. I'd love to see the regeneration of the flats and the DIT campus going ahead. The houses would make lovely family homes if the area had less undesireables around. There is a tipping point when more families move in that crime and anti social behavior becomes less tolerated.

Moomat

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

O'Connell street. It should be Dublins premier street with its location, history and public transport links. Its got some fantastic architecture to boot.

Sadly, its an embarrassing disgrace.

I agree, really beautiful street. All traffic should be banned from it apart from public transport and even they should be rooted around it if possible. I know we don't get the weather but there has to be some use for that central pathway, market, food stalls, exhibitions etc...
The crime problem should be addressed NYC zero tolerance style. Every capital will have a drug and crime problem but for it be allowed flourish in the heart of the city centre is shameful.

terryhobdell

Must agree about North Circular. Very hard to see why it isn't right. Rathmines had dodgy flats and plenty of undesirables but is a fabulous place.Plenty of real kips in London and New York have become trendy. Maybe it's a lack of Students and Grangegorman will solve it. Houses are fab.

whiskeyman

D'Olier St... Westmoreland St.
So many in the city itself that are just filthy and run down.

Pro Hoc Vice

Henrietta Street, could be an amazing street.

stevensi

I have to agree with the North Circular road. Everytime I pass it I think what a lovely looking area with the tree's and those fantastic red bricked houses. But then you see what comes of those places and it changes your view very quickly. I can't believe the amount of flags and bedsheets people use as curtains in that area

Moomat

whiskeyman wrote: »

D'Olier St... Westmoreland St.
So many in the city itself that are just filthy and run down.

It's only when you look above the shop fronts that you realise how magnificent those buildings are.

Moomat

infosys wrote: »

Henrietta Street, could be an amazing street.

It would be great to see all of Georgian Dublin returned to homes, be it houses or quality apartments sympathetic to the building. Streets like Henrietta St have so much character.

Arbiter of Good Taste

Agree totally with that part of NCR. In theory it should be the Central Park West of Dublin. Instead it's a drug infested kip.

Moomat

stevensi wrote: »

I have to agree with the North Circular road. Everytime I pass it I think what a lovely looking area with the tree's and those fantastic red bricked houses. But then you see what comes of those places and it changes your view very quickly. I can't believe the amount of flags and bedsheets people use as curtains in that area

God knows what the beds are like if the sheets are on the windows, I'd say they'd make a run for it if they had a chance!

I'd imagine the area was considered luxury suburban livinig in it's prime.

AsianDub

I've always thought that about the NCR too. The houses are mansions. You can see the former grandeur. Has to be said for a lot of the north city centre. Streets like North Great Charles Street, Lower Sherrard Street and Blessington Street to name but a few. North Great George's Street is a fine example of what could be achieved.
Pisses me of that when the economy was good apartments were thrown up all over Dublin instead of renovating these houses into quality dwellings like in Edinburgh. Instead they are horrible bedsits or left to rot. :mad:

Moomat

AsianDub wrote: »

I've always thought that about the NCR too. The houses are mansions. You can see the former grandeur. Has to be said for a lot of the north city centre. Streets like North Great Charles Street, Lower Sherrard Street and Blessington Street to name but a few. North Great George's Street is a fine example of what could be achieved.
Pisses me of that when the economy was good apartments were thrown up all over Dublin instead of renovating these houses into quality dwellings like in Edinburgh. Instead they are horrible bedsits or left to rot. :mad:

Was there some sort of regeneration programme in Edinburgh?

mosi

AFAIK, what's left of O'Devaney Gardens is going to be flattened. I'm not sure where the residents are being moved to though. There's some other dodgy spots just in the vicinity though. Some of the finest houses look directly on to Drumalee estate at Hanlons Corner while McKee Park on nearby Blackhorse Avenue has a bit of a reputation as well.
It's a disgrace how the houses have been let go so badly and agree that it would be great to see the area transformed into a proper residential street. What's needed is for families to buy these houses and turn them into family homes. It's a bit of a Catch 22 though, as I guess a lot of families would be put off by the amount of zombies living along there. At the very least, some of the larger houses could possibly be turned into high quality apartments (one per floor or something).

LeBash

I live on the NCR and there is a huge amount of exageration here. The area could look amazing with a bit of work.

In my 11 years the only real trouble comes from a well known pub/club on the Phibsboro Road. Generally when there is GAA on.

The St Peters part is very quiet with the execption of 1 particular group of people that have been placed there by the hse in the last year. The Park end looks in a shocking state but its not a bad area. I walk the lenght of the road every night and have never been bothered.

It would be amazing to see the buildings restored and the path and roads get a little touch up.

Moomat

mosi wrote: »

Some of the finest houses look directly on to Drumalee estate

It's a disgrace how the houses have been let go so badly and agree that it would be great to see the area transformed into a proper residential street. What's needed is for families to buy these houses and turn them into family homes.

Those 3 storey houses overlooking Drumalee are something else, amazing value.http://www.daft.ie/searchsale.daft?id=706215

I suppose if families move in eventually house prices go up and the current landlords have to weigh up whether it's better to rent out bedsits or make a profit selling the whole building. At the moment it would seem there's a much bigger gain in the bedsits.

Moomat

LeBash wrote: »

I live on the NCR and there is a huge amount of exageration here. The area could look amazing with a bit of work.

In my 11 years the only real trouble comes from a well known pub/club on the Phibsboro Road. Generally when there is GAA on.

The St Peters part is very quiet with the execption of 1 particular group of people that have been placed there by the hse in the last year. The Park end looks in a shocking state but its not a bad area. I walk the lenght of the road every night and have never been bothered.

It would be amazing to see the buildings restored and the path and roads get a little touch up.

I'm sure it's relatively safe, I do be up and down it on a regular basis too and never saw anything amiss. It's the use of the buildings and their appearance on the park end that drew my attention. There's so much potential.

Shedite27

It's a lovely area alright. The Green Luas extension should enhance the area too, making it very accessible to the Stephens green area. There's a huge immigrant population in the area though. Not sure that's the type that are likely to make family homes out of those houses.

Moomat

Shedite27 wrote: »

It's a lovely area alright. The Green Luas extension should enhance the area too, making it very accessible to the Stephens green area. There's a huge immigrant population in the area though. Not sure that's the type that are likely to make family homes out of those houses.

I think when areas undergo gentrification it can be seen as displacing local communities. In this case I'd imagine due to the nature of the buildings been bedsits that the dwellers are transient and there wouldn't be much displacement or pricing people out of the market.
Maybe that's a wrong assumption by me but they're bedsits as long as I can remember.

Ben D Bus

Thomas Street.

It's on a tourist line from Trinity College > Temple Bar > Christchurch/ St Patricks > Guinness > Kilmainham

It has the NCAD and is adjacent to the Digital Hub. In many ways it's a thriving area but unfortunately looks quite run down.

Edited to add Vicar St as another Thomas St destination. Plus the antique shops of Francis St.

Moomat

Ben D Bus wrote: »

Thomas Street.

It's on a tourist line from Trinity College > Temple Bar > Christchurch/ St Patricks > Guinness > Kilmainham

It has the NCAD and is adjacent to the Digital Hub. In many ways it's a thriving area but unfortunately looks quite run down.

Thomas St/James St is certainly prime for development. The digital hub have discreetly developed alot of buildings there. There seems to be much less drug addicts hanging around compared to 2 or 3 years ago.

They could have a great tourist cycling route if the had secure parking stations along that route Trinity College > Temple Bar > Christchurch/ St Patricks > Guinness > Kilmainham>Museum of Modern Art>Mermorial Park>Phoenix Park>National Museum>Jameson/Smithfield

They'd also need to physically separate the cycle path from traffic the way they have at the Grand Canal around Ballsbridge.

AsianDub

Moomat wrote: »

Was there some sort of regeneration programme in Edinburgh?

Not that I'm aware of but when visiting friends they live in nice apartments in houses in Old Town.

Moomat

AsianDub wrote: »

Not that I'm aware of but when visiting friends they live in nice apartments in houses in Old Town.

Didn't know about their designated Old Town. Just googled it there. Seems like they take great pride in it. Looks very well, developed and renovated sympathetically.

NoCrackHaving

AsianDub wrote: »

Not that I'm aware of but when visiting friends they live in nice apartments in houses in Old Town.

It's not quite as great as is made out. As an Edinburgh resident you couldn't pay me to live in the Old Town, single glazed windows in very badly insulated buildings (due to their age) in Scotland....in winter....on top of hill with gusts rolling in off the North Sea, not that comfortable really.

enda1

Pearse Street is another bleak boring place with great potential.
Trinity have mostly ruined the Western End and then there's no-man's land until the lovely Pearse Square.

AsianDub

NoCrackHaving wrote: »

It's not quite as great as is made out. As an Edinburgh resident you couldn't pay me to live in the Old Town, single glazed windows in very badly insulated buildings (due to their age) in Scotland....in winter....on top of hill with gusts rolling in off the North Sea, not that comfortable really.

I've never visited in the winter.
As a resident, you would know better than I

Shedite27

Some of the council flats locations in D2 is very underused. They'd be excellent places for young professionals to rent as apartments, or as Trinity student accomodation.

Tom Kelly Flats (Charlemont Street)
Digges Street Flats (Wexford Street)
Cuffee Street Flats (Wexford Street)

Moomat

enda1 wrote: »

Pearse Street is another bleak boring place with great potential.
Trinity have mostly ruined the Western End and then there's no-man's land until the lovely Pearse Square.

Why do you see Trinity as ruining Pearse St? My family is from Pearse St and I went to school in Westland Row and can't rember anything except wasteland where they have developed.

Pearse Square is a little hidden gem!

enda1

Moomat wrote: »

Why do you see Trinity as ruining Pearse St? My family is from Pearse St and I went to school in Westland Row and can't rember anything except wasteland where they have developed.

Pearse Square is a little hidden gem!

I mean the way the buildings along Pearse Street that TCD occupies are just façades to an inwards facing site. It's a pity they don't serve a purpose to the street itself

Moomat

enda1 wrote: »

I mean the way the buildings along Pearse Street that TCD occupies are just façades to an inwards facing site. It's a pity they don't serve a purpose to the street itself

Do you mean between the bridge and the garda station?

enda1

Yes

Moomat

enda1 wrote: »

Yes

I forgot about them mostly because they are forgetable! I thought you were referring to the new buildings close to Westland Row. Combined with the development happening on the Ringsend end it will hopefully someday include all of the street.

whiskeyman

Shedite27 wrote: »

Tom Kelly Flats (Charlemont Street)

I think these are currently being torn down

miamee

whiskeyman wrote: »

I think these are currently being torn down

I think you're right, there are some photos here: http://comeheretome.com/2014/01/23/the-beginning-of-the-end-for-charlemont-street-flats-part-ii/

ronnie3585

terryhobdell wrote: »

Rathmines had dodgy flats and plenty of undesirables but is a fabulous place..

Rathmines.....fabulous.....really??

Flimbos

Moomat wrote: »

I think the North Circular Road from Hanlons Corner to the Phoenix Park Gate is fantastic. It has many of the ingredients to be a really desirable area. Close to city centre, tree lined route to the Phoenix park which is on your doorstep, Hueston station and luas close, short hop to N4/N3 and M50 and really magnificent houses. I love the way the Wellington monument is centred in your view as you head down towards the gates.
It's a shame to see so many of the houses dilapidated and abandoned. They would make such beautiful family homes. Hopefully there is some significant regeneration in the area soon.

Does anybody know anything of it's former glory?

Thanks for pointing this area out, OP. I'm up and down this stretch of road regularly, I haven't encountered any anti-social behaviour, but it is a shame that a once great residential area is in a such a bad state today.

A lot of the buildings are obviously divided into flats and bedsits, but I remember seeing a few nicely decorated houses at Christmas that looked like they were being used as family homes.

I've seen one or two houses recently with the "Sold" sign up and with renovations happening, so that's encouraging. Maybe gradually over time, the area can be improved.

Cool Mo D

As well as Thomas Street, the area around Christchurch and Clanbrassil street up to St. Patricks Cathedral is a pretty drab dual carriageway for the most part, when it could be so much more.

The area around Tara Street, Hawkins street and Townsend st. is also pretty grim - plenty of horrible office blocks and empty sites, and despite being located right next to one of the cities busiest train stations, with 10's of thousands of people walking by every day, there is almost no streetlife or reason to hang around the area.

terryhobdell

ronnie3585 wrote: »

Rathmines.....fabulous.....really??

Well it's done my wife for 60 years me for 40 brought up 4 kids. great schools good parks great amenities vibrant what's it's
problem?

AsianDub

Moomat wrote: »

Thomas St/James St is certainly prime for development. The digital hub have discreetly developed alot of buildings there. There seems to be much less drug addicts hanging around compared to 2 or 3 years ago.

They could have a great tourist cycling route if the had secure parking stations along that route Trinity College > Temple Bar > Christchurch/ St Patricks > Guinness > Kilmainham>Museum of Modern Art>Mermorial Park>Phoenix Park>National Museum>Jameson/Smithfield

They'd also need to physically separate the cycle path from traffic the way they have at the Grand Canal around Ballsbridge.

I really wish something was done with the Iveagh Market on Francis Street. It's a fantastic building that could be turned into something like the English Market in Cork.

AsianDub

Moss Street, Gloucester Street South and City Quay in general is a pretty rundown area with potential. Also around Britain Quay where the U2 Tower has been put on hold is a wasted space at the moment.

Ben D Bus

AsianDub wrote: »

Moss Street, Gloucester Street South and City Quay in general is a pretty rundown area with potential.

That must be one of the best sites in Dublin for an office development. I can't see it staying vacant for long as the economy picks up.

terryhobdell

ronnie3585 wrote: »

Rathmines.....fabulous.....really??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LME0vzb_dlQ

Rathmines one of the five best places to live in Ireland according to the Irish Times.

Flimbos

Aldborough House on Portland Row was probably the last great Georgian mansion to be built in Dublin, but it has been allowed to fall into a terrible condition in recent years.

Moomat

Flimbos wrote: »

Aldborough House on Portland Row was probably the last great Georgian mansion to be built in Dublin, but it has been allowed to fall into a terrible condition in recent years.

I often wondered about that building, it's amazing. What a disgrace.

anncoates

Moomat wrote: »

I think the North Circular Road from Hanlons Corner to the Phoenix Park Gate is fantastic. It has many of the ingredients to be a really desirable area. Close to city centre, tree lined route to the Phoenix park which is on your doorstep, Hueston station and luas close, short hop to N4/N3 and M50 and really magnificent houses. I love the way the Wellington monument is centred in your view as you head down towards the gates.
?

O' Devaney Gardens is right behind it? :pac:

Moomat

Flimbos wrote: »

I remember seeing a few nicely decorated houses at Christmas that looked like they were being used as family homes.

I've seen one or two houses recently with the "Sold" sign up and with renovations happening, so that's encouraging. Maybe gradually over time, the area can be improved.

Close to the junction at Drumalee there seems to be a couple occupied as family home.

There was lots of activity there with houses for sale last year, especially close to the park gate. I hope they do something nice rather then tiny bedsits. I noticed in Inchicore there were a few houses that were bought containing bedsits, stripped out, renovated and returned to family home. They now look fantastic.

Moomat

anncoates wrote: »

O' Devaney Gardens is right behind it? :pac:

It is but I'd hope in the next few years that some transformation of that area will happen. It's unlikely to remain a waste land forever considering it's location and future demand for housing.

Moomat

AsianDub wrote: »

Moss Street, Gloucester Street South and City Quay in general is a pretty rundown area with potential. Also around Britain Quay where the U2 Tower has been put on hold is a wasted space at the moment.

The Silicone Docks effect might work it's way down there eventually!

AsianDub

Flimbos wrote: »

Aldborough House on Portland Row was probably the last great Georgian mansion to be built in Dublin, but it has been allowed to fall into a terrible condition in recent years.

Moomat wrote: »

I often wondered about that building, it's amazing. What a disgrace.

An absolute disgrace. Used to pass it all the time years ago and each year it got worse.
The front door at one stage was wide open along with the top windows with rain getting in. Glad to see it's somewhat more secure now but it's still in an awful state. :mad: