House Hunting- Area review- HELP NEEDED

questions007

Okay guys,

So house hunting is on full swing and instead of asking you about a new area in different thread, I thought of asking a review of the areas here.

Mostly, I'm looking around Dublin 8 as it is close to the city centre (if not the city centre).

The areas in question so far are:

1. Francis Street, D8
2. Island Key, East Wall
3. Deverell Place, Gardenier Street
4. Park, The Ranch, Inchicore
5. Wintergarden, D2

Basically, I just want to avoid any unpleasant experience because I have already been through one. Although it was w.r.t. my landlord. In this case, I want to be sure of area as well. And, I don't have too much knowledge of areas in Dublin because in my time here I have stayed mostly in South Dublin.

It is only now that when I started looking for places and then, googling them... it has come to my knowledge that some people have particularly negative reviews about some areas as they are unsafe. And, like anyone else I wouldn't wanna be in an unsafe area.

So, please guide.

As if the house hunt isn't hard enough, and the timeline short. Im really worried about this aspect too.

Freddiestar

Lived in Kilmainham for 3 years near the Gaol, only trouble I had was scumbags breaking into the carpark of the apartment block and smashing up every car there (over 80 in total), great spot otherwise.
Wouldn't be mad on most parts of Inchicore, ok to pop in to the shops but f*ck would I live there

questions007

Freddiestar wrote: »

Lived in Kilmainham for 3 years near the Gaol, only trouble I had was scumbags breaking into the carpark of the apartment block and smashing up every car there (over 80 in total), great spot otherwise.
Wouldn't be mad on most parts of Inchicore, ok to pop in to the shops but f*ck would I live there

Wow. So, this doesn't sound so great.

Safe to say that you'd recommend City Centre/D1,D2 over Inchicore? Or are they similar?

Freddiestar

questions007 wrote: »

Wow. So, this doesn't sound so great.

Safe to say that you'd recommend City Centre/D1,D2 over Inchicore? Or are they similar?

All depends on budget, I'd recommend the North or South Quays near IFSC, Bord Gais theater areas. Smithfield in D7 is ok too.

MadDog76

1. Francis Street, D8 ....... totally fine.
2. Island Key, East Wall ........ definitely no.
3. Deverell Place, Gardenier Street ....... absolutely definitely no.
4. Park, The Ranch, Inchicore ........ not bad but still a no.
5. Wintergarden, D2 ....... no.

questions007

MadDog76 wrote: »

1. Francis Street, D8 ....... totally fine.
2. Island Key, East Wall ........ definitely no.
3. Deverell Place, Gardenier Street ....... absolutely definitely no.
4. Park, The Ranch, Inchicore ........ not bad but still a no.
5. Wintergarden, D2 ....... no.

Hi thanks a lot. But could you please shed some light on wintergarden? The house seems quite nice and kind of close to the grand canal dock if I'm not wrong.

And good to know about Francis Street.

MadDog76

questions007 wrote: »

Hi thanks a lot. But could you please shed some light on wintergarden? The house seems quite nice and kind of close to the grand canal dock if I'm not wrong.

And good to know about Francis Street.

My concern about WinterGarden is it's close proximity to Pearse Street, Pearse House etc. ........ I don't want to overly bash any particular area so I'll just say that I wouldn't advise anybody to live near there before doing some research.

questions007

MadDog76 wrote: »

My concern about WinterGarden is it's close proximity to Pearse Street, Pearse House etc. ........ I don't want to overly bash any particular area so I'll just say that I wouldn't advise anybody to live near there before doing some research.

Yes. Hence, Im asking here.

Because to be honest I'm quite new to Dublin. And not only the housing situation is freaking me out but it is quite shocking to know now how many of the areas are considered unsafe.

Therefore, all the more difficult to find something. But surely, I do not want to get something in an unsafe place.

So, from your answer I'm guessing that Pearse Street is a problem. I'll try to google it. But it is quite hard to find any answers. If lucky enough, there is usually a Boards.Ie thread on the area. Otherwise, it is just difficult to understand.

For instance if one wants to say close to their workplace located in the city centre.

Truly worried.

MadDog76

questions007 wrote: »

Yes. Hence, Im asking here.

Because to be honest I'm quite new to Dublin. And not only the housing situation is freaking me out but it is quite shocking to know now how many of the areas are considered unsafe.

Therefore, all the more difficult to find something. But surely, I do not want to get something in an unsafe place.

So, from your answer I'm guessing that Pearse Street is a problem. I'll try to google it. But it is quite hard to find any answers. If lucky enough, there is usually a Boards.Ie thread on the area. Otherwise, it is just difficult to understand.

For instance if one wants to say close to their workplace located in the city centre.

Truly worried.

Dublin, in general, is quite a safe city in comparison to most capital cities throughout Europe and the rest of the World ......... a lot will depend on your own life experiences, where you're from originally and age etc.
So I don't think you need to be absolutely terrified to live anywhere in Dublin but obviously you want the nicest possible area in the most convenient location for you.

May I ask where you're from originally, how old you are, are you male or female and where you workplace is located .......... general answers of course.

questions007

MadDog76 wrote: »

Dublin, in general, is quite a safe city in comparison to most capital cities throughout Europe and the rest of the World ......... a lot will depend on your own life experiences, where you're from originally and age etc.
So I don't think you need to be absolutely terrified to live anywhere in Dublin but obviously you want the nicest possible area in the most convenient location for you.

May I ask where you're from originally, how old you are, are you male or female and where you workplace is located .......... general answers of course.

Well, actually we are a couple in our mid-20s .... and my boyfriend would like to live close to Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay area... preferably around 30 mins of commute. Not more than that. He's from Germany and I'm from Asia.

Thing is that... ever since I started looking up adverts on daft and generally checking reviews of areas so mostly I found negative things in the areas that I was finding houses. To be honest, I was quite surprised by it. As I agree that Dublin seems to be quite safe as such.

Mostly everything seems to come up in the Dublin 8 region in my house hunt right now, which has luas or a commuting is possible by a single bus.

Like you said, my bf too says that no area is perfect. But since I have the task of hunting the right place. I don't want to end up making a bad decision. Such that every time Im walking home from work or he is ... I'm afraid about our safety all the time.

Then again, Ive been reading mixed reviews. For example, I read decent review for Kilmainham area first and then, someone told me about people breaking mirrors of the car.

So, I don't know.

I wonder if then, if going for a gated society then is a better option?

Basically, I want to avoid completely no-no areas. If there are any.
Like, I'm just trying to take precautions from my side for no nuisance living as far as possible.

OldBean

Dublin is mostly fine. It's all too easy to read a collective of bad reviews for an area that consist of less than 10% of the people that live/pass through there, and doesn't take into consideration people that don't use common sense while living in a city.

The areas you mention are generally old working class areas near, if not the city centre. You'll probably come across some drug use, homelessness, anti social behaviour, etc

I lived in Inchicore for a year and found it grand. Rough round the edges but never any hassle. I wouldn't/couldn't recommend Gardiner St; it's too much of the city centre for me.

Francis St is a mixed bag, but mostly ok. There's some lovely streets off it, but quite a lot of drug use nearby, as well as clinics and hostels.

Have you looked at Stoneybatter? Or Smithfield? Both less than 20 minutes on the Luas to Spencer Dock.

Sunnyisland

Or looked at kimainham or mount brown,islandbridge or Cunningham road.

Sala

I work near Francis street. There's a lot of clinics, drug addicts and drunks around, but on the other hand there's a lot of professionals working in the area, street traders selling everything and some nice cafes etc on Thomas street - it's a bit of a mixed bag type of area. Fair enough I don't live here but I was warned it was a bit dodgy when I started 2 years ago and never had an ounce of trouble.

Peig Sayers

The Ranch is not in Inchicore, it's in Ballyfermot!

MadDog76

Sala wrote: »

I work near Francis street. There's a lot of clinics, drug addicts and drunks around, but on the other hand there's a lot of professionals working in the area, street traders selling everything and some nice cafes etc on Thomas street - it's a bit of a mixed bag type of area. Fair enough I don't live here but I was warned it was a bit dodgy when I started 2 years ago and never had an ounce of trouble.

There's no "clinics" on Francis Street .......... I know Francis Street and the surrounding area extremely well, you will see the same amount of drug addicts and/or drunks on Francis Street as you're likely to see on any street, no more or less tbh. It was quite bad in throughout the 90's but (from the list the Op provided) it's the only area I would recommend now.

Op you mentioned no longer than a 30 min commute to Spencer Dock so that opens up almost anywhere along the Red Luas line.

questions007

realies wrote: »

Or looked at kimainham or mount brown,islandbridge or Cunningham road.

So Kilmainham is fine you'd say?

questions007

MadDog76 wrote: »

There's no "clinics" on Francis Street .......... I know Francis Street and the surrounding area extremely well, you will see the same amount of drug addicts and/or drunks on Francis Street as you're likely to see on any street, no more or less tbh. It was quite bad in throughout the 90's but (from the list the Op provided) it's the only area I would recommend now.

Op you mentioned no longer than a 30 min commute to Spencer Dock so that opens up almost anywhere along the Red Luas line.

Thank you so much.

retalivity

I live in Kilmainham in a gated apartment block...its grand. Quiet area, lots of families, close to spar and super valu and a few pubs about, 5 mins to luas, even less to the bus and you're in dame st in 10 mins.
Only issue here since we arrived was that someone got into the bike cage in the underground carpark and stole a bike. Landlors is thinking of sellinh and tbh if I had the money id think about buying

questions007

retalivity wrote: »

I live in Kilmainham in a gated apartment block...its grand. Quiet area, lots of families, close to spar and super valu and a few pubs about, 5 mins to luas, even less to the bus and you're in dame st in 10 mins.
Only issue here since we arrived was that someone got into the bike cage in the underground carpark and stole a bike. Landlors is thinking of sellinh and tbh if I had the money id think about buying

Ahh great to know about this.

Any idea about Grand Canal View in Kilmainham in particular?

MarkAnthony

As I'm fond of saying D8 is home to the best and worst areas of Dublin. I know of at least one Supreme Court Judge and one retired Irish ambassador living on the SCR. Anywhere in Dublin is going to be a stones throw from very nice safe area to places you wouldn't let your Dog live - D8 is a microcosm of that.

Visit the areas at different parts of the day and night, personally I loved Dublin 8 (most of it) even some of the rougher areas.

My best mate lives in Inchicore - it's a bit knackertastic at times but nothing to get your knickers in a twist about, but as was well said above it really depends on what your personal tolerance is.

retalivity

Think its fine, haven't heard anything bad about it. Its right at the luas stop as well

FloatingVoter

Dublin 8 as well here. Off Cork Street and within 10 -15 minutes walk of Francis St / Thomas St. It's an inner city location with all that this will bring you in any city. Walking distance of town centre, close to Luas (about 5 minutes away), visible drunk people near pubs (:eek:), Catholics near churches, and multiple shopping choices. It is not a land of drive-by shootings or some sort of mythical junkie HQ. And it isn't Beverly Hills.
As someone who did live in a gated "community" once (in Christchurch, D2 and Hamilton, Ontario) - all those lovely empty apartments make for lovely targets for any thief smart enough to get around a keycode with a spot of patience and a smile.

Sala

I didn't say there are clinics on Francis street but there are two close by. As I said I work near there and have never had trouble.

I do think there are quite a lot of drug addicts and people drinking on the streets in the general area through.

spurious

Sala wrote: »

I do think there are quite a lot of drug addicts and people drinking on the streets in the general area through.

The same could be said of almost anywhere within the canals.

questions007

Gosh, this is pretty hard. Just as hard as I had heard so much about the house hunting situation in Dublin, if not more.

Now, I am trying to look towards Stoneybatter as suggested by some people on the thread.

All the inputs have been really, really very helpful. So, thanks to all.

The hunt continues...

MarkAnthony

questions007 wrote: »

Gosh, this is pretty hard. Just as hard as I had heard so much about the house hunting situation in Dublin, if not more.

Now, I am trying to look towards Stoneybatter as suggested by some people on the thread.

All the inputs have been really, really very helpful. So, thanks to all.

The hunt continues...

Stoneybatter is hipstertown. It's very nice IMHO but you will see drunks, adicts, knackers and feral children, none of which will give you any bother if you don't bother them. It's lively and full of Trinners students. The locals can be very, very welcoming in some of the pubs, in others the pub will go silent when you walk in.

It was also a notorious red light distrct. Now it's all 'Escorts' the internet is a wonderful thing!

Being blunt here Dublin is a rough old town - it's not dangerous but it is rough. If you don't want that it's off South County Dublin with ya!

matrim

MadDog76 wrote: »

My concern about WinterGarden is it's close proximity to Pearse Street, Pearse House etc. ........ I don't want to overly bash any particular area so I'll just say that I wouldn't advise anybody to live near there before doing some research.

Anyone living around there is highly unlikely to run into any issues

MarkAnthony

matrim wrote: »

Anyone living around there is highly unlikely to run into any issues

This is no indicment of the people in the area, but as a 'Dub' once said to me - we know not to **** on our own doorsteps.

donaghs

MadDog76 wrote: »

1. Francis Street, D8 ....... totally fine.
2. Island Key, East Wall ........ definitely no.
3. Deverell Place, Gardenier Street ....... absolutely definitely no.
4. Park, The Ranch, Inchicore ........ not bad but still a no.
5. Wintergarden, D2 ....... no.

I'd take the Wintergarden over any of them. Maybe in the 80s, early 90s Ringsend and Pearse St were seen as being a bit dodgy. Still some old Corpo flats there but times have moved on and its changed a lot. Prices should reflect that. I would have thought it would be more expensive than the other locations you mention?
Advantages here being close to town but still close to nice amenities like Sandymount Strand and the rest of south coastal Dublin.

My problem with Francis St would be its proximity to Thomas Street. Its fine passing through, but if you have to live there you'll eventually run into plenty of local "characters".

But you mention you are in a hurry? Buying property is definitely not something to rush into.

Nothing like having a walk around each area on a Friday evening. See how local people, kids especially, react to new faces. Imagine yourself living there, day-after-day!

MadDog76 wrote: »

There's no "clinics" on Francis Street .......... I know Francis Street and the surrounding area extremely well, you will see the same amount of drug addicts and/or drunks on Francis Street as you're likely to see on any street, no more or less tbh. It was quite bad in throughout the 90's but (from the list the Op provided) it's the only area I would recommend now.

Sorry, but that "you get that everywhere" stuff just isn't true. Recently I used Francis St as part of a cycle commute and regularly saw people lying around drunk. In fact I would bet money that's theres people drinking at some point this afternoon or evening behind the Iveagh Markets near Lamb Alley. On the other hand, I've lived in many parts of Dublin (Rathmines, Kilbarrack, Blancharstown etc) and have never seen someone on my street passed out drunk or sitting on kerb drinking.

MarkAnthony

donaghs wrote: »

Nothing like having a walk around each area on a Friday evening. See how local people, kids especially, react to new faces. Imagine yourself living there, day-after-day!

An excellent piece of advice - another good thing to do is check with the security of local shops, ask local butchers, hardware store owners that sort of thing.

Funny you should mention kids and Kilbarrack, one on the things that made me decide to by there was how polite/cheeky the kids were (not the same kid obviously). Challenge a kid on Bridgefoot street (D8) and they'll either run or get aggressive. Another one is are kids about at 11pm at night?

spurious

Wondering why Deverell place was dismissed out of hand? Is it the block of apartments beside the entrance to Marlborough Street school, or are there newer ones further down the lane?
Location wise, it's fantastic and removed from the areas where the local gentlemen like to hang out at night.

MadDog76

donaghs wrote: »

I'd take the Wintergarden over any of them. Maybe in the 80s, early 90s Ringsend and Pearse St were seen as being a bit dodgy. Still some old Corpo flats there but times have moved on and its changed a lot. Prices should reflect that. I would have thought it would be more expensive than the other locations you mention?
Advantages here being close to town but still close to nice amenities like Sandymount Strand and the rest of south coastal Dublin.

My problem with Francis St would be its proximity to Thomas Street. Its fine passing through, but if you have to live there you'll eventually run into plenty of local "characters".

But you mention you are in a hurry? Buying property is definitely not something to rush into.

Nothing like having a walk around each area on a Friday evening. See how local people, kids especially, react to new faces. Imagine yourself living there, day-after-day!



Sorry, but that "you get that everywhere" stuff just isn't true. Recently I used Francis St as part of a cycle commute and regularly saw people lying around drunk. In fact I would bet money that's theres people drinking at some point this afternoon or evening behind the Iveagh Markets near Lamb Alley. On the other hand, I've lived in many parts of Dublin (Rathmines, Kilbarrack, Blancharstown etc) and have never seen someone on my street passed out drunk or sitting on kerb drinking.

I think you've gotten yourself a bit confused ......... I'm not the Op, I'm not looking to buy/rent in the city centre at all.

Having said that, I did grow up in Dublin 8 and I know Francis Street particularly well .......... I actually know most of the city centre very well as I've lived (or lived close by) in most of the areas the Op mentioned throughout my 20's and still have family/friends in these areas so am regularly there ........ and as a result I've "walked around" these areas on a Friday evening as well having lived there "day-after-day" so I can say with some confidence that Wintergarden wouldn't be at the top of my list to live in/nearby.

Also, I never said "you get that everywhere" so again you are mistaken ........ but on the point of there being drunks and/or drug users "lying" around Dublin 8 I will say, yes, that can be true .......... however it's also true of Dublin 1, 2, 4, 7 and most of Dublin in fact just as it's true for London, Paris, Rome etc.

I'll reiterate my point to the OP ......... Dublin, in comparison to it's European counterparts, is quite a safe/friendly city and you would be very unlucky (or stupidly put yourself in harm's way) to actually encounter any major problems wherever you choose to live ......... out of the Op's list I would take Francis Street over East Wall, Inchicore (depending on the particular street), Gardener Street or Wintergarden.

My order of preference would be Francis Street, Inchicore, Wintergarden, East Wall then Gardener Street.

p17s82

Sorry for raising an old post, but what's so wrong with the Iskand Key, D3? Was there on the viewing today aroud 6-6:30 PM, looks pretty quiet, many shops around, close to trains/buses/city center. No pubs around though.

yer man!

p17s82 wrote: »

Sorry for raising an old post, but what's so wrong with the Iskand Key, D3? Was there on the viewing today aroud 6-6:30 PM, looks pretty quiet, many shops around, close to trains/buses/city center. No pubs around though.

Mixed bag really, lived there for half a year. Its very handy for proximity to the city but I had a vehicle stolen on me and some run ins with feral children where I got fireworks launched at my face. Other than that it was fine but I did decide to move out of there for this reason.

p17s82

yer man! wrote: »

Mixed bag really, lived there for half a year. Its very handy for proximity to the city but I had a vehicle stolen on me and some run ins with feral children where I got fireworks launched at my face. Other than that it was fine but I did decide to move out of there for this reason.

Thanks, based on that and other area reviews decided to investigate more on East part of Drumcondra instead.