HEADLESS URBAN EXPRESSION

A REAL DUB STANDING BESIDE ME AT THE TRAM STOP DESCRIBED IT AS THE DOMINICK STREET NIGHTMARE

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I have a suspicion that the whole redevelopment proposal is aspirational – I say this because for decades the City Council has promised that the Social Flats complexes on Dominick Street were to be redeveloped. To be fair the blocks across the street have been demolished and redeveloped but it took decades. In my opinion, the apartments that are current scheduled to be refurbished are in no way suitable.

Dominick Street Lower: A Model for Climate-Resilient Social Housing

In line with Dublin City Council’s ambitious climate action plan, Climate Neutral Dublin 2030, three blocks of flats on Dominick Street Lower are undergoing a deep retrofit. This project aims to showcase how older social housing can be transformed into low-carbon, climate-resilient homes while maintaining high quality and comfort for residents.

More Than Just Bricks and Mortar

This initiative goes beyond simply improving energy efficiency. It’s about creating a sustainable and vibrant community. Here’s how:

“Your Back Garden”: The vacant car park in Dominick Lane is being transformed into a temporary communal garden for residents to enjoy during the retrofit process. This green space provides a much-needed oasis in the urban landscape and fosters a sense of community.

Celebrating Sustainability Through Art: To highlight the project’s commitment to climate action, DCC commissioned a striking mural on the construction hoarding. This vibrant artwork animates the street and raises awareness about sustainable living.

The Mural and Artists

The mural, titled “Dominick Street Dreams”, is a collaborative creation by four talented artists:

Kathrina Rupit: Known for her bold graphic style and vibrant colours, often incorporating elements of nature and fantasy.
Claire Prouvost: A Dublin-based French artist specialising in large-scale murals that celebrate diversity and human connection, with a distinctive Cubist influence.
Friz: A street artist whose work explores themes of social justice and environmentalism, often using stencils and spray paint.
Emily Robyn Archer: An illustrator and muralist with a whimsical style, known for creating playful characters and imaginative scenes.
Together, these artists have produced a captivating mural that reflects the spirit of community, sustainability, and renewal. It’s a testament to Dublin City Council’s commitment to integrating art into urban regeneration projects.

The Original Vision: A Public-Private Partnership

The initial plan for Dominick Street’s regeneration involved a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). This meant the Dublin City Council would collaborate with a private developer to overhaul the entire area, including the social housing flats.

The Developer’s Exit

The private developer involved in the PPP was Bernard McNamara. Unfortunately, his company ran into significant financial difficulties during the Irish property crash in the late 2000s. This led to:

Project Stall: The Dominick Street regeneration project stalled as McNamara’s company struggled.
PPP Collapse: Ultimately, the PPP collapsed, leaving the project in limbo.

The Aftermath and New Approach

Following the collapse of the PPP, Dublin City Council had to reassess its approach to the Dominick Street regeneration. This led to:

Phased Redevelopment: Instead of a single, large-scale project, the Council opted for a phased approach, tackling different parts of Dominick Street separately.  
Focus on Social Housing: The initial focus shifted to redeveloping the social housing complexes on the east side of Dominick Street Lower, which had been vacated due to their poor condition.

New Partnerships: The Council sought new partnerships and funding sources to move forward with the regeneration.
Delays and Challenges

Even with this revised approach, the Dominick Street regeneration faced further delays and challenges:

Funding Constraints: Securing adequate funding for social housing projects remained a challenge in the post-crash economic climate.
Planning and Design: The planning and design process for complex urban regeneration projects can be time-consuming, involving consultations, approvals, and revisions.

Relocating Residents: Finding suitable alternative accommodation for residents of the existing flats was a crucial step that sometimes caused delays.

Current Status

As of now, the east side of Dominick Street Lower has been successfully redeveloped, with new social housing units, a community centre, and commercial spaces. However, the original vision for a comprehensive regeneration of the entire Dominick Street area, including the refurbishment of the remaining flats, remains unfulfilled.   It should be noted that the commercial spaces are vacant.

The Future of Dominick Street Lower Flats

The future of the flats on the west side of Dominick Street Lower remains uncertain. While the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022 mentions their refurbishment, the lack of recent concrete information raises concerns about the timeline and feasibility of this project.

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