Wednesday, December 18, 2024

TD sent the wrong letter to try to block Harry Crosbie’s new Vicar Street hotel

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The appeals board invalidated the appeal after appellant and newly elected Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South-Central, Máire Devine, enclosed the incorrect Dublin City Council procedural letter with the appeal.

Instead of enclosing the council’s acknowledgement of her objection, Ms Devine’s appeal enclosed the council letter confirming that planning permission had been granted.

“It was a stupid thing, a silly mistake to make but it is very petty to invalidate an appeal for such a reason. The rules need to be revised,” Ms Devine said.

The TD said she was devastated that her appeal was invalidated.

“It is one battle lost, but not the war,” she said. “This wonderful community of the Liberties will stand firm – their vision for their community must be respected and supported.

“The very essence of what makes the Liberties a place apart must be recognised and treasured.”

Sinn Féin’s Máire Devine. Photo: Collins

Mr Crosbie has insisted the area needs another hotel.

“If you walk up Thomas Street on a night when Vicar Street is closed, it is like a derelict street,” he said. “It is threatening and dark and unwelcome. What the area needs more than anything is people moving around the streets.”

Mr Crosbie said that the objectors to the hotel scheme “keep talking back about the rare auld times”.

“They are gone. What we are doing is bringing life back to the city. That is what I am hoping to do.”

Harry Crosbie’s proposed hotel

Mr Crosbie pointed to his record of delivering the 3Arena, the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, the National Convention Centre and Vicar Street.

“Can you imagine Dublin without those venues?” he said. “I do not understand why people object to modernity when it is done by someone like me who really loves and cares for this city.

“I am not a guy who builds big office towers, takes the money and runs away. What we are building is of a human scale and bringing trade and people back into an area that, in my view, is dying up the laneways off Thomas Street.”

On the timeline for the construction of the hotel, Mr Crosbie said: “We have an advert looking for an investor and an operator and as soon as we get that we are off. Three to four months from now we will be in the ground.”

Today’s News in 90 Seconds – December 6th

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