Future of James Weir Home for Nurses uncertain as social housing project is axed
The James Weir Home for Nurses in the Liberties will no longer be used for public housing.
Due to a significant increase in development costs, Dublin City Council has confirmed that it cannot “maintain the heritage integrity of this building” and “also deliver long term social housing in a financially viable way.” As a protected structure, the building, located adjacent to a burial ground, only allows for minimal structural intervention, and cannot meet standards of accessibility and energy efficiency without major works.
Sinn Fein Councillor Ciaran O Meachair said the confirmation has “come as a major shock locally.” With “an urgent need to secure more public and affordable homes in Dublin 8,” he called on the council and the HSE to ensure the building is not further neglected.
“The James Weir Home for Nurses is a major historical landmark on Cork Street, which has shamefully fallen into complete decay and dereliction while under the ownership of a public body, the HSE,” Cllr O Meachair stated.
“It is now incumbent on both Dublin City Council and the HSE to find a suitable alternative public or community use for this building. Dublin 8 is crying out for community spaces. If we can’t use this building for housing, then the next best thing is to still ensure the community can get some use from it.”
Cllr O Meachair will be bringing an emergency motion to the upcoming January South Central Area Committee asking that the council engage with stakeholders and stress that “now is the time” to act. He expressed concern that the building will be allowed to fall into further disrepair before “it gets so bad it cannot be used for anything.”
Liberties residents were hopeful the site would act as much needed social housing that could be potentially ringfenced for medical workers who serve the surrounding area in facilities like The Coombe Hospital, St James, and the still under construction New Children's Hospital . However, now that costs have been deemed too significant, Cllr O Meachair wants to ensure that, at the very least, the building can serve some community use.
He explained there are so many youth projects in the area that don’t have enough access to appropriate spaces and are forced to rent off the private market. Cllr O Meachair said whatever happens should be “done in consultation with the local community.”
As an area already in danger of losing its unique cultural heritage , Cllr O Meachair explained that the planned social housing was a major project in providing for locals who have been consistently priced out of the area through the proliferation of hotels and student accommodation. “It was something that had been expected for several years. And for the council to say that now it's not happening is quite disappointing,” he said.
“We need more housing in the area, but as the population increases over the next few years that also has to be matched with facilities for people. There needs to be proper community facilities, there's an issue around lack of sports facilities and pitches, so it can still complement the need for more housing to get a space up that serves the needs of the local community.”
“There’s already a lot of dereliction in the Liberties,” Cllr O Meachair said, stating he’d hate to see the council and HSE “turn around in five or 10 years” and say they are selling it “to develop a hotel.” “It has happened right across Dublin 8 over the last few years where places are allowed to fall into dereliction and to decay to the point that they're just kind of sold off to the lowest bidder,” he said.
“The building is under public ownership and it should stay under public ownership for the benefit of the public and the community. Now is the time to keep the ball rolling on it and make sure that it doesn't slip off the radar and slip off of the agenda because otherwise nothing will ever happen.”
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