Councillors to vote on €1 land deal

CORK’S city manager has moved to diffuse the controversy over a €1 city centre property deal ahead of a crucial vote tonight.

Joe Gavin reacted after three politicians questioned a proposal to sell a 173 square metre plot at 51 Pope’s Quay, acquired by the city council under the derelict sites act, to that property’s owner, developer Sean Keohane for €1.

The proposal sparked controversy at a meeting of the council’s housing committee last Monday night.

Its members recommended the disposal be refused when it comes up for a vote at tonight’s full council meeting.

Labour TD Kathleen Lynch and Labour Cllr Catherine Clancy said the land should remain in city ownership.

Socialist Cllr Mick Barry said the developer should pay more for the site, given the extraordinary prices being paid for city car parking spaces.

Mr Gavin sent a detailed memo to all city councillors outlining the background to the proposal, which dates back to 2002.

“It is important that the members of the city council are in possession of the full facts of the situation in coming to a decision on this matter,” he said.

He presented several extracts of correspondence between the council and Cork Civic Trust, who lease 50 Pope’s Quay, which is a protected site, and the legal representatives of the Dominican Order, which is based next to number 51.

It shows the process to regularise the title of the land outside numbers 50 and 51 was initiated by the Trust.

Director of the Trust, John Miller has also written to councillors explaining his position.

He said the area outside both properties had become a focal point for a variety of anti-social activities.

It was used as an open air urinal, for illegal dumping and as a public defecation space, he said.

“In addition, numerous acts of vandalism were perpetrated on the building, and at least one attempt to set number 50 on fire occurred,” he said.

Council property investigators first met with Mr Miller in 2002 to discuss the area, Mr Gavin’s memo shows.

The possibility of the council acquiring the site, and then disposing of it to the respective property owners, was discussed at this meeting.

A year later, the area had been certified derelict in preparation for perfecting the title.

The council then sought and secured written agreement from all three parties — Cork Civic Trust, Mr Keohane and the Dominican Order — to acquire the site under the derelict sites act.

One of the conditions was that the Dominicans would still have a right-of-way over the land outside number 51.

The process to acquire the site eventually started in February 2005.

Mr Miller said the protection of 50 Pope’s Quay has always been the Trust’s foremost objective.

“In seeking clarification and transfer of title, the enhancement of the building’s protection through the reduction of vandalism and associated activities was and is paramount,” he said.

“The process of clarification and transfer of title was pursued in an open transparent manner, and was agreed by the parties concerned.”

Councillors will be asked to ratify the disposal of the 173sq. m site outside Mr Keohane’s property tonight.

All legal requirements in the process were fully complied with, Mr Gavin’s memo said.

However, Cllr Clancy and Cllr Barry said they haven’t changed their minds and will still vote against the disposal tonight.