Future’s bright for grey building

HAPPIER days beckon for the Grey Building - the former Our Lady’s Hospital building in Cork city, for many years the longest edifice in the country, has been rehabilitated.

With 33 apartments in one third of the striking Gothic-style building going on the market today, its new occupants will be committed purchasers.

And, despite the 150-year-old former psychiatric hospital building’s sometimes gloomy and sad past, a visit at an open sales day today is likely to show that a new generation here will look forwards, not backwards.

Competitive pricing, from €141,000 through €156,000 and up to and over €300,000, along with the fact many of the apartments have distinctive interiors, traces of original features and a full-southerly aspect and river views, will sway possible buyers.

“Since we started building the first blocks of new apartments up here there have been people asking ‘when are the apartments in the old building going to go on sale?’” said Darragh Taaffe of Keane Mahony Smith.

Given the uniqueness of the building and the site on the edge of the city, overlooking the western suburbs, the Lee and the County Hall, he is hoping for a ‘Canary Wharf-type’ sell-out.

“We are on site Saturday, people can come in, look around, decide which apartment they want, and if they want it, we’ll put a sold sign on the door and close it there and then."

The 33 apartments in the landmark building are spread over three levels, and are just short of ready to move into condition.

Units are painted white and are bright, ready for individual touches: floors are plywood, ready for buyers to decide on laminate or wood flooring or other finishes.

Basic kitchens are in place and bathrooms have standard fittings with oak panels, and some buyers may choose to up the standard further.

Many buyers will look to the high 10’ ceilings, the original leaded-style steel windows to the front and the views beyond.

Designed by architect William Atkins, the so-called Grey Building was opened in 1853 as the District Lunatic Asylum on a site chosen for the therapeutic brightness of its aspect.

It was wound down in the 1980s, and was sold with 50 acres in 1995 by the Southern Health Board for £910,000.

Developers Lance Investments have already completed 120 apartments in new blocks behind the grey building, and are now releasing 33 in the western end of the original hillside-sited building.

Lance lodged for planning permission for a 235-bed hotel and 156 further apartments just prior to Christmas, some in the old building, most in a new six and seven story section behind the building, but this application is dormant at present, according to the developers.

Almost all of the 33 one and two-bed apartments going on sale today have rooms to the front, about half have en suite bathrooms and they have Gold Shield electric heating.

Sizes range from 416 sq ft for a single €141,000 one-bed apartment to 1,068 sq ft for a second story. €352,000 unit.

Conversion of the building was done by Murnane and O’Shea builders Selling agent Darragh Taaffe suggested a number of likely buyers will release equity in their own homes to buy here as an investment, looking to rent out units in the medium term, subventing rents if necessary.