100-year-old home site for 21st century makeover

WHAT you see isn’t what you get with Crown Park Villa. The reality is a tired 100-year-old home, in Cork city’s elevated Montenotte, but it is a house with dreams of a new life.

That new life is for a replacement dwelling, architect-designed. Full planning permission exists for that dream, so a buyer only has to act on it and the plans in hand — and pay for it.

Crown Park Villa last came up for sale over two years ago, with a 395,000 asking price. But, as the reality of the work needed sunk it, it eventually sold for a sum in the low €300,000s, with the plan to knock the 100-year-old house and its 1920’s glazed front extension.

That dream and site is now for sale with the same selling agent, Michael O’Donovan of Sherry FitzGerald in Cork city, who guides the site within walking distance of the city centre, with full planning permission for a 1,580 sq ft new build at a level once more of €400,000.

The city planners were prevailed upon to allow a contemporary new-build here on this site, in the midst of neighbouring period residences, with access from roads, Middle Glanmire Road/Montenotte Road, with pedestrian access from the former and car parking with a deck over on the latter.

The site size is a shade over 4,000 sq ft, and the current house has a front garden 50’ by 40’ which will be integrated into the new property. Design is by architects Kiosk, who have put in contemporary touches like cedar sheeting, exposed steel, large glazed area, balcony, and a pressed metal roof in the two-storey structure, designed as a four-bed, upside-down home.

“It is rare that the Cork market sees an opportunity to build a contemporary-style house in a suburb like Montenotte,” says Mr O’Donovan.

Given the site, design features and likely finishes, a buyer can expect to pay over €200 per sq foot or well over €300,000 for the finished 1,580 sq ft house.