An urban tree-lined treasure

Tommy Barker on a modern development adorned with ancient limes.

A NEW public road is to run through part of the current O’Brien and O’Flynn development, Maryborough Ridge, but the Douglas, Cork, scheme’s trump card is its more private and centuries’ old lime tree-lined approach avenue.

Straight as a die, and lusciously green and leafy right now, this avenue runs for 100 metres or more off Maryborough Hill, and had been the centre point of a dairy farm, Cotters’, before the zoned land was bought up by O’Brien and O’Flynn. They will end up building over 1,000 homes on this edge-of-Douglas location, first in the now-completed Maryborough Woods, and now on another land bank at Maryborough Ridge, half a mile or so further out this road.

Cork County Council is to put a road through the southern end, linking Garryduff/Rochestown to Carr’s Hill which will add to commuting options for residents, who also have the slip road to the south link right by Maryborough Ridge’s other boundary.

Just launching a new house type at the Maryborough Ridge scheme of c300 units – with around ten house and apartment variations – is Olivia O’Leary of Thomas J O’Driscoll auctioneers, who is selling new detacheds, as well as completed townhouses and apartments, starting close to guideline prices of €260,000.

She stresses the price cuts in many of the apartment and townhouse offerings (some down €100k, to about €299,000) and then especially the quality of design and light in the new detached houses section, Hazel Hill.

Hazel Hill is set to have 21 contemporary styled 1,800 sq ft four-beds (pictured here), guiding €630,000.

Two of these deep four-beds have been built so far, one ready to move into, and she has several people keen on buying on the other side of the site, to get west-facing back gardens.

“We’ve gone back to the day when people can get in early, before houses are built, and specify which house they want, and ask for any specific changes they might like at this pre-build stage as well,” she notes.

These A3 BER-rated houses fit more space into their two levels than you’d expect (Ms O’Leary compares them to similar-sized detacheds competing for sales in the Douglas/Rochestown area which get their extra space up on a second floor/third level) and their brightness flows from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the front 21’ by 11’ lounge, and the 13’ by 12’ family living room stretching back off the kitchen.

The Argon gas-filled and cream-hued PVC glazing sits well with feature cedar cladding by the door, with coloured render and the mellow brick, one of several well-chosen bricks dotted throughout the site’s housing and apartment mix.

Although there isn’t a showhouse for these Hazel Hill four-bed houses, one is finished out enough with sanitary ware, tiling and fitted kitchen to get an idea of high level of finish, and then any of the completed showhouses in the apartments and duplexes will compete the picture for you. Features of these €630k homes include gas heating and fireplace, oak veneer doors downstairs (other home have cheery wood doors) full decoration, seeded gardens with brick paved drive, and master bedrooms with en suite and balcony.

Other different offering at Maryborough Ridge include new two-bed apartments of 930 sq ft in modern blocks called An Radharc, while more traditional style ground floor 790 sq ft two-bed apartment and 1,230 sq ft three-bed duplexes above them are guiding (ie. room for some price/extras negotiation) at €260,000 and €299,000.

More traditional buyers are also picking up well-specified two-bed townhouses of 760 sq ft and 900/960 sq ft for in and around €260,000/280/300,000.

“The prices have been brought right back, there’s great value. We are selling to people who see that value, who are tired of renting and waiting to buy. First-time buyers can buy here from around €700 a month, compared to rents of €850, and they have the Rent-a-Room option to help with a mortgage,” says Ms O’Leary, who’s on site today, 1 to 4.00pm.