Dock Road projects

Of the half dozen people who contribute to this site, all bar one of us have lived for some period of time in the dock road apartment blocks. They are huge developments with unimaginative names and pretty drab design as well. Anyway it is interesting to see local politicians in the last month vying for headlines in the local press about what is wrong down there. First ex fine gaeler Pat Kennedy complained about the  poor numbers on the electoral register and worried about numbers of Afghans, sex for sale rackets and drug dealing. Then RSF 's Mick Ryan coins the term "Little Amsterdam" to describe the area. Sensational and whiffs of election fever in the air. However it is a pity that neither individual might try posing some real questions about the developments like:

• Why are there no noticeboards in any of the complexs? Surely a basic requirement if one is to try and build any type of community. Instead any notice, even lost dog notices are torn down off the walls by private management groups and stern warnings posted.

• Why is a provision not included in these huge developments (estimate in one of these reports that there are 1000 apartments in close proximity) for a meeting room. This could be used for residents meetings (who would surely do a better job than the present private concerns). Also there is numerous other agencies who could try and impove social cohesion using such a room but no space.

• Where is the provision for any type of green space or indeed recreational space. Every space that isn't used for apartments seems to have been taken up by car parks.

• What is the breakdown between 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. A report last week in Britain suggested that the proliferation of these type of units rather than 3 bedroom for example was pricing out people who would buy to live there in favour of those who just buy to let. Surely a more mixed set up would ensure stability and improve levels of interest in maintaining the blocks.

• Why have neither of the above politicians gone into the complexs and tried to organise the residents, call meetings etc (apologies if they have but I have never seen one) Pat Kennedy represents Ward 4, as does the new mayor Joe Leddin, where the flats are located?

There are plenty of people living in the Dock Road area who want to act on the above but unfortunately comparing it to the dam or headline grabbing outbursts don't help them much

Cat dead on Dock Road- which nationality will be blamed this time?

The Bottom Dog

Comments

[The NewsWire]

fantastic post.Well said

[Niamh]

I completely agree with the points raised in this post.

IN the past three weeks I have been down on Steamboat Quay on a business appointment in an appartment there. The resident who had a three year old child was speaking about the loudness of late night activities of drunk customers leaving the bar underneath the building. She said neither she nor her son sleep from Fri till Sun night because of the late night rowdiness. She also said there are alcohol fuelled fights on numerous occasions that upset the whole neighbourhood. What kind of environment is this for a three year old. Surely such a family is entitled to live in a quiet, safe environment with facilities for recreation as well as something like the aforementioned meeting room where residents could meet to discuss their concerns.

It sickens me to see politicians posturing with sensationalist headlines designed purely to capture middle class attention (read: the voting sector)when the real issues are obfuscated with such tripe talk. The real issues are the unabandoned drink culture that is gripping our society and keeping potential voices sedated enough so as not to be a threat to the dominant ideology.

[Grinner]

I live in Aviary House on the Dock Road and Im quite happy to be here. Ive never had any hassle down here. I hardly ever hear any noise from surrounding apartments and our neighbours are all friendly and polite when we meet in the hall or utility room. They are mostly people from abroad and we get gorgeous whiffs of foreign cooking every day making me wonder on what culinrey delights we are missing out on! My girlfriend who is very friendly and outgoing has made friends in the block with families from the four corners of the globe and when stuck for sugar has no problem getting a bowl from the neighbours. I can understand how people might focus on negative aspects of the area but I dont think its any worse around here than anywhere else in the inner city. One thing I would say is that the top story of the carpark should be a green area for the young kids and parents to use as there is nowhere for that. I dont know how the young familys cope being stuck in doors. Some kids play in the hall or around the carpark but thats not much good. I think you are right that a meeting place for tenants would help the sense of community here and myself and my girlfriend would like to participate. I will say though that the halls and the lifts are kept very clean and security is present so top marks to management for that. I for one am glad to have ethnic diversity in Limerick and I think that a few dodgey people hanging around dont run tings in a majority. Peace. Grinner