The historic Irish Agricultural Wholesale Society (I.A.W.S) building at 151 Thomas Street, Dublin 8 is on the market after 117 years since its establishment as the I.A.W.S headquarters in 1897. I.A.W.S was set up by co-op members to deal directly with the international commodity markets on behalf of its members. The building also has historic 1798 connections, as one of the main military strategists and more eccentric characters of the United Irishmen, Lord Edward Fitzgerald was captured in the building’s upper rooms after mortally wounding Capt. Ryan, one of his captors.
The large property includes a luxurious office building ideal for a large business headquarters, an interconnecting multi-storey warehouse and 90 space car park. The whole property encompasses 0.2 hectares, it also includes the land which former public house and present burnt-out building “Lynches” resides on. The property’s asking price is €3.5 million, which considering its proximity to the iconic St James’s Gate and 38.5 metres of Thomas Street frontage, does not seem completely unreasonable.
According to a feasibility study carried out by Keoghan Architects (credit the Irish Times) has suggested that 35 – 40 apartments and townhouses plus adjoining commercial facilities could be developed on the site. Personally speaking, I believe the site would do very well as a hotel, for too long the area as played itself down. We house the biggest tourist attraction on the island (Guinness Storehouse) and I believe that the area does not do enough to retain that custom. However, welcome developments such as the distillery setting up on James Street (see story here) and the Teeling’s Whiskey distillery development in Newmarket Square (see story here) may see the turning of this tide.
As always we will keep you updated.
