Long-Running Saga Of Renovating Inchicore Public Library Nears Endgame
By: Aidan Crowley:
The long-running saga of the proposed renovation of Inchicore Public Library Heritage Building on Emmet Road. looks to be finally heading for a conclusion. The distinctive old art deco building, which opened as a public library in 1937, has been officially closed and left empty since March 2020 when the first Covid-19 restrictions were enforced.
The building is now showing signs of major structural problems with thirty-nine critical flaws, including dampness and mould, cracked walls, loose brickwork and fire safety issues. In an engineer’s report, compiled by The Building Consultancy and commissioned by Dublin City Council (DCC), in April last year, these critical flaws had to be addressed within a year to avoid structural damage to the building.
To add to this long list of woes, in December 2022, a burst pipe caused part of the ceiling to collapse inside the iconic building, which had only just been listed by DCC as a protected structure under the Record of Protected Structures (RPS). At the same time, the then Assistant Chief Executive for DCC’s Planning & Property Development and Culture, Recreation and Economic Services department, Richard Shakespeare, confirmed that the building would definitely not be reverting back to its original use as a public library.
Also, at the same time, a council spokesperson was quoted as saying that DCC was actively looking at ways to use the historic building for “community services”. A series of meetings between DCC, local councillors and local community representatives took place around this time, with a view to ascertaining the type of community usages that would be appropriate and sustainable.
Now, it appears that in another dramatic twist in the saga, plans to re-open the long-vacant building have taken a major leap forward, according to local Sinn Fein Councillor, Maire Devine. The latest plans provide for a comprehensive renovation of the building by DCC and the installation of a lift, without the need to go through its internal planning process again, according to Devine.
“We’re just going to wait now for a schedule of works to be provided”, she said in a recent social media post, following a meeting of the Inchicore Library Advisory Group, which is made up of local residents and DCC councillors.
“There won’t be a ramp to enter the building, which is at the top of more than a dozen steps that lead up from Emmet Road. They’re going to put in a lift, as we suggested”, said local activist, chairperson of the Inchicore Library Advisory Group and secretary of the Kilmainham and Inchicore Heritage Group , Michael O’ Flanagan.
O’ Flanagan explained that he previously sought and received assurances from DCC, regarding the upkeep of the building. Both Shakespeare and the local area manager assured him, at the time, that the building would be checked on a regular basis, after the libraries service, Libraries Ireland, handed it over to the council’s management section.
O’ Flanagan pointed out a proposal from the Dublin 8 Community Education Centre, which suggests that the former library building could be transformed into an educational facility, daytime, from Monday to Friday. The proposal also recommends that the building could then be used by various community groups in the evenings and at weekends.
“Nothing has been decided on whether this proposal will go ahead. It’s now just working out the demands in the area and the demand of groups and how we divvy up the time on an equitable basis”, said Devine.
“The library on Emmet Road was officially closed by Dublin City Council in March 2020. They wanted to put in a ramp the same year”, said O’ Flanagan.
In January 2020, councillors voted through a major proposal to refurbish the building, add an extension and improve accessibility, by means of a new access ramp and the installation of a platform lift. The proposed works were also to include maintainence and landscaping, new public spaces, inside and outside and the addition of new toilet facilities and to re-open it as a public library.
However, the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictions on construction work, delayed the entire project. When the restrictions were eventually lifted, the building contractor who had been selected said that, due to construction inflation, they couldn’t stand over the quoted prices for the work.
Meanwhile, DCC established a temporary library at the Richmond Barracks complex. At the same time, the council received planning permission for a new state-of-the-art library, as part of its flagship development on the grounds of the former St. Michael’s Estate, further down Emmet Road.
Council officials said in 2022 that they were looking into possible uses for the old former library building, according to O’ Flanagan. He said that the building has served local community and artistic uses in the past, in addition to being the local library. It had hosted art exhibitions, poetry readings and other cultural activities, he explained. However, as the building has remained empty for almost five years, its condition has rapidly deteriorated, he added.
A report produced by the DCC South-Central Area Committee in April, outlined a proposal for architects to review the existing plans for the building. The main thrust of this proposal was to deliver universal access to the building, efficiently, while at the same time, maintaining its historic and unique character.
The committee was planning to remain within the scope of the council’s Part 8 planning consent, according to the report. “But also re-engaging with the previous design team to keep the project costs affordable”, it added.
Devine explained that this approach now being taken by DCC means that it can proceed with the works, without having to go through the planning process, all over again, saving a lot of unnecessary paperwork.
“Instead of building a ramp at the front of the building, they will be going with a lift at the side. We haven’t figured out that one completely. But that’s it. The ramp is gone. All of this falls within the present planning permission”, she added.
“The next step is to get a schedule of work from the council. I want a timing on it, so I’ve asked them for that instead of flip flopping, because look what happened to our iconic buildings. They all fell into disrepair”, she concluded.
