Dublin City very run down

OleRodrigo

Wurzelbert wrote: »

i too wonder why that is…is it some misguided attempt at resocialisation or just weird urban management? same with the old (60s?) council estates scattered all over the inner city that make even the nice areas feel slightly dodgy as the nearest such estate is always just around the corner…

Perhaps its because there's a better chance of getting your life back on track/ rehabilitation if you're in close proximity to ' normal life ' - community integration I guess it could be called.

I live close by to one of these places, whats really sad is how many people rely on them - one in particular has increased its capacity ( its already pretty big ) by at least a quarter over the past few years. You don't notice it that much when passing through the city center but living here the scale of the problem is easier to see.

testaccount123

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Where are they? I'm in town every day and have not seen a Garda in, it must be 2 weeks. I see junkies and drunks everywhere during the day so what's going on?

Are they afraid? Are they not equipped? Is there a work to rule? Or do they think there is no point due to the nature of the justice system?

I see you havent moved yet. Its absolutely bizarre that you would choose to live somewhere that you despise and which absolutely terrifies you.

What are you doing to improve the city centre btw?

Wurzelbert

OleRodrigo wrote: »

Perhaps its because there's a better chance of getting your life back on track/ rehabilitation if you're in close proximity to ' normal life ' - community integration I guess it could be called.

I live close by to one of these places, whats really sad is how many people rely on them - one in particular has increased its capacity ( its already pretty big ) by at least a quarter over the past few years. You don't notice it that much when passing through the city center but living here the scale of the problem is easier to see.

yeah, i know…the thing is that the whole rehabilitation idea does not work that way…that is an old idea that has been proven wrong countless times…what happens is that the presence of more than x amount of junkies and scumbags will invariably ruin any city centre and slowly turn even good areas into some sort of slums…

OleRodrigo

Wurzelbert wrote: »

yeah, i know…the thing is that the whole rehabilitation idea does not work that way…that is an old idea that has been proven wrong countless times…what happens is that the presence of more than x amount of junkies and scumbags will invariably ruin any city centre and slowly turn even good areas into some sort of slums…

Have to agree.

cgcsb

OleRodrigo wrote: »

Perhaps its because there's a better chance of getting your life back on track/ rehabilitation if you're in close proximity to ' normal life ' - community integration I guess it could be called.

Roaming the streets fighting and socialising with other junkies, is certainly not conducive to a rehabilitation.

There are also those who do not wish to be rehabilitated.

OleRodrigo

There are a lot of psychiatric problems too. Its a complex problem - I think the tourists find it amazing we effectively have open hospitals in the city center.

A Disgrace

OleRodrigo wrote: »

There are a lot of psychiatric problems too. Its a complex problem - I think the tourists find it amazing we effectively have open hospitals in the city center.

I was once showing a Slovakian work friend around town and he was gobsmacked at the amount of social housing in the city centre (and him from a particularly deprived part of his own country) – Social housing should only be there to protect the most needy in our society, and not something to aim for (or to be seen as an alternative to buying/renting) – and at that, should be built in appropriate areas (certainly not the centre of a city)

There is no other city that I know of, and certainly no capital city, that has as many flats/projects in such a concentrated area. We even have (social) semi-detached houses off Stephen’s Green. And while 95% of these people are probably grand, it’s the fact there’s so many that makes the 5% who aren’t, the problem that they are.

We really should be moving away from social housing, but we’re actually getting worse

L1011

Cuffe Lane is terraced and I'd be pretty certain all are sold to private owners at this stage, if that's where you meant.

With few exceptions the bulk of social housing in that area is pre 1960s and was built when it wasn't anywhere near as unusual to have it in city centres - and when that area was hideously run down anyway. Other cities have moved people repeatedly since then, we generally haven't.

Lux23

I would think we need more social housing given the state of renting privately in the country. I mean what is the problem with social housing?

Saipanne

Lux23 wrote: »

I would think we need more social housing given the state of renting privately in the country. I mean what is the problem with social housing?

Concentrated anti social behaviour zones?

OleRodrigo

I think the State has a role to play in the rental market - somewhere between private Landord and social housing ( as it currently stands ). There should be an option and incentive to buy back these properties, for any resident capable of work.

Confucius say

A Disgrace wrote: »

I was once showing a Slovakian work friend around town and he was gobsmacked at the amount of social housing in the city centre (and him from a particularly deprived part of his own country) – Social housing should only be there to protect the most needy in our society, and not something to aim for (or to be seen as an alternative to buying/renting) – and at that, should be built in appropriate areas (certainly not the centre of a city)

There is no other city that I know of, and certainly no capital city, that has as many flats/projects in such a concentrated area. We even have (social) semi-detached houses off Stephen’s Green. And while 95% of these people are probably grand, it’s the fact there’s so many that makes the 5% who aren’t, the problem that they are.

We really should be moving away from social housing, but we’re actually getting worse

London? There are council flats in soho, London bridge, heaps of them a stones throw from Waterloo, even in really posh areas like St Johns Wood and Notting Hill. Maybe we copied their approach? It actually seems to work there however.

Wurzelbert

Lux23 wrote: »

I would think we need more social housing given the state of renting privately in the country. I mean what is the problem with social housing?

even more? do we have statistics on what percentage of the indigenous irish population is currently placed in social housing? feels like a lot, at least in dublin…

cgcsb

A Disgrace wrote: »

I was once showing a Slovakian work friend around town and he was gobsmacked at the amount of social housing in the city centre (and him from a particularly deprived part of his own country) – Social housing should only be there to protect the most needy in our society, and not something to aim for (or to be seen as an alternative to buying/renting) – and at that, should be built in appropriate areas (certainly not the centre of a city)

There is no other city that I know of, and certainly no capital city, that has as many flats/projects in such a concentrated area. We even have (social) semi-detached houses off Stephen’s Green. And while 95% of these people are probably grand, it’s the fact there’s so many that makes the 5% who aren’t, the problem that they are.

We really should be moving away from social housing, but we’re actually getting worse

An estate on council houses was built on Sean Mac Dermot Street, within eye shot of O'Connell Street, in the 1990's. And I mean they are terraced houses, that is a shocking miss use of land. 10 Storey apartment blocks should be the norm. building rows of houses in Dublin 1 while thousands are forced to commute from Kildare is madness.

Ashbx

jimmii wrote: »

Funny you should post this the day after it emerges Nama plan on building a 19 storey building in Dublin 2! Definitely seems to be going against the grain a little bit as you say.

Is that the one that has been an ugly shell of a building for the last 5 years?

Wurzelbert

A Disgrace wrote: »

[...]
There is no other city that I know of, and certainly no capital city, that has as many flats/projects in such a concentrated area. We even have (social) semi-detached houses off Stephen’s Green.[...

my thoughts exactly…that one has baffled me since i moved to dublin…

Confucius say

Wurzelbert wrote: »

my thoughts exactly…that one has baffled me since i moved to dublin…

Read my post above. It's not unique.

Wurzelbert

Confucius say wrote: »

Read my post above. It's not unique.

maybe it’s an anglo-irish thing…and london city centre certainly doesn’t feel as run-down and is also much bigger which might also make a difference…doesn’t make it all any less wrong for dublin…

L1011

cgcsb wrote: »

An estate on council houses was built on Sean Mac Dermot Street, within eye shot of O'Connell Street, in the 1990's. And I mean they are terraced houses, that is a shocking miss use of land. 10 Storey apartment blocks should be the norm. building rows of houses in Dublin 1 while thousands are forced to commute from Kildare is madness.

Blame Tony Gregory for that; amongst other things. Diverting cash to often unsuitable projects in his own bailiwick during a crisis in a manner that any party politician would be slated for and he's considered a hero.