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Opinion Creative spaces are under threat so councils must be proactive to ensure that the arts survive

Rents are sky-rocketing making spaces unaffordable for many artists. But with proper planning, we can protect the creative life of the city, writes Councillor Patrick Costello.

THE POOLBEG WEST SDZ that was recently approved by An Bord Planeala is one of the most significant things that Dublin City Council has achieved in recent years. 

The headlines understandably focused on the fact that it will provide for 3,500 homes, including almost 900 social and affordable homes, all of which locals urgently need. 

But there is another important aspect of that plan that was almost completely overlooked.

The Poolbeg West SDZ is unusual because it contains a condition that the development must include at least 40 artists studios.

This is an important achievement that stands in contrast to the prevailing trends in our capital. 

Artistic, creative and community spaces are under threat. Just like with housing, commercial rents have sky-rocketed and so they have become unaffordable for many artists. 

Much of the recent commercial redevelopment involves international chains opening in Dublin and these large chains have the financial muscle to push aside small local businesses, along with creative ventures and community groups.

The last few years in Dublin have shown the inevitable result of this.

2018 saw the closure of several weekend markets.  The Dublin Flea, Brocante Dublin, Fusion Sundays Pure Vintage Fair, Rumble in the Jumble, The New Market Collective and the Grand Social’s Halfpenny Market.

In recent years, the artistic social enterprise, Block T, was forced from its home in Smithfield, while Mabos a shared cultural and artistic space in Dublin’s docklands closed in 2014.

Just last October in my own neighbourhood, the Ranelagh Arts Centre lost its space and is now without a home. 

Small, local businesses are also struggling to survive.  Sweeney’s Pharmacy – famed for its appearance in Ulysses and now a venue which celebrates James Joyce – has started a fundraising drive to help pay their increased rent.

There is now a serious shortage of creative spaces in Dublin city. While groups like mArt have worked hard to meet the need, supply is getting tighter as the otherwise empty buildings that been used by artists are cleared for redevelopment.

Sadly that redevelopment usually means another hotel or more unaffordable purpose-built student accommodation. That is not the type of housing that residents of Dublin urgently need.

The recent planning decision in Portobello harbour is a typical example. I’m not opposed to redevelopment but we do need to be mindful of what is being lost and ensure that new studio spaces are found for the artists, who are displaced by it.  

If we don’t act, we risk Dublin losing its deep-rooted cultural authenticity and turning into another carbon copy of every other major city, with the same ubiquitous shops and food chains and very little in between.

The challenge is to try and hold on to that which makes Dublin unique – and the plan for Poolbeg West provides a template to do this. 

The guaranteed inclusion of the 40 artist’s studios in Poolbeg West came about because Green Party councillors tabled a motion at Dublin City Council – in an effort to protect and provide for cultural and creative spaces in the city.

Our colleagues on the council backed our idea and so a stipulation was added to the plan for the area.

If we want to retain our creative and cultural spaces in Dublin we have to be proactive and work to make space for them.

(This is just a beginning – if we are really serious we also need to look at the financial support we offer to cultural, creative and community groups, even tiny amounts of money can help groups that run on a shoestring.)

National planning legislation provides for a minimum amount of social housing in developments of a certain size – so why not bring in a minimum number of creative and community spaces in each large-scale development too? 

The Poolbeg West SDZ shows what can be achieved with proper planning. 

I believe it provides a template for development, that not only should we continue to use in Dublin but which other urban-based councils across Ireland could also consider implementing. 

Patrick Costello is Green Party councillor for Rathgar-Rathmines. 

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    Mute Fiona O'sullivan
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    Jul 19th 2016, 12:39 PM

    Sympathy to the poor woman, but serious sympathy to the poor truck driver, this is becoming all to frequent in this country, he was only doing his days work, minding his own business.

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    Mute Adrian O'Donnell
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    Jul 19th 2016, 12:00 PM

    That poor woman. Her whole life turned upside down on a morning where we all should be just enjoying the sunshine and then this happens. Devastated for her.

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    Mute Deirdre Mac Mahon
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    Jul 19th 2016, 2:19 PM

    This is utterly horrible. Poor young mum. Poor wee kid. Words fail me

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    Mute Fiona Larkin Ryan
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    Jul 19th 2016, 1:54 PM

    So tragic. How is that mother ever going to get over this. Rip little man. Watch over your mam.

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    Mute Mary Walshe
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    Jul 19th 2016, 3:04 PM

    Looks like it was deliberate. I could be wrong but it looks like attempted murder of the woman and murder/ suicide of the child and man. I know that road well and if he was from Lattin he would know it well too and would know not to overtake. Rip to both and my utmost sympathy to the mother of the little boy.

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    Mute Pat Walsh
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    Jul 19th 2016, 1:20 PM

    He’s not eastern European, his parents are Italian, but he was born and raised here,

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    Mute Steve McMahon
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    Jul 19th 2016, 1:49 PM

    Don’t like the look where this story is going

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    Mute Ricky Grimes
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    Jul 19th 2016, 3:28 PM

    It’s easy to condemn but the poor man must have been in a very distressed state of mind to do something like that.
    RIP.

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Jul 19th 2016, 9:38 PM

    Fcuk him. He just destroyed a mothers life and murdered her son. If he lives we would all be saying he should be locked up. But now that he died we feel sorry for him. And don’t get me started on the funeral service for this fella where the priests says “it’s a dark day”.. This man just murdered his son and attempted to murder his partner. S(umbag

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Jul 19th 2016, 9:39 PM

    Ricky.. Most murdering b@stards are in a distressed state of mind

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    Mute Ricky Grimes
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    Jul 19th 2016, 11:19 PM

    When a mother murders her children society reaches out the hand of compassion and understanding.
    Why is it not the same for fathers?

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Jul 19th 2016, 11:44 PM

    Ricky. Murdering mothers are worse than mothering dads

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    Mute Ricky Grimes
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    Jul 20th 2016, 12:15 AM

    Just think about what happened here for a moment………and reflect on how this situation spiralled out of control to this point. The human tragedy involved.
    Can we truly say we understand it and as such are in a position to make a judgement call one way or the other?

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    Mute Gwen Denny
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    Jul 20th 2016, 10:10 AM

    Sinead I hope you are never in a situation where your mind is so badly messed up by depression that you are not thinking rationally. Obviously this man was out of his mind doing this and it breaks my heart that a little boy has died and his mother had to go through such an assault, but nobody knows his circumstances and shouldn’t be quick to judge that he was ” evil” . I’m not saying I agree with what he did because I don’t , but with serious mental health problems a while back myself I know that your mind does not think normally . I certainly hope this is the case with him because I’d hate to think this WAS an act of pure evil

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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Jul 19th 2016, 4:49 PM

    Oh no. That poor little boy. Whether the crash was an accident or deliberate, no child deserves that.

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    Mute tonymcc
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    Jul 19th 2016, 5:12 PM

    So sad, too much detail re the crash. Horrible set of circumstances

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    Mute Rusty3578
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    Jul 19th 2016, 6:40 PM

    It’s just so sad to be hearing about theses suicides , people should always realised that life is 2 step backwards and 1 step forward , this carry on could be avoided… RIP to the little lad … So sad !

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