PHIBSBOROUGH

As you get older you begin to believe that old buildings and other things from the past have merit and as such should be preserved. Maybe that view of life is not valid and maybe once something has served its purpose it should be replaced with something more appropriate. Anyway, all that I can say with any certainty is that it depresses me to see the gradual decline of this house and other similar buildings throughout the city.

I last photographed this derelict building in May of this year and northing appears to have happened since then. What I suspected would happen does appear to be happening. The building has been surrounded by a high fence in such a way that it has become invisible and as a result, over an extended period, people will forget that it ever existed. At the very best the house will be demolished and replaced by a block of generic apartments any everyone will be surprised because they will not remember what was there.

If you carry out a Google search you will notice that there has been few or no comments relating to Stonevilla since July 2014 but plenty of comment before then.

Below is what I said back in 2015:

Unfortunately it is now almost impossible to photograph this building but today I noticed that the gate was open but by the time I crossed the street a man had noticed me and he closed the gate.

I have tracked the decline of this once attractive house over a number of years and every time I have visited the condition of the building has declined greatly. Last weekend I paid a visit and was a bit surprised by the fact that the building was now surrounded by a very secure high fence. I have a horrible feeling that the fence is there to hide what is happening or maybe what is not happening.

SECURING THE STONE VILLA BUILDING

Phibsborough Local Area Update - Paschal Donohoe TD [Government Minister]
29th July, 2014

Residents across Phibsborough continue to express their concern to myself and Councillor Ray McAdam about the dereliction of the Stone Villa building along the North Circular Road. City Council officials tried to undertake an inspection of the building but due to its continued deterioration, a full inspection was not possible. The City Council subsequently notified the owner of the building that specific stabilisation works were necessary and that plans to carry out such repairs would have to be approved by the Council’s Conservation Department. Councillor McAdam sought a report on the matter at this month’s City Council meeting and was informed that initial works have been approved and that repairs are underway. We understand that a follow-up inspection of the building will take place shortly to ensure that all stabilisation works meet the requirements as set down by Dublin City Council.