Deserted hotel to be turned into a community centre

Date Published: 14-May-2013

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

City planners have given the green light for the transformation of a deserted hotel in Doughiska to a community centre, with multi-denominational worship area.

The DRA Development Company Ltd (Doughiska, Roscam, Ardaun) has been granted permission for a change of use of the hotel – formerly known as the Racing Lodge, Amber Lodge and Blackrock House Hotel – for use as community, educational and pastoral facilities.

Planners have ordered that all uses of the building must be strictly ‘not for profit’.

The plan – which will serve a population of more than 10,000 and almost 40 nationalities – is now contingent on the purchase of the hotel for €520,000 from owner Stephen Harris.

The project will include the refurbishment and reconfiguration of the existing ground and first floor levels to provide general purpose accommodation for the community, while there will be shower and changing facilities in the basement. There will be seating for a congregation of up to 270.

Planners attached a condition to the permission which stipulates that “all uses associated with this community, education and pastoral facility shall be allied to community use and shall be operated on a not-for-profit basis, these terms of usage also applies to all sub-letting arrangements”.

The community group is understood to have already paid a deposit to Mr Harris – the developer behind the collapsed Harrmack Developments.

An independent ‘donor’ has provided a €100,000 interest-free loan, the City Council has committed to €200,000 and the Galway Diocese has expressed an interest in providing 50% of the funding for the project, in return for a lease which will guarantee Mass times.