A chance to live in an apartment directly overlooking St Stephen's Green is being offered by Irish Life Assurance, which has decided to sell off a number of apartments at its Russell Court development at 95/96 St Stephen's Green. Hooke & MacDonald will auction two large one-bedroom units in the scheme on March 22nd.
Built in the early 1980s, Russell Court has 18 apartments between two Georgian houses and a modern block that is attached to the rear. Tenants in the block will be offered the choice of buying their unit at a discounted price, once market values have been established by the sale of the first two apartments.
The sale is part of Irish Life's ongoing plans to cut back on its residential investments. They make up a tiny percentage of its overall property portfolio. Last year, it sold around 40 apartments in the Irish Life Centre in Dublin 1 at prices ranging from £90,000 (€114,300) for studio units.
There is bound to be big interest in number 14 Russell Court, one of the very few homes in Dublin that can claim a direct view of the Green. It is a superb secondfloor unit that takes up the entire floor of a Georgian house at 95 St Stephen's Green, close to University Church and Newman House.
Tall sash windows in the livingroom look out over the Green, while the large rear bedroom looks into a courtyard surrounded by office buildings. It has lofty Georgian proportions and a larger than average floor area of over 650 sq ft. A guide price has not yet been set although it is unlikely to sell for less than £275,000 (€349,250). The rarity value of the address is almost certain to add a premium to the price. The second apartment, number 11 Russell Court, is in the modern end of the development. By contrast, it is a simpler, more box-like unit, although again is bigger than most new apartments with around 600 sq ft. There is a good sized double bedroom, a galley-style kitchen with a picture window and a livingroom leading to a long balcony. The guide price is likely to be over £220,000 (€279,400). Neither unit has a car-parking space.
