Canny developers on the hunt for a prime slice of land within a short commute of Cork city will have their
appetites whetted by what’s on offer in Montenotte, where members of the well-known Crosbie clan — formerly of the Irish Examiner — are selling off what remains of their Woodlands estate.
The sale includes the bones of two acres (1.938 acres) on an elevated, downward-sloping site, off the Middle Glanmire Rd, with a north to south aspect and commanding views.
Oaklodge, the approximately 4,000 sq ft Crosbie family home since 1969, is also included in the sale, as is a one-bedroom 764 sq ft gate lodge that dates to 1870 and was once the gate lodge to Woodlands House — bought by the Crosbies in 1916, and demolished in the late 1990s.
The omens are good if the Crosbie lands, on the market with Savills, follow the trend emerging at 3,200 sq ft Feltrim, an historic home on three acres on the city end of Blackrock Rd, which came to market last month via auctioneer Michael McKenna, with a €5m guide price.
Land on either side of this up-for sale two acres has already been successfully developed into private residential schemes.
It’s already been viewed 25 times, with builders/developers accounting for 80% of the viewings.
Back over in Montenotte — the northside’s smart answer to the Blackrock Rd — the lands involved in the Crosbie sale are in an area zoned residential in the City Development Plan 2022-2028.
The area has a positive planning history, with consent given for home-building on previously sold-off Crosbie lands, either side of the existing family estate, in the late 1990s.
Oaklodge, the Crosbie family home in Montenotte, is part of the €1.85m two acre (approximate) land sale via Savills
Those developments included the by now well-established low density Woodlands Demesne, where seven serviced sites were sold to buyers who built their own large, detached, upmarket homes west of the Crosbie estate, and, to the east, Woodlands, an approximately 30-house scheme by now defunct McInerney builders.
More recently, Cork City Council partnered with approved housing body Tuath Housing to build 54 social and affordable homes at Crann Darach on lands previously owned by the Dominican Fathers on Middle Glanmire Rd.
The Dominicans, who have relocated from their Ennismore retreat, sold off just under five acres seven or eight years ago.
The guide price was €2m.
A figure in excess of €1.85m is being sought for the Crosbie lands and properties by Savills.
While developers are expected, high net worth individuals are likely to show interest too, as per Blackrock Rd’s Feltrim.
Feltrim’s agent, Mr McKenna, has been busy with developers/builders in other parts of town also — he already has an offer of €6.85m from “an established builder” for a 24-acre site at Castletreasure, Douglas, which came to market in late February.
The site is near Cairn Homes Bayly development, on the Old Carrigaline Rd.
At an anticipated 270 units, it works out at about €25,000 per stand.
While strong developer/builder interest is also expected at the Montenotte site, it’s also a beautiful setting for a family home — albeit the site size reduced over time through land sales.
Whether it goes to a developer/builder or a wealthy private buyer, the same attractions apply: Cityside location in a top suburb; good onward connectivity via proximity to the North Ring Rd network/Jack Lynch Tunnel/Dunkettle Interchange; elevated south-facing lands; expansive harbour-facing views; regular bus services to the city; secluded setting; close to the ever-improving Montenotte Hotel and St Lukes Cross.
Overseeing the Crosbie sale are Peter O’Meara and James O’Donovan, of Savills, and they say the site has “superb development potential”.
“In my opinion it provides an opportunity for an exclusive development, on a south-facing site, overlooking the docklands and Cork Harbour,” Mr O’Meara said.
“I think it’s a fantastic site and, given you have Woodlands Demesne on one side of it and Woodlands Estate on the other, you can see that there’s a history of residential development in the area,” Mr O’Meara added.
peter.omeara@savills.ie Tel: +353 21 4906119 or james.odonovan@savills.ie Tel: +353 21 4906120021-4271371
