Restaurant and offices plan for derelict hotel site in Salthill

A derelict former hotel in Salthill – which has been extensively vandalised and a centre for antisocial behaviour – could become office space and a restaurant under plans by its new owners.

Tiger & Co, a property asset management company owned by Chris McGrath from The Claddagh, has sought permission to redevelop and extend the former Glendawn House Hotel in Lenaboy Gardens.

The plans include a café/restaurant over two floors – with seating for up to 70 people. There will also be external seating facing onto Lenaboy Gardens, and a balcony area.

The company plans to create an office unit to the rear of the building and use it as its headquarters – at the moment an office is being rented in Parkmore.

“Permission was granted in 2007 to convert the hotel building into a medical centre with the commercial use at lower ground level retained. Some conversion works were undertaken by the previous owner, but were not completed due to funding difficulties arising from the property crash.

“In the interim, the property has been vacant and has been broken into, vandalised, stripped down for materials by thieves and been used for drinking parties and other antisocial behaviour.

“This, combined with leaks and incomplete building works, has left the property in a derelict and structurally unstable condition.

“The proposal represents an opportunity to revitalise the property and this part of Lenaboy Gardens and hopefully will act as a catalyst for further improvements on the adjacent main street.

“The office and café areas are modest and both will act as local service centres which will complement and service Salthill and the adjacent residential area,” the application reads.

The area is zoned residential, but the owner points out there has been a long-established commercial use on the lower ground floor, and hotel use on the ground and first floor.

“The Council previously granted permission for a medical centre on this property and the current proposal aims to utilise some of the adaptation works which have taken place and save the existing structure from demolition.

“However, if the structure deteriorates further, it will not be possible to save it, and it may not be economically viable to redevelop it for many years and as such, the vacancy will prevail. We have been advised that there is no demand for a medical centre and there is an oversupply of such space in Salthill at present,” the application reads.

The property was withdrawn from auction last October at €212,000 but sold afterwards for a “substantially higher” figure. It had an Advised Minimum Value of €225,000 going to auction.

It had been bought by Charlie Boyle from Castlegar in 2001 for the equivalent of €635,000 and redevelopment works began but were never completed.