The price is right for Georgian pile's return to residential use

WITH THE VALUE of many of Dublin’s Georgian office buildings down by about 70 per cent from the peak, buyers are once again looking at the option of converting part or all of them into family homes.

Nicholas Corson, of agents Finnegan Menton, who is seeking €1.1 million for a four-storey over-basement house at 17 Fitzwilliam Square and another €300,000 for a rear mews site, says he will not be surprised if the building is returned to its original use as a stylish family home.

The reduced selling price meant it was particularly good value when compared to Dublin 4 prices on roads such as Wellington Road and Waterloo Road, where values were between €2 million and €3.5 million.

Corson said he understood that all five Georgian office buildings sold in the south inner city this year were to be converted in their entirety or in part for residential use.

Number 17 Fitzwilliam Square has a net office area of 473sq m (5,100sq ft) and, when measured on a gross internal basis for a family home, has an overall floor area of 603sq m (6,500sq ft). The house is located on the east side of the square beside Fitzwilliam Place and has superb views over the entire square.

There is parking for eight cars on the rear mews site and a large garden separating the front and rear properties. The mews site extends to 167sq m (1,800sq ft) and includes the original brick wall of the mews building with a roller shutter door opening on to Lad Lane.

The house itself retains all its original Georgian features, including decorative cornicing, centre roses and fire surrounds. The property has established office use throughout, with the exception of the third floor which is used as an apartment. The building needs some updating as well as a general redecoration.

A look back at the 1911 census shows that number 17 was the stylish home of Robert Francis Harrison, a barrister, along with his wife and four children. The family had the support of four domestic servants, who also also lived on the premises.