Riverbank living for £120,000

Apartment living for the first-time buyer is all about access - access to the city centre, to the workplace, to shops, restaurants and sports facilities. Phase two of Tolka Vale, a new apartment development offering this sort of accessibility, is being launched today The development is on the old Finglas Road near Glasnevin, a comfortable journey from the city centre. Located on the banks of the river Tolka, a river mentioned in historical documents which date back to the 12th century, the opportunity for leisurely riverside strolls to the Botanic Gardens is right outside the door.

Tolka Vale comprises a total of 100 apartments laid out in three blocks. Block 1, known as "the curved block" goes on sale today. It consists of 34 two bedroom units ranging in size from 614 sq ft to 1,148 sq ft. With prices starting at £120,000, selling agents, Ross McParland, see these apartments as ideal for the first-time buyer.

Tolka Vale is a short drive away from the M50, which leads to Dublin airport in one direction, and Blanchardstown shopping centre, The Square, Tallaght and the industrial estates along the Naas Road to the west. Dublin City University is just three miles away. The Southern Cross route, which should be completed within the next 18 months, will lead directly to the open green spaces and coastline of Wicklow. The show apartment has views of the river. A spacious hallway with a large storage cupboard on the left leads into the livingroom and kitchen area. The kitchen is fitted with maple finish Shaker-style units, complete with curved chrome handles - a subtle reflection of the overall curved nature of the structure of the block. Colourful ceramic wall tiling in the kitchen area comes as standard.

The sittingroom, which comes with an ornate surround fireplace wired for electric fire, is bright and cosy. There is a large study, which could easily be used as a second bedroom. Next to that, accessed through the entrance hallway, is the main bedroom. This room comes with an en suite shower room and beautiful maple finish wardrobes with chrome handles. The view from this bedroom window is across a substantial courtyard area to the Tolka river. There is a spacious bathroom, with white units, just off the hallway.

The curved block is six storeys high with a lift to each floor. Some of the apartments on the second and third floors have attractive balcony areas with interesting views.

There are two penthouse apartments on the sixth floor, at around £200,000, each with an attractive terrace space which would readily transform into a wonderful rooftop garden. In the penthouse to the front of the block, the entrance hallway leads directly into a separate kitchen area. The kitchen looks out across the front courtyard to Glasnevin. The sittingroom, which comes with ceiling-to-floor windows to the front and to the side of the block, has views over the Tolka. It is a particularly bright and cheerful room. Sliding patio doors lead out to the terrace, ideal for summer barbecues Both bedrooms are quite spacious, and the main bedroom comes with an en suite bathroom. There is also a large bathroom just off the hallway.

All the apartments have double-glazed PVC windows finished with a stylish blue coating. They are wired for alarm, TV and telephone, and come with an intercom system. There are a number of underground car-parking spaces.