Latest news with #Corcoran
Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
‘Value for money' cited as reason to evict Ukrainians from accommodation
The Department of Justice has cited 'value for money' among its motivations to evict 123 Ukrainians from a temporary accommodation centre in Millstreet, Co Cork. Residents of the Green Glens Arena were devastated to learn that they will have to leave their homes by August 29. The news was outlined in a letter sent to the residents by the Department of Justice. Their decision sparked a campaign by Fiona Corcoran, from Cork charity the Greater Chernobyl Cause, to halt the eviction. Residents were told by the Department of Justice that a letter will be sent with locations of their new accommodation, but they are unsure of when this will arrive or if they will be relocated in Cork. The Department of Justice issued a statement shedding light on its decision: 'As part of the response to the unprecedented humanitarian crisis of the war in Ukraine, the Department of Integration, at the time, contracted for a variety of different commercial properties,' a representative for the department said. 'All accommodation contracted by the department is temporary in nature, and Ukrainian citizens are advised of this when requesting emergency accommodation.' Decrease in demand for accommodation for Ukrainian citizens 'As the demand for accommodation for Ukrainian citizens decreases, and they make their own independent arrangements for accommodation, the department is carrying vacancies in commercial contracts. 'As a result, the department ends contracts on a regular basis in order to ensure value for money and greater oversight of the portfolio. 'This means that a number of Ukrainian citizens who are in State-supported accommodation are being moved to other accommodation.' The department representative added that they need to make the 'best possible use of state funds'. 'Any Ukrainian citizen resident in a property affected will be offered alternative emergency accommodation at a different site if they still require it. 'We need to provide the best we can for all those who come to Ireland fleeing war or oppression in Ukraine and other countries, while balancing this with the requirement to make best possible use of State funds.' The department reiterated its intentions, adding 'the Ukrainian residents at Green Glens Arena, Co Cork', will be relocated by August 29. The department has sent updates, through the accommodation providers, to the residents who will be affected, to let them know that the contract is ending with that provider. Fiona Corcoran, from the Greater Chernobyl Cause, said the charity is committed to preventing this. 'These residents are not just passive recipients of aid. They are working, attending school, and actively striving to rebuild their lives,' Ms Corcoran said. 'Many of them are seeking housing in the local area, but this is made increasingly difficult by the severe shortage of rental accommodations.'
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
'Intolerable risk to life' at Irish Traveller site, says London council
Irish Travellers living on London's largest authorised caravan site are being asked to leave due to fire safety concerns. The local council says that Lynton Close is overcrowded and has requested that many of the residents move to temporary "bricks and mortar" housing in the area while improvements are made. More than 200 people are living on the site, with over 70 caravans and mobile homes there. A fire risk assessment last year found that it posed an "intolerable risk to life" as many caravans and mobile homes were parked too close together. Brent Council also said that there should be only 31 caravans at Lynton Close, which is close to Wembley Stadium. However, the community argues that moving to "bricks and mortar" accommodation is not "culturally appropriate" and it wants an alternative site in the area instead. Bernie Corcoran, originally from Galway, has been living at Lynton Close for almost 40 years. "We never lived in bricks and mortar. It's not our culture and we're never going to give up our culture," he insists. Mr Corcoran says the council should have expanded the site several years ago to prevent the current situation. He agrees that it is overcrowded but explains that there is a deep unease among residents about moving into temporary housing as they fear they could end up being left there permanently. They also want to stay living as a community. "We've been here most of our lives. Our kids grew up here. Now we have our grandkids living here. We don't want to leave this area. We want to stay in Brent, our kids are going to school here, our doctor is here," he explains. Mr Corcoran believes an alternative temporary caravan site can be found in the area. Chief Executive of Brent Council Kim Wright insists that no resident will be forced to leave the Brent area and that "bricks and mortar" housing is available for all licensed residents at Lynton Close. "The situation we've got is that it's an overcrowded site. We want to bring it back into safe and legal limits and we're asking the residents to take off the site those caravans and mobile homes that don't have any legal basis to be there. "We're also offering to support them by temporarily providing them with accommodation off the site so that we can bring it back into those safe and legal limits," Ms Wright explains. She says she understands that residents want to remain living in their caravans and mobile homes but there is an urgent need to address fire safety concerns. "We welcome travellers in Brent and we absolutely celebrate their culture and their heritage but the fact remains that we've got a site currently that has got an intolerable risk to life." Rhianna Ketley, from London Gypsies and Travellers, a non-profit organisation, says that local authorities across London have ignored repeated warnings about the lack of suitable accommodation. Rhianna Ketley, from London Gypsies and Travellers, a non-profit organisation, says that local authorities across London have ignored repeated warnings about the lack of suitable accommodation. "There's a chronic lack of gypsy and traveller sites across London and Brent is just an extreme example of this. "There's been an identified need for 90 pitches in Brent for gypsy and traveller communities but the latest local plan, which was approved by the council in 2022, allowed for zero. "So this issue of overcrowding on gypsy and traveller sites is the result of decades of chronic neglect from local authorities", Ms Ketley says. Mr Corcoran hopes that a resolution can be found, insisting that he is willing to work with the local authority to find one. Brent Council has identified approximately 70 potential sites in the area for temporary and permanent traveller accommodation. Ms Wright says that "not all" will be appropriate but the council is committed to engaging with the community on the matter.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Once red-hot, South Florida's real estate market is in a months-long slump — here's why
Whether it's a market meltdown or a much-needed course correction, dismal home sales in South Florida are sticking around. New data compiled by the Miami Association of Realtors reflects a once-hot market in a persistent state of rebalancing. The dollar volume of sales across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties clocked in at $5.6 billion in May — a marked decline from $6.1 billion last May, the Real Deal reported. 'It's a validation of what we've anticipated and seen in the marketplace over the past few months, maybe even the last couple of years,' Miami-based broker Mick Duchon of Corcoran told The Post. 'Since interest rates peaked, we've seen a slowdown across the market, especially in parts of the commoditized condo space.' Advertisement 6 Sluggish condo sales have become a crisis for South Florida real estate. Mdv Edwards – 6 Luxury buyers are proving to be a resilient segment of an otherwise depressed market. Felix Mizioznikov – New waterfront villas and glittering penthouse condos are still selling at a healthy pace, but success in that corner is tempered by the grim realities of the middle market — namely condos. Advertisement While cash-rich luxury buyers can afford to breeze through the market, the average South Florida buyer is still chafing at high mortgage rates and insurance costs. New upkeep requirements on condos following the fatal 2021 Surfside condominium collapse are making older units increasingly difficult to sell. Miami-area sales dropped 20% compared to May of last year, according to the Miami Association of Realtors. Condo sales took a particular hit with a 25% dive. Nearby Broward County, which encompasses Fort Lauderdale, saw a 18% drop in sales, with a 24% dip in condo closings. Real estate insiders confirmed a steady decline in the housing market in recent months, but told The Post that numbers vary wildly across South Florida's polarized housing stock, from embattled, aging condos to attractive, multimillion-dollar new builds. 6 Today's Miami homebuyers want resilient properties in prime locations, leaving aged buildings to flounder on the market. Francisco – Advertisement 6 The consequences of the 2021 Surfside condo collapse are still reverberating. Getty Images 'There's different generations of our market, particularly Miami Beach,' Miltiadis Kastanis of Compass told The Post. 'There's pre-COVID and post-COVID. And there's pre-Surfside collapse and post-Surfside collapse,' Kastanis added. 'Those are two monumental happenings that have adjusted our real estate market, because people are less inclined to buy in an older, aging building.' Relief for the condo market is on the horizon, however. Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation this week to ease the burden of rising fees and regulations on condo homeowner associations. Advertisement The supply of affordable homes under $400,000 across the region remains tight. Median prices in Miami-Dade rose year-over-year from $650,000 to $675,000 — the 162nd consecutive month of price appreciation since December 2011. The single-family market in Miami-Dade County was a rare bright spot in the Miami Realtors report, charting 4% price growth, but sales still declined. In nearly all other markets and categories, prices declined alongside sales. 6 Prices remain elevated in well-heeled Palm Beach, but the recent cadence of sales is closer to 2019 than 2022. Solarisys – 6 Market insiders characterize South Florida's single-family downturn as a normalization, rather than a reckoning. Felix Mizioznikov – A confluence of seasonal slowdowns, rate-wary buyers and oppressive condo rules have made for a stormy outlook in South Florida. Even the Palm Beach market saw a 12% decline in sales year-over-year. Johnny DelPrete at Douglas Elliman, based in the northern area of Palm Beach County, characterized the downturn as a period of stabilization. DelPrete said Palm Beach sellers and buyers are on more equal footing than they were in the recent past. 'I think the best way to summarize the current market is that it's just normalizing,' DelPrete said. 'We had that huge surge from the pandemic, then went from no inventory to now having months and months of inventory.' Advertisement While demand is ever-present, Duchon said, the brokers manage expectations of wary buyers and eager sellers. 'Oftentimes, people will pick out one deal over the past four years and try and meet that sale,' Duchon said. 'When, in order to sell today, we have to adjust the price to the market.'
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Please don't take my home away.' 120 Ukrainians told to leave accommodation
Ukrainians who fled the war in their homeland and were placed in accommodation in Millstreet in Co Cork have said that they are distraught at a decision by the Department of Justice to move them from the site. Fiona Corcoran, founder of humanitarian support charity The Greater Chernobyl Cause, says that some 120 Ukrainians at the Green Glens Arena have to leave the facility by August 29. They have spent three years living in the facility. It is understood that the decision was made without any consultation, not only with the Ukrainians onsite but with the team at the Green Glens Arena, who were reportedly informed of the decision by the Department last week. There is no plan for the reallocation of the accommodation to other persons seeking shelter. Ms Corcoran says that there is a huge sense of anxiety among the residents who received their notice to leave. "Two ladies are battling cancer, while others have heart conditions, autism, and various other concerns. Many of these individuals are in school, attending college, or working locally. There is a profound sense of sorrow within the Ukrainian community. "They have been informed that they must find homes for their pets, as they will not be allowed to bring them to their next accommodation. Unfortunately, no one knows where they will go next. "I call on decision makers to seriously consider the profound impact this move will have, particularly on the children and families who now call Millstreet home. It is deeply distressing." Meanwhile, Valeria Marchenko, who is from Mariupol, has lived in Millstreet since 2022. She is desperate not to leave her new home. "Even though I didn't speak English at first, I was hired (locally). My husband has been working as a welder for the past three years. I have never met people as kind and generous as those in Ireland. They gave us a home, and we are truly happy to be here. "We're glad that we can contribute something in return. We pay our taxes, we work, and we're proud to be part of this community. Arena is like a big family, we help and support each other. Please don't take my home away from me." Ms Marchenko said that when the war broke out in February 2022 her husband was away working. She was living with her mother. "For two months and 16 days, we lived in a basement - without electricity, gas, or Internet. We were completely cut off from the outside world and didn't understand what was happening. We only understood one thing: we could die at any moment. "On March 8th, my godmother passed away. I took a shovel and dug a grave in our yard. I don't know where I found the strength, but I buried her. I tried to dig deep enough so that the body wouldn't be disturbed by animals. "There was no one left in the city - no doctors, no police, nothing was functioning. When there were fierce battles for access to water, we had to crawl on the ground to reach the sea. There was a stream about 2–3 kilometres away. When we couldn't cook over a fire, we ate snow. Food was given to the children first. There were around 30 people in the basement. "I still remember how one young man's leg was torn off when he went out to get food. They tried to save him - they cut away the shrapnel with a kitchen knife and put a burning log or coal on the wound to cauterise it. But sadly, he didn't survive. He remained dead with us in the basement for another five days until we could finally carry him out and bury him. "During all this time, my husband didn't know whether I was alive or not. He was trying to find me. Some people took money from him in exchange for false information. They even told him I had died in the drama theatre." Ms Marchenko said that her mother was too terrified to even leave the basement. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week "But when the Russians entered, we left the city. My dad lived in the nearby village of Volodarsk. My mom, my cat, my dog, and I walked 22 kilometres. The city was closed, and my dad didn't know whether I was alive or not. He tried to get into Mariupol five times, but they wouldn't let him in. "A military bus eventually took us from Volodarsk to Taganrog. From Taganrog, we made our way to Lithuania. My mom's husband was waiting for us there. My husband's family was already in Ireland because they had a car and had managed to leave earlier. My husband and I later flew to Ireland. "We were welcomed with smiles and kindness. People gave us food, clothes, and housing. I want to say that, throughout this incredibly difficult journey, I didn't meet a single bad person. I am deeply grateful to Ireland and its people." It is understood that the Department of Justice has told the families that there is a reduced need for accommodation for Ukrainians in Ireland following a drop in the number of people leaving Ukraine. They were told that the number of locations is being reduced and that all accommodation required is "temporary" in nature. The Department of Justice has been contacted for comment in relation to the move.
Mercury
20-06-2025
- Business
- Mercury
Barbara Corcoran reveals her controversial moves to boost career - realestate.com.au
A real estate mogul has revealed the controversial steps she took to boost her career and did several 'unhinged things' to make a name for herself. Barbara Corcoran took to TikTok to lift the lid on the ways she attempted to boost her real estate company, The Corcoran Group — which was founded in 1973 — in its earliest days, Realtor reports. The 76-year-old 'Shark Tank' star posted a series of throwback photos from the earliest days in her real estate career, which she launched in New York City. Noting that her business was the 'first brokerage on the internet,' Ms Corcoran explained that she took to tracking the prospective URLs of her competitors so she could see who joined the web behind her. 'When I was the first brokerage on the internet, I registered my competitors' URLs so I could keep track of when everyone else woke up,' she shared, adding: 'The big guys came calling last.' Ms Corcoran then revealed that she came up with a genius idea to use a market crash to her advantage by essentially conducting a real estate fire sale, one that ultimately netted her an incredible profit. '[I] priced 88 apartments alike during a market crash and sold out within an hour. I made $US1 million commission in a single day,' she added. MORE: Bombers star finalises new $2m+ deal Where Aus tenants pay the most Developer's bold plan for $50m Melbourne site Corcoran has confessed that she went to extreme lengths while finding her footing in the homing industry and did several 'unhinged things' to make a name for herself. Picture: The 76-year-old 'Shark Tank' star took to TikTok to lift the lid on the ways she attempted to grow her brand and real estate company. Picture: The entrepreneur also confessed that she had to bet on herself and aim high — even at the beginning of her career — noting that, to a certain extent, she had to fake it until she made it, at least where her status within the industry was concerned. To that end, the 'Shark Tank' investor wrote her own self-titled industry analysis, called The Corcoran Report, which she first published during a recession, relying solely on data from her own sales in order to offer a market evaluation. '[I] wrote The Corcoran Report, declaring that NYC prices hit an all-time low, based only on my 14 sales for the year,' she confessed in the TikTok video. Despite the lack of data in the report, her strategy worked, with Ms Corcoran revealing in a previous LinkedIn post that she was stunned to find herself quoted in a New York Times piece just days after she'd published it. 'They quoted my report, and I couldn't believe my eyes!' she recalled. 'And right after that, our phones never stopped ringing. It immediately put us on the map. I could hear my salespeople answer the phones and say, 'Oh, you've heard of us?!' 'I was still the same small company I was the week before, but I now had the power of the press behind me, and everyone treated us differently.' But still, Ms Corcoran didn't stop her efforts to woo more clients — as well as their pets. In fact, the industry expert shared that she even drew in new customers by appealing to pet owners and acting as both a real estate mogul and dog trainer. 'When the co-op board revealed they would start interviewing dogs, I taught dogs how to shake hands in Central Park,' she said. And she didn't just drive business by training dogs, she also 'took a job as a messenger delivering packages at night to help make ends meet.' Alongside a slew of throwback pictures from the early days of her stellar career, the home pro revealed that she had to think outside of the box. Picture: At the time, the real estate tycoon began by registering and tracking her competitors' URLs. Picture: Unlike many other businesses at the time, Ms Corcoran used the press to her advantage and even invited them to 'open the elusive safe in the Guggenheim mansion without knowing what was inside.' She revealed the safe ended up being 'empty.' And she even dressed up to draw attention. 'I threw a company party where everyone dressed as nuns. It was a riot,' she said alongside a snap of members of the real estate company dressed up. In addition to pretending it was Halloween, Ms Corcoran revealed she also recruited the help of farm animals to make sales. 'I put real cows on the penthouse roof to help sell Stewart Mott's overpriced apartment and got major press for it. (Yes, Mott of the applesauce empire),' she revealed. Lastly, to establish herself in the celebrity home market, Ms Corcoran threw out an A-lister's name — who wasn't her client — and flew to success. 'I published the Madonna report based on what I imagined Madonna would want in a home,' the 76-year-old said. 'The media went wild and started calling me the 'broker to the stars.' She wasn't even my client.' Corcoran then revealed that she came up with a genius idea to use the market crash to her advantage, allowing her to cash in big time. Picture: And she even dressed up to draw attention. Picture: Corcoran previously showed off her $US12 million New York City penthouse for the last time after she offloaded the property. Picture: calebwsimpson/TikTok Just days before she candidly revealed her 'unhinged' behaviour, Ms Corcoran welcomed Caleb Simpson, the TikTok star-turned-real estate influencer, into her NYC dwelling for one last time. She offers an intimate glimpse of the property's most impressive amenities, including jaw-dropping views of Manhattan's iconic skyline. In Simpson's viral video, Ms Corcoran joked that even her most dedicated followers likely wouldn't have 'recognised' the pad when it was first listed, because she had removed all of her possessions in order to stage it for sale. Though she seemed firm in her decision to offload the abode — which she first came across in 1992, 23 years before she bought it in 2015 — she confessed that she 'can't believe' she's bidding farewell to the home after so many years. Ms Corcoran first came across the penthouse dwelling on the Upper East Side in 1992 when she was working as a messenger to make ends meet and delivered a letter to the unit's resident. At the time, the opulent home wasn't on the market — nor would it have been anywhere close to fitting within Corcoran's budget if it had been. Yet, she couldn't get the property out of her mind. 'I thought, 'My God, I've never seen anything as beautiful in my life,'' she told the New York Times. So, she asked the then-owner to get in touch if she ever decided to sell her penthouse — a decision that she ended up making more than two decades later. Parts of this story first appeared in Realtor and was republished with permission. Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. MORE: Huge star slams 'violent' Trump after quitting US 'Wrong side': Ellen loses $8m+ overnight 'Gone, everything': Gibson on trashed pad
