Liam Carroll (businessman)
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Liam Carroll | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 September 1950 |
| Died | 2 March 2021 (aged 70) |
| Occupation | Property developer |
| Known for | Zoe Group, Dunloe Ewart, Construction of Dublin apartments[1] |
Liam Carroll (1 September 1950 – 2 March 2021) was an Irish property developer and businessperson known for his involvement in the Irish construction industry via his development company, Zoe Developments Group from the 1990s up to the time of the Irish property crash and the ultimate collapse of the group. Carroll often featured in the media despite his reclusive manner while his relatively frugal and reserved behaviour contrasted markedly with other public figures and property developers of the era.[2]
Carroll became well known during the Celtic Tiger years of the late 1990s-2007 for residential and commercial property construction projects with a focus on large scale apartment developments in Dublin city centre. His apartments were notable for their high volume, low price point and small floor plan which appealed to younger owner occupiers and the less well-off sections of society.[3]
Carroll also tended to build on inner-city brownfield or derelict sites in what other developers considered "unfashionable areas". This reputation earned Carroll the sobriquet of the Shoebox King from his detractors, including most notably the Irish Times journalist Frank McDonald, while his supporters emphasised the affordability of the apartments, the rejuvenation of previously downtrodden areas and the effect of bringing young people back into the city centre.[4][5][6]