Developments in Cork

[bosco]

Finally, a victory for common sense. Something sorely missed of late in Cork!

[kite]

Originally Posted by Pug

The principle of a phased redevelopment of the Horgan’s Quay / Kent Station lands is fully supported by the planning authority. However in any possible reapplication the onus will be on the applicants in conjunction with the landowners to submit an urban design masterplan to the agreement of the planning authority for the entire Kent Station / Horgan’s Quay landholding. [/i]

The City Manager really needs to push for a CPO on the CIE landbank, he might include the Port of Cork's Custom House Quay site as well??
CIE and POC have been allowed to hold back the Docklands redevelopment for far too long.

[mickeydocs]

MPH trying to pull a fast one... they'd probably get away with such a submission in Dublin... well done the city planner... this site really needs to bring something to the city!

Any one know when does Water Street go into construction?

[THE_Chris]

Hahaha that application got DESTROYED

[Pug]

anyone hear if Douglas Golf Club made a decision on selling the club? thought they were due to meet last night

[Pug]

whats happening to this thread? I'm sure we can do better than complain about Dublin (and browser, the jury is out for me about local councilIors, I believe they are almost powerless, from what I can see, many of the council meetings result in "we resolve to write to the minister about......" which is then generally ignored which results in a motion being passed several weeks later stating "we resolve we are disappointed with....and will write a letter to state same....))

Animals home got planning in Mahon in Feb so OCP properties might move on their Reliance/Mahers/Animals Home site

Scaffolding gone up in the two corners of O FLynn Elysian site, one lot is at the base of the tower so more movement - Malec, might be interesting to grab a few photos in a few weeks

Bertie has made the Docklands a national project status. Quick straw poll - Does anyone think it will make a difference?

Developers have applied for a 5 storey building with 65 apartments and 104 spaces at the former Dunmahon Esso Station in Douglas. I expect local residents will take a close look.

[browser]

PUG me ol' china, I didn't say a word about councillors, it was our TDs, alleged national legislators, I was referring to......

[jungle]

Originally Posted by Pug

Developers have applied for a 5 storey building with 65 apartments and 104 spaces at the former Dunmahon Esso Station in Douglas. I expect local residents will take a close look.

My parents live pretty close to the development. The first they heard of it was a letter from Cllr Terry Shannon saying that he was going to fight it on their behalf. Not a word of why it should be fought.

The design actually tries to take into account the concern of local residents. The 5 storey portion is in the middle and it tiers down so that the edges would not be much higher than the roof apex on a 2 storey house.

My parents are not opposed to the development in principle, although, my mother was concerned that the drawn builing didn't look like it could fit into the site (My father was also amused that the Douglas Rd looked as wide as a motorway in it).

Unfortunately, when councillors like Cllr Shannon adopt the position of the people's champion, the onus is going to have to fall on developers to liaise with local communities during their design process. If locals had been made aware of the development and seen the developers talking to them, such political oppotunism might have some chance of being stopped.

[Pug]

Originally Posted by browser

PUG me ol' china, I didn't say a word about councillors, it was our TDs, alleged national legislators, I was referring to......

Your general point was indeed taken and I wholly agree, my point was when you mentioned Councillors Clune and McGrath that in my opinion, the councillors dont have a lot of power and make motions such a recent one "That the Minister for Transport immediately enact the necessary legislation to ensure that all personal flotation devices being sold or distributed be fitted with an integral crotch strap."

Jungle, very interesting point that T Shannon sends leaflets deciding to fight the Dunmahon development, his reasons would be handy! Nice to see objective opinions being kept by the local authority. Am still a bit dubious about 5 storeys though, then again I havent seen the design.

[corkdood]

When is work starting on Acadamy Street? Also what is the status of plans to develop the former Capital Cineplex and adjoining sites which were assembled? There are so many empty units in Cork City Centre at present and not much happening with them. Are Dunnes stores going ahead with their revamp of their Patrick Street premises?

[d_d_dallas]

Academy St is with AnBP

Dunnes will proceed shortly afaik

Cineplex... your guess as good as anyone else's

[who_me]

I haven't seen much here about the Beasley St. development - can I assume from the amount of work going on there that the proposed hotel received planning and is already well underway?

[mickeydocs]

any word on Water Street getting started?

[Micko]

Anyone have any information on the potential sale of Douglas Golf club ?

Just looking at the image below, I'm just wondering does anyone else know if there is going to be further developments in the Duoglas. I know the area between Donnybrook and Douglas Golf course looks to be a prime area. Also anyone know if a road between Donnybrook and the old Carrigaline road is finally going to be built ?

[shrink2cork]

Originally Posted by mickeydocs

any word on Water Street getting started?

I understand it will be starting soon, Ask the people in Cunnane Stratton Reynolds, They will give you more details.

[shrink2cork]

Is there any news about Dunnes Stores selling their Patrick Street Shop!!!!!!
and is TKMaxx coming to Cork?

[jdivision]

Originally Posted by shrink2cork

Is there any news about Dunnes Stores selling their Patrick Street Shop!!!!!!
and is TKMaxx coming to Cork?

Dunnes is redeveloping so unlikely. TK Maxx likely to sign up for two units in Cork this year, one city centre, one suburban. Schemes mightn't be completed for a couple of years tho

[jungle]

Originally Posted by Micko

Anyone have any information on the potential sale of Douglas Golf club ?

The last thing I heard from a club member was that they were considering the sale seriously. The offer to get two courses for their existing one is attractive, but more significant is that as the land around the course has been developed for housing and roads, the course has been forced back from its perimeter and become steadily smaller. As it is expected that this process will continue, there are doubts over the viability of the current location.

[PVC King]

Urban golf courses are strange beasts; The Royal Dublin is probably the only the only urban golf course in terms of proximity to a City that I know of that possesses a sense of non-urban calm. There is no doubt that increased densities sap the amenity value from golf courses and the lengths that Elm Park Golf Course went to to object to the adjoining Elm Park development were quite notable. In contrast the Milltown Club in Dublin 14 has been surrounded on all sides for 20-30 years and is one of the most popular clubs in the city.

I always feel that if you want real golf go to the controversial Old Head course or Doonbeg or Lahinch or Woodenbridge. The attraction of having a golf course in an urban area is that whilst urban amenity is being ever eroded you have a peice of the country in the city, you can leave the car in the carpark after a few pints and get a cheap taxi or walk home. Should a remote site with two courses be offered you have to ask is it a good exchange, the only grounds I can think of would be if the current course was inadequate to cater for members to play at the current time.

[kite]

Today's Irish Examiner
City looks at options for centre

By Eoin English
STALLED talks have forced Cork’s city manager to consider new sites for a multi-million euro conference centre.


Joe Gavin said he will present a detailed report to city councillors within a month which is likely to recommend that the city consider sites other than the council’s favoured Kent station railway location.

Mr Gavin has repeatedly said he favours the construction of a 5,000-6,000 seat conference centre near the railway station on CIÉ-owned Horgan’s Quay land.

The city included the massive project in an ambitious local area plan for Horgan’s Quay which fed into the overall masterplan guiding the regeneration of the city’s docklands.

When CIÉ and their development partners, Manor Park Homes, announced revamp plans for Horgan’s Quay, talks began with Cork-based developer Paul Montgomery, who is prepared to build the conference centre.

But despite intensive talks, they have proved fruitless.

“The Kent Station site is the favoured site. But there is no guarantee that a conference centre will be built here,” Mr Gavin said yesterday.

Mr Gavin declined to criticise CIÉ and Manor Park Homes. But he said: “The various parties haven’t enthusiastically embraced the proposal for this site.”

Now, frustrated with the apparent lack of progress, Mr Gavin is preparing a report for councillors which will suggest that other sites be considered.

Any site within two kilometres of the city centre, including the vast docklands region, would be suitable, he said.

Tourism and business interests have repeatedly stated that securing a conference centre for the city is vital to boost business.

The Cork Marketing Partnership, which was launched last week to market the city nationally and internationally, is also planning to target lucrative conference business.

Councillors called on Monday for swift action.

[Pug]

Originally Posted by kite

Joe Gavin said he will present a detailed report to city councillors within a month which is likely to recommend that the city consider sites other than the council’s favoured Kent station railway location.

Hurrah! some sense at last. They wanted to build a conference centre in a run down area with no bus link, no easy transport to city centre and traffic congestion and a 19th century rail building and 15th century level of service

Originally Posted by kite

Mr Gavin declined to criticise CIÉ and Manor Park Homes. But he said: “The various parties haven’t enthusiastically embraced the proposal for this site.”

how is that for diplomatic - fair play to his patience.

Originally Posted by kite

Councillors called on Monday for swift action

Who are they calling on? themselves? Why did they wait until now? or are they admitting they have no power and rely on J Gavin.

Douglas Golf CLub meeting this day week about the new course. I'd say it will be a yes.

[Micko]

Is this conference centre going to be similar in shape to the Odessey Arena in Belfast in that it will have 4 sides, and a flat area in the middle ?

[kite]

O’Callaghan close to netting Cork Con deal

By Tommy Barker, Property Editor Irish Examiner
DEVELOPER Owen O’Callaghan is the closest of rival bidders to acquiring Cork Constitution’s grounds.


The relocation deal could net the club up to €30 million and top-notch replacement facilities.

Discussions have advanced considerably between O’Callaghan Properties and the club in the past week and a deal may be imminent, sources say.

City manager Joe Gavin last month came out very firmly on the club’s sale plan, saying the sporting lands would not be re-zoned for development and must be kept for sport or amenity purposes.


For any development to have a chance of succeeding at Temple Hill, there would have to be some sort of community/public gain and amenity offering.

Con’s land adjoins a corner site owned by Eircom, and the city council has confirmed plans to transform the five-acre Beaumont Quarry — which is just across the road — into a public park.

The rugby club, which is one of the most successful in the country, is in need of more space and practice pitches. They approached a number of developers last year with a view to selling their lands at Temple Hill.

The 12 acres are most likely to be developed for residential use if re-zoning can be achieved.

Cork Con was this week close to securing its hoped-for replacement lands at Ballyorban/Moneygourney, for up to seven new pitches and a sports pavilion.

Meanwhile, members of Douglas Golf Club are to vote at an EGM on Wednesday next, March 21, on whether or not they will accept a proposal from Castlelands Construction to sell their existing course for redevelopment, in return for a cash windfall and improved replacement facilities closer to Carrigaline.

[theblimp]

Herr Gavin's media announcements may have more to do with an article in the current issue of Business Cork, than a genuine upcoming announcement - I mean, how many newspaper pages over the past 18 months have carried something along the lines of 'City Manager to announce major conference centre for Cork'.

The Business Cork article gave an image of what had been proposed for the Showgrounds site, and the fact that this is now scuppered since Mr. G. wishes to create a 'park' there.

[jungle]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is that the city council are considering handing over Christ Church (former city records office) to the Triskel for use as a perfromance space.

I don't know if this would be in addition to their current premises or would involve them moving out of there with that location coming onto the market.