Academy St Development

[d_d_dallas]

OK, so not sure of the name (Opera Centre?). This behemoth of assembled sites is beginning to emerge from it's scaffolding...

[d_d_dallas]

A contribution: **new** street emerges

[d_d_dallas]

but like Dunnes, for one good side street we get this on the other side

[d_d_dallas]

actually that last post might be Dunnes... ooops!

[d_d_dallas]

apartments apartments apartments

[d_d_dallas]

Patrick St presence surprisingly minor. Must. Assemble. More. Sites. Next. Time

[d_d_dallas]

Academy St itself...

[reddy]

Maybe its the beautiful weather but that doesn't look too bad. The scale seems appropriate and it knits into the existing fabric reasonably well. It'll be interesting to see it finished. Thanks for the pics.

[Radioactiveman]

Thanks for the images.

It seems to be coming together nicely. I think, once the Patrick Street facade emerges, we'll see that it was a mistake to remove the old Examiner Office building. It'll be great to view the Crawford through ( a now widened ) Faulkner's Lane.
The Patrick Street side of Dunnes looks impressive, but the side streets and rear of the Dunnes development is shaping up to be predictably awful. Activity on these streets is going to be limited given the lack of shopfronts.

[Angry Rebel]

Originally Posted by Radioactiveman

the side streets and rear of the Dunnes development is shaping up to be predictably awful. Activity on these streets is going to be limited given the lack of shopfronts.

Was that inevitable given the increased space given to Faulkers Lane? (ie they weren't going to give up floorspace/footprint if they could avoid it?!) And will the miserable side street be used as service entrances etc, which do need to be dealt with somewhere?

[Cliff Barnes]

Originally Posted by Radioactiveman

Thanks for the images.

It seems to be coming together nicely. I think, once the Patrick Street facade emerges, we'll see that it was a mistake to remove the old Examiner Office building. It'll be great to view the Crawford through ( a now widened ) Faulkner's Lane.
The Patrick Street side of Dunnes looks impressive, but the side streets and rear of the Dunnes development is shaping up to be predictably awful. Activity on these streets is going to be limited given the lack of shopfronts.

Should all those streets as far as the river now be pedestrianised apart from deliveries.They are quite narrow and limited parking.It would really improve that part of the city.The lane between the new Dunnes and The Savoy seems like a lost opportunity to get some life and light into that lane.

[Radioactiveman]

Whats the word on occupants?
H&M along with Topshop/Topman are signed up. I heard rumours of HMV moving from Patrick Street.
Any other ideas?

[jungle]

Originally Posted by Radioactiveman

I heard rumours of HMV moving from Patrick Street.

I heard HMV could well be moving from their current premises, but the old Virgin Megastore was the rumoured destination.

[Radioactiveman]

Much of the scaffolding and hoarding has now been removed from the Patrick Street facade. It makes Le Chateau look ridiculous, especially the stone steps to the first floor. The interaction of this new development with old at this particular location is an absolute failure.

[phatman]

Originally Posted by Radioactiveman

Much of the scaffolding and hoarding has now been removed from the Patrick Street facade. It makes Le Chateau look ridiculous, especially the stone steps to the first floor. The interaction of this new development with old at this particular location is an absolute failure.

Typical. Any photos?

[Yossarian]

Re: the green and red tiled facade on academy street, was that always there? it's very pretty

[jungle]

The tiled bit was always there.

I'm trying to recall what it used to be like. If I'm correct, the windows directly above the tiled are were there before the development too, but I think the floor above that has been added.

[Yossarian]

you know i'm really looking forward to seeing the Patrick St facade, does anyone have a render of what it's to look like?

also, are there any shop fronts facing the opera house/lane side? if not thats a massive shame, all those smaller alleys have the potential to be another french church st or better. the last thing we want to do is, well, firstly homogenise our city blocks, but secondly orientate those milk cartons solely to the widest street available. this. is. not. a. grid. city.
.

[green_jesus]

Render...

[Yossarian]

to be fair in that particular render it looks all right, a bit flash but hey.

[Radioactiveman]

From today's Examiner:

International fashion chain H&M are to be one of the key retailers in Cork city centre’s almost completed €500 million Opera Lane development.
In a welcome jobs boost to the city, 100 to 150 jobs are expected to be provided in the store which will open in late autumn.

H&M’s long-anticipated arrival will be seen as a boost to the O’Callaghan Properties development on St Patrick’s Street, where identities of new traders have been expected since late last year. The collapse in the retail economy has, however, seen negotiations drag out over a longer than expected period.

H&M’s confirmed arrival to a 27,000sq ft unit at the corner of Academy Street/Emmet Place is expected to trigger several other completed signings from traders keen to ally themselves to such a strong international brand.

Financial director of O’Callaghan Properties Brian O’Callaghan described the development as "great news for the project, and for Cork."

He went on: "It is a big marquee brand and its arrival is a ringing endorsement of the scheme. We are looking forward to announcing other major names in the coming weeks."

An OCP spokesperson said that Opera Lane (the original name Opera Avenue has been amended) was 75% let or in advanced legals, and the adjacent Half Moon Street development had 60% of its retail space negotiated, via letting agents Savills.

Swedish-based fashion retailer H&M has more than 1,800 stores worldwide, in over 34 markets, and has 10 outlets already in Ireland, primarily in and around Dublin, but also in Limerick and Athlone.


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Good to see they've taken our advice and dropped the pretentious 'Avenue' from the title.

[Radioactiveman]

www.operaavenue.ie

www.operalane.com

[Leagna]

No chance to see it... Is it like the render version?

[Radioactiveman]

As expected, NEXT have confirmed as tenants in the Academy Street/Faulkner's Lane development. Presumably this will lead them to vacate their cramped Merchants Quay store.

[Cliff Barnes]

Originally Posted by Radioactiveman

As expected, NEXT have confirmed as tenants in the Academy Street/Faulkner's Lane development. Presumably this will lead them to vacate their cramped Merchants Quay store.

Merchant Quay has a good few empty units allready.

Time to re-develop that awful mall and Quay facade ?