Clarendon Street

Rain forest re-colonizing, this time in concrete planters . . . . I think I’m right in saying that some of us knew this would all sort itself out if we all stayed calm.

Painting the street as well

Theyre refilming Day of the Triffids currently on location around Ireland

The new planters etc on Clarendon Street are actually a very effective (and cheap) means of creating more pedestrian space on the street and altering the mood. It should also be pointed out that the Council have also removed cycle rails and bollards to accommodate the anticipated higher level of footfall this street will see when works on Grafton Street begin in January.

The planters are exactly the type of common sense solution that should be applied elsewhere in the city where a greater degree of pedestrian space is required.

On Parnell Street (east section) for example… The criminally poor street environment here hasn’t been touched in any meaningful way for decades, and surely the poor quality of buildings and shops and everything else on the street reflects its neglect by DCC. However, the view of the Council in 2011 when Dublin Civic Trust published a study of the street (see viewtopic.php?f=49&t=3777&start=150 ) was that the funds simply weren’t there to do anything with the street. The only hope was that Luas works would improve the situation, and An Bord Pleanala have included a condition in the Railway Order for BXD that the street here be substantially repaved.

However….curiously the pavement of Talbot Street and Parnell Street West (main shopping end) are both being relaid at present. In the case of Parnell Street West, the works are to replace the red eurobrick with concrete flags (and unfortunately, cheap looking mass concrete kerbing). Its welcome certainly, but where are the priorities here? How come this street (which wasn’t in that bad nick) gets bumped up the list for works while its poor east end cousin languishes in third world conditions decade after decade?

I also question why Grafton Street requires a Part VIII in order to complete its repaving (albeit a pointless exercise where no-one’s opinion as expressed in the ‘public consultation’ phase is considered – ditto Thomas Street Dual-Carriage Way/QBC – ditto Mountjoy Square ACA), while Talbot Street and Parnell Street works can go ahead without any recourse to planning.

Its all a bit muddled isnt it?

Anyhow, lest I be accused, as usual, of DCC-bashing…kudos to the Council in this instance for at least picking up something from all those continental European city breaks and making effective use of temporary planters etc on Clarendon Street. More please!

While on the subject of Parnell Street East….one of the pilot project set out in the new Public Realm Strategy (I’m going to do a related post) http://www.dublincity.ie/Planning/Documents/YDYVPublicRealmFinal.pdf:

North East Inner City Quadrant (5)
This project pilots design and management approaches to improve quality of everyday life and to identify design opportunities that may reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in an inner urban residential area. The area of Parnell Street between O’Connell Street and Gardiner Street should be the focus of a sustained examination and assessment – in conjunction with local businesses – with a view to producing a set of proposals to enhance and improve the public realm at this location.

Perhaps as a start the Council might make a response to the Dublin Civic Trust study? And also outline its views on the RPAs plan for the street?

Nothing says temporary like a good planter. A city full of planters, mmm, lavender and birch maybe. What about permenant city spaces.

Nothing is permanent in our 21stC pop-up city…

Recent developments on Clarendon Street

Paint a stripe up the planter, call it street art and save the money from not having to put cladding on the bare concrete planter.

Good to see the paint wearing off already! JOKE

If it is an attempt at guerrilla pedestrianization, why use graphics that are going to scare pedestrians into thinking that it’s some kind of lethal test zone for rocket propelled bicycles?

Looks more like traffic directions from Apple Maps

I have from time to time seen pics were various Cities have done this kind of zaney wackey decoration to great effect……but this just doesn’t work.

I think it may be better situated on a pedestrian precinct or in a more contemporary locale!

C

It’s a relatively sound idea – but that stretch of street has nothing to add to it. The increase in footpath would be better served in front of cafes and the like, so the space could be exploited – instead it’s merely a wider pavement with zany road markings