cork docklands

@jungle wrote:

His legacy at UCC was mixed.

He expanded the university, oversaw a lot of new building and increased industry links to the extent that UCC’s industry funded research is almost as much as UCD and TCD combined. However, he left it with a massive pile of debt. Although he liked to portray his opponents as old-fashioned academics, the major concern was over whether UCC could service the debt.

Alot of that debt had to do with Govermental commitments being reneged upon.

I believe Greg Coughlan of Howard Holdings made a very impressive presentation about the Docklands in Cork this morning. It seems they will lodge for planning in November for a €2bn scheme which will include the new event centre. he called for a joint approach between all aprties to deal with the port and serveso issues but suggested that the opportunity for Cork docklands will pass if there isnt progress soon

28 September 2007

€2bn Cork docklands plan lodged within weeks

By Niamh Hennessy and Eoin English
PLANS for the €2 billion development of Cork’s docklands are to be lodged within weeks, in one of the largest single applications in the history of the State.

The development will include two hotels, 600,000 square feet of office space and a 30-storey residential tower.

It will also include an “iconic building” likely to house a restaurant run by a world-renowned chef such as Richard Corrigan or Gordon Ramsay. Provisions have also been made for a metro system.

Howard Holdings chief executive Greg Coughlan said his firm has engaged London-based architecture firm Foster and Partners — which is involved in the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site in New York — to work on the project. Work is to begin at the end of next year.

“What a coup for us to get them in the first place and what a great fillip for the project to attract such a company,” he told a Cork Chamber business breakfast yesterday.

He said the biggest objection to the development of the docklands was the relocation of the Port of Cork and the vacation of the two Seveso sites — the Topaz and Gouldings’ sites in Centre Park Road.

The Port of Cork is demanding a €60 million to €65m relocation package to leave the city centre quays but Mr Coughlan said it needed to vacate quickly for the docklands project to move forward.

He said all parties involved need to sit down together and work out a solution. He did not rule out Howard Holdings contributing to the relocation costs for the port.

“The Port of Cork must move down-river. Each of us: developers, government, the local authority and the Port of Cork itself must work together to facilitate this critical step and an immediate dialogue needs to commence to achieve it.”

Mr Coughlan said nothing of scale would happen in the docklands until the two Seveso sites were vacated.

Meanwhile, the council has made a submission to government seeking the designation of the docklands for targeted tax incentives in the December budget.

The incentives sought include tax breaks for relocating the Seveso sites, incentives for dealing with contaminated land, incentives for attracting foreign investment, the provision of public infrastructure by the private sector, grant aid for owner occupiers, and tax breaks to provide premises for biopharma, IT, financial services and third and fourth level R&D interests.

“It is important that provision is made in the forthcoming budget and finance act for whatever supports the Government decides to provide, as uncertainty could cause some developments to be delayed,” said city manager Joe Gavin.

@Pug wrote:

Couldnt the council have made a submission re tax incentives ages ago? how many TD’s do we have for Cork? what are they doing? Michael MArtin is claiming all headlines on it as Minister for Enterprise

A few years ago I wrote an email to all of our elected TDs saying that they should get together as a united force if they ever wanted Cork to develop to its full potential, examples at the time were the new terminal at the airport, the kinsale flyover and the pathetic budget for city of culture 2005! Every single one of them replied except one Mr. Michael Martin……..suppose he was a bit too busy to reply to trivial matters

@Pug wrote:

I’m not defending M Martin in the slightest but every TD writing back to you is great but what action did they actually take? Writing letters is easy, local councillors minutes seem to consist of how they “write to the minister to express their outrage” at something. Nothing actually seems to happen though. I will happily write letters to people for the money and expenses that councillors get.

Of course nothing was done! 😮 😉

@kite wrote:

Following the first meeting of the Docklands Forum, Cllr. Dara Murphy (FG) threw his toys out of his playpen and demanded that 3 Councillors be appointed to the new forum panel.
Hopefully this demand will not find faviour with the city manager or the Chairman, Prof. Wrixon.
These “junket junkies” have had their chance and blew it over the past 8 years. It is now time to leave it to the professionals before the will to develop, or the cash runs out.

hear hear. Why this forum, if its so important, wasnt established 5 years ago is amazing. Its a talking shop politically designed to make it look as if something is happening. The councillors knew it was happening, the TD’s knew it so there should be no more councillors appointed. THey already have a motion anyway to form a group within their own city council to liaise with the councillor on the forum

If the governement were so concerned with it, where is the announcement on tax incentives?.

Drive on private enterprise, only way to get something done

the only people that will drive on the docklands are the developers – i’m all for the city keeping an eye on them and thats what the public planning applications are for, so people can respond, but if we were waiting on the council and politicians, we’ll be waiting a long time

Am I getting muddled about the location of the first pic or is there no way that ship can get out?

@THE_Chris wrote:

Am I getting muddled about the location of the first pic or is there no way that ship can get out?

The bridge opens (sideways, not up and down) to allow traffic up and down the river.