Developments in Cork

@Praxiteles wrote:

More from today’s olim Cork Examiner on the new terminal building at Cork Airport. I annot figure out why Academy St. is so obsessed with the subject:

I eventually got a trolley, which was an obvious cast-off from Aer Rianta at Dublin Airport as it bore a sticker to that effect.

I informed the Aer Rianta member of staff at the information desk about the delay in trying to get a trolley and her response was: “We have had four flights arriving at the same time.”

Cork international what?

University Collage Cork’s prominence as one of the major players in development in the city may be under pressure if the contents of an open letter sent to staff members last week prove true. An extract from the 13 page letter on the above matter goes as follows;

The Finance Committee of the GB reported recently that the ‘unfunded’ capital deficit was 41.16 million euro. The same Finance Committee reported that UCC is likely to exceed its overdraft facility of 9 million euro on the current budget. UCC reported officially to the HEA that our current debts exceed 100 million euro. Within that 100 million, it is claimed that the 10.6 million borrowed for the Medical Building is ‘funded’, because UCC expects [in the future] to earn money from economic fee-paying students in medicine that will help pay off the debt.
Likewise, for approximately 60 million of the total debt, it is hoped that specified future earnings will help discharged the debts. None of these expectations of future possible income-streams changes the reality that:
(a) UCC is in debt to the tune of approximately 100 million euro;
(b) UCC currently pays a significant amount of its current income on interests charges;
(c) these debts will be passed on to the next generation and will seriously hinder developments because our future earnings are already committed to paying off debts incurred during your presidency. Can you confirm what UCC pays annually in interest charges on its total debts?
These figures vary from month to month, but the unfunded capital deficit has increased every year since you came into office as President. We now seem to have reached a crisis with the proposed IT Building. Can you confirm, or can you arrange for any of your officials to confirm, that the HEA and/or the Department of Education and Science has agreed to fund the costs [or some of the costs] of this building? If not, is UCC about to add an extra 60 million euro to its ‘unfunded’ capital deficit? 😮

@mickeydocs wrote:

I’d imagine they could generate quite a sum of money by putting the old greyhound track on the market. It is disgraceful that nothing has happened at such a prominent site for almost ten years.

Ascon / Rohcon moved on to the site 2 weeks ago AFAIK.
Diggers were working there last Friday.

New IT Centre. Anyone have a few renders to see how it’ll look like?

@A-ha wrote:

Oh and if it’s Dunnes…. don’t even bother telling me, thats the one thing I don’t wanna know!

Penneys was mentioned

😮 CCC have refused permission to Frinailla for the redevelopment of the Dennehy’s Cross garage showroom and former post office.
There were 3 objections to the proposel, An Tasice, the Parish Priest and as usual the CSD.
A victory for NIMBYism?

Somewhat off-topic, but I liked these shots of the Opera House and the new apartment development on the opposite quay (Camden Wharf I believe, but please correct me if wrong). I know we have discussed the apartment building in detail here before, but I thought this photo would put it in some context as to its architectural merits or otherwise. The Opera House facade is a significant improvement on what was there before.

And this photo shows the Opera House and behind it the Crawford Art Gallery & School of Art. One of my favourite buildings in Cork.

Any developments on the potential shopping centre encorporating The Cineplex, Central Shoe store and a number of sides fronting St Patrick street ?

The Sunday Independent reports on the Debt Crisis in UCC.
THE PUBLIC Accounts Committee (PAC) is to ask severe questions of the Department of Education over issues in respect of the construction of an IT building at University College Cork (UCC) when the committee meets next Thursday.
The news comes as the Sunday Independent has learned that UCC has begun construction on a €65m IT building without full and final approval from the department or the Higher Education Authority (HEA). As a result, the college, which is in substantial debt, risks losing its capital funding. This would force it to assume the significant construction costs.
Full Exclusive story here http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1702332&issue_id=14742