Developments in Cork

that was a great department store! Got my 1st Holy communion dress there.

Did TCH not already have planning permission to construct an office block on that site. OCP took it on as part of the Academy Street deal I thought.

@THE_Chris wrote:

THE LOBBY BAR

🙂 Ah yes, forgot about that, remember going there on many occasions…can’t ever remember leaving.

@Spinal Tap wrote:

The Original Reardens Bar Washington Street now a massive “superpub”
Egans Patrick Street now Jack & Jones
The Launderette McCurtain St now a barbers.

If we could only lose Singers Corner – what a neglected eyesore.

😉 I understand this property is on the market with J.D.Sullivan & Co Auctioneers, so things could be happening.

CCC have granted permission to Irish Nationwide to convert number 34 St. Patrick’s Street (with frontage onto Cook St.; currently vacant) to banking use and join the ground floor unit up with its current base at number 33.Extensive cahnges are to be made at upper levels for office use.
This follows years of applications concerning 33, 34 and 35 (former Burgerland, now Monsoon) as Irish Nationwide tried to expand their premises. The council’s insistance that the conversion of retail to financial on the street was unwelcome was the main stumbling block.
In submissions, concerns were raised that the door at number 34 be retained in the development, as there is ‘good reason’ to believe that it is the original 1920’s entrance. It was also argued that there has been no changes to the development plan since the last refusal and the conversion from retail to financial should not be allowed.
Indeed, the planners report reccomended refusal on the grounds thatthe development would “result in the loss of a preferred retail use on the prime retail frontage in the City Centre“.
As is becoming all too familiar, senior planners and managers within Cork City Council have taken the decision to ignore the advice of their planners. The planners are not perfect, but at least they adhere to democratically established development plans!
The development was granted with conditions which rule out the proposed limestone shopfronts and retain the existing painted cement-rendered front and 1920’s doorway. Importantly, the ‘zig-zag’ detail which survives on no.33 around the doors and windows is to be replicated at no. 34. It was present on number 34 before being rendered over at some stage.
So, maybe a defeat for proper planning, but at least they paid some attention to the architectural merit of the building by refusing the boring new limestone shopfront and conserving the original features.

@Radioactiveman wrote:

The new railings at the Beamish and Crawford site on South Main Street have been mentioned here before. They are pretty appalling by any standards and detract hugely from what is a beautiful building. A poured concrete wall has been topped with bog standard galvanised steel railings, and then large square bars have been inserted in the gaps in between. Not alone those it look bad, it indicates some level of incompetence that the architect/engineer could not build a wall and find some railings to match.
They were being painted earlier today, so maybe there’s more to come. I’ve attached some images of the monstrosity below.
Its a tiny point, but take a look at the fleur de lis on the large supporting bars- if these had been omitted the look of the whole thing might have been improved- at least everything would have been at a uniform height.

UPDATE
Obviously due to my vigorous campaigning on the matter 🙂 , Beamish and Crawford have sprung into action. The railings are now being painted, the unsightly metal bars are being removed and the poured concrete is being clad to give it ‘ye olde stone wall’ look.
I’ll put up an updated picture when I can get it, but I’m not sure such a finish is appropriate here. Wouldn’t good quality brickwork or render have been more in keeping with this almost industrial location?

On a seperate note – a few posts back I mentioned the use of boardwalks on the quays in Cork – like in Dublin – would be good. Yesterday in Dublin I was walking up town from work and I took the boardwalk route (usually go a different way), it was an experience to say the least! I had to walk past a few groups of people who were eh… a bit intimidating! I was thinking this is majorly dodge! Then on the news this morning, and also on eveningecho.ie, there was a report that the Gardai are cracking down on anti-social behaviour and drug dealing on the Dublin boardwalks! Supposedly over the past few months they have gone down hill big time! Meant to be used to regenerate the city centre and for tourists but that hasn’t gone to plan! Just thought I’d bring it up! 😮

@kite wrote:

😮 I agree with your comment “a defeat for proper planning”
Just how dull and boring do our city fathers want Patrick St. to be?

thats a disgrace! they seem to be really worried about the lack of short break tourism in the city alright ! They go and turn one of the most central prime units on the main shooping street in the city into a bank? Theres no justification for that, especially when there is numerous new developments lying vacent for this type of use and a need for good retail space in the city centre and they go and do that, cant get over that decision!But back to before the change of use, everyones always saying that theres not enough big premises for the big names in the city centre and this was a good example of a prime unit and was lying vacent for months and still not taking over, can anyone explain this? Everyone has there own opinion but I just cant come to an answer , theres plenty of perfect units around that are just simply not been taking over and i dont see this happening in other cities like dub, lim or galway!? take lapps quay,lavits quay, camden quay,gearges quay,hickeys on maylor st and evan mahon point? :confused: