Gaiety Centre

Excellent news! A department store would be perfect here. DCC have spent alot on a major upgrade to the street and I think taking out the office block would be very desirable. The only thing this street lacks unfortunately is sunlight which makes it unsuitable for outdoor establishments such as cafes. or stalls. It can be quite chilly on coller summer days.

As for the lack of native retailers in the area – I agree but I reckon thats capitalism for you. Arnotts could try a move but I think its unlikely any Irish group would have the resources to take on a development of this size.

It is good to see so many UK (and International – H&M are Swedish, GAP are US) retailers interested in Dublin. It will be interesting to see what difference this development together with the proposed new store on College Green will have to the area.

Personally, I think a lot has been invested in the Nassau St – George St quarter over the past few years and it is really paying off. The area look better and better.

Good bye to Eircom…perhaps they will dump their O’Connell Street offces as well and leave that free for something more retail/ arts orientated.

I agree. Retail space is so tight in the Grafton St area – anything new on the market is brilliant news. Better there than Liffet Valley anyway. As far as I know the asset stripping of Eircom is well underway – Soros &co selling it off piece by piece, as a result all of their (eircom) retail outlets throughout the country are up for grabs.

I agree Grafton Street needs some new paving. Eventhough the current cobble lock was only laid in 1987, it looks a bit Victorian and tacky etc. The leaking bins are also a sight for sore eye’s.

Large granite blocks like the ones outside Trinity on College Green would look brilliant.

It is a bit dreary looking isnt it. Although its funny as it was a major achievement when it was laid!.. pedestrianisation and all that. I remember a cringe moment on the BBC Holiday programme where the presenter said in a fake Irish accent ‘ this is an Irish pedestrianised street’ with the backdrop being a car filled ‘pedestrianised’ Grafton Street.

I think a stylish contemporary look for the street although I think a move away from white granite and stainless steel might be refreshing…surely our collective genius can come up with something that is both modern and lively! Also a move into some of the rundown properties on South William Street and the business premises on Nassau/Dawson St would be good to create a proper retail ‘quarter’. The bigger shops are forever complaining about the lack of suitably sized stores in the area.

The Gaiety Center is that a club/theater in Dublin ?

That’s next door.

Grafton St is’nt that bad, the red brick pavement makes it the warmest street in the city, even though it is a bit naff. Grey granite would be too dull & drab (also the paving outside Trinity just happens to be 250 years old) Similar sizes blocks today would cost millions.

A warm & sophisticated tan/beige/sandy colour would look really well, maybe highlighted in areas with granite.

Henry St has fairly good paving – although it’s hidden under a carpet of chewing gum – is there any point in spending a fortune on Grafton St if the same fate awaits it?
The new look paving in Patrick St, Cork is already looking shabby (the bit that’s done that is)

Chewing gum on Grafton Street?! Didn’t you know d d dallas, the upper middle class don’t eat chewing gum!

Its interesting to note that all the pavements around Merrion Sq, Government Bldgs & Kildare St are all immaculate. Indeed all pavements on the south side are spotless (with regard to chewing gum)

Look forward to the redevelopment of this street which is a bit dull and soul less at present, they should also make the Green Centre open up the Shopfronts onto Sth King Street, or alternatively open something in front of the facades e.g. cafe’s stalls etc with those gas heaters and awnings could be interesting.

Oh and Eircom has a vast amount of surplus land/properties, it certainly needed to be stripped out.

Theres no draw, or focus to Sth King St, to attract people down, something that will change with this development.

Interesting to note that although attractive Georgian buildings were lost on the site of the Stephens Green Centre, it is impossible to think of the area without it, it totally revitalised the Stephens Green/Grafton St South region, acting as a magnet for people in the city centre in a way that was previously unimaginable.

the dandylion used to pull a fair crowd of a weekend.
I loved the warren aspect of it. The centre is a horrid building, and I hope it doesn’t last too long into the future.

Now now alastair, don’t be harsh, it was the 80s.

We fared a pretty well considering the plans Michael Scott had for the site in the mid 70s.

any images of these plans online?

I quite like a lot of STW’s work. The goulding house is my dream home (with no storage space).