Habitat Building, College Green
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I was going to say “major comparison retailer” but I thought that would sound too “plannerish”. Do you really think that the best use for this building is a discount foodstore (or any supermarket for that matter)? This should be the setpiece public space for the city. Set piece public space anchored by discount foodstore with internally illuminated signage! Read the planning application and weep.
Link to the story in today’s Irish Times
Not sure I’d agree with the term ‘discount foodstore’. College Green is definitely a set-piece in the city, but the uses of the buildings is only a small part of that equation. If Lidl can afford the rent, then great. It’s high time a fuller range of services existed in the city centre, and a fuller range of supermarket options- there’s M&S, Dunnes, etc., so why not the rest?
And I don’t live in the cc but I’d use it, say, on the way home, as alonso noted.
If they get the treatment and finishes right – agreed, signage is key – then I have no issues.
Interesting article from last Saturday’s Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jul/11/supermarkets.retail@StephenC wrote:
Oh come on ctesiphon! Its a ridiculous choice for such a low order use. And what does it say for all the other grand plans on OC Street if such a promient site cant attract a major retailer.
.major retailers rely strongly on footfall which the habitat site doesn’t really have. What it does have is access to large numbers of soap dodgers who have a lot more use for affordable groceries than they do for 4 pieces of wood tied together with string for €999.99
re the split – is there any reason why the split in habitat was half and half ie could lidl not just have a vertical circualtion zone and then drop immediately to dame street level? – be crap for suffolk street’s frontage but hey ho dat’s progress
No problem with Lidl – unlike Spar / Centra / Londis, they seem to respect heritage buildings. Any I saw in Bavaria were simply branded with their logo …
Apparently Abercrombie and Fitch considered the site, but refused as they thought the Area was too downmarket.
They’ve obviously got high aspirations. Their London Store is just off Savile Row.
I’d be happy to see them there, to be honest. They did a really good job on the London store, which is an 18th century listed building. There’s no signs outside or anything.
The split stories present no problems for trollies. Have been in a couple of supermarkets overseas where you just roll the trolley on to a special escalator, which carries it up and down … you wouldn’t want to load it to high, mind. Is slightly worrying how shabby Westmoreland Street has become but don’t necessarily see this as an extension of that. I doubt they’ll want to make the place tatty a la Parnell Street and reckon what we might be in line for is a fancified version of the store like the Dunnes on Georges Street.
@thewillow wrote:
Could the City Council object to the change of use?
Lol given the junk that DCC have been letting through, do you think they’d care?… And even if they did, why should they?
This is one where I’d refer you to Paul Clerkin’s post – “No problem with Lidl – unlike Spar / Centra / Londis, they seem to respect heritage buildings.”
Lidl is in fact one of the very very few (with the exception of NCAD) on Thomas St that are actually somewhat responsible. As ctesiphon said, to which I’ll add a “+ 1” (:p), “If they get the treatment and finishes right – agreed, signage is key – then I have no issues.”
We must face facts. There must be convenient low-cost good-quality fresh fare available in the city centre if we are to cater to the new immigrant populations, indigenous post celtic tiger professionals, and any young families that we might aspire to have living city centre side.
Tut, tut, what am I saying – “convenient low-cost good-quality fresh fare available in the city centre”; that would require a revolution!…Or do we stick with the same over-priced shite from frequently non-compliant providers, where you have as much chance of a good selection of fresh veg as winning the lotto…
Up with Lidl College Green, is what I say – Viva la Recessionistas! 😀
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