Look at de state of Cork, like!

@Pug wrote:

any thoughts (ideas / speculation) as to who the developer is that is looking to buy Douglas Golf Club and put houses on it? There was rumours of a land swap deal for a course in Carrs Hill as well. any thoughts?

There are 2 names I’m aware of. In the Irish Examiner, there was a report today of a bidder willing to offer up to 110m euro for the course. I can’t say who that bidder is because frankly, I’m not aware of anyone offering that amount. Its a pretty dramatic offer. When I know, I’ll let you know.

what’s the building in front of the fire station?

I assume you mean the new City Hall extension???

does anyone have an idea of the rental costs of retail space in Mahon Point?

Unit pending, rates were averaging in the mid-hundreds per sq m p.m.

Yeah – I was thinking that myself. You think they could have saved the space and allowed greater amenity or office area available by offering a bus service to go around a collect its suburban employees in the morning and drop them home at night – but hey, that’s modern Ireland. Environmentally conscious as long as I can use my car. 😉

(And yeah, there’s a multi-storey w/ 600 spaces right next to it and a new 550 space underground parking facility currently in planning as part of a new high-rise residential development across the street.)

Wasnt the decision on the O Flynn Eglinton St site due today? wonder if the city fathers gave it their blessing…

🙂 Though I had heard the rumours (which you may remember I posted some time ago), I finally received word from a member of the Deloitte & Touche organisation, confirming that the company was actively looking into vertically extending their historical premises on Lapps Quay (between Connolly Hall and No.5 Lapps Quay). These premises are listed structures. I have been asked not to post the name of the Cork-based architectural firm behind the design – but was told by D&T, if they decide to proceed with their plans – and after further CCC talks, intend to lodge an application for the development mid to late 2005 (design pending). The project should bring the firm increased, high-standard office space and afford a greater sense of uniformity along these rapidly developing quays.

(Deloitte & Touche offices can be seen to the left of No.5 Lapps Quay)

@lexington wrote:

Fourth, with the exception of Victoria Mills (fair enough, I accept V.M. is like one of those mean street-corner hustlers who reads to children at the orphanage on weekends – unsightly to look at but pretty on the inside), the standard of these so-called ‘high-rise’ has been relatively good and has not detracted from the sky-line in any negative way – nor residential amenity and privacy (which many residents now reluctantly acknowledge) – the city planners have, in fairness, been very careful and considerate about this issue.

Lexington, i do appreciate your annoyance with the sentiments of this group, who, like an taisce, seem to have it in their intent to stifle any decent development proposals, but the fact is that Bishopstown is, on the whole, a predominantly low-rise, low density residential suburb. Thus i feel that any development contravening this fact should be curbed, or at least be very carefully considered, and be restricted to the main arteries of Model Farm Road etc, and around Vitoria Cross. As regards the impact on the skyline, i have to disagree with you, in that i consider UCC’s Victoria Lodge development to have quite a negative impression, especially when travelling west along Western Road, by the clinic. The flat unimaginative roofs are quite obtrusive on the skyline, especially in the evening – this coupled with Victoria Mills really doesn’t lead me to agree with you about the city planners being ‘careful and considerate’ about this issue. To add to this, i find it unfortunate the impact CUH has, viewed from surrounding areas, due to it’s elevated situation, and while it does act somewhat as a ‘gateway’ from the western suburbs to the inner ones, the effect is, in my opinion, just too profound, and would question the condoning of furhter ‘high-rise’ in this area. But seeing as we dont live in a perfect world, it could be worse, and I’ll conclude that maybe we just need to be more selective and demanding as to the quality of these schemes, I’m all for building upwards if the situation is right, and if the intent is to mix aesthetics with economy of acreage, so maybe we”ll learn from Vitoria Mills, eh?!

In response to Bob Dole, well i have to agree about the Kingsley, the hotel you refer to across from the county hall, this building does sadden me everytime i look at it, it really could have and should have been so much more, considering it’s delicate situation along the Lee, and it’s being directly across from the council offices! Maybe the new extension will improve things a bit, but from any angle i have viewed the building I have not been pleased. As for Victoria Mills, I can’t say I see any merit in it’s design, akin to a duplo house, and the fact that an identical, but lower-rise, block is currently under construction next to it on the former petrol-station site adds insult to injury, but all this aside I think it does add to the area somewhat, could have been alot better though.
The new building by Sharman Crawford bridge that you mentioned; well it is an improvement on the streetscape, and is certainly of an ‘interesting’ design, but does seem to be muddled up somewhat, and im not sure about the section protruding towards UCC, at street level, I must inspect it in person more closely, however i am quite pleased with what i have seen so far, and I don’t think it’s quite so bad as you make out – what exactly displeases you so much about it, and what would you personally have deemed more adequate for the site in question?

this whole antihigh rise thing in bishopstown is pathetic – there are no high rise buildings in bishopstown! not one, jerry buttimer is beginning to make a fool of himself on this issue – and looked particularly silly on the failed section 4 attempt recently. bishopstown is admittedly predominantly low rise but we shouldnt be encouraging unsustainable and uninspiring designs just because that is what is there already. bishopstown, like any other established suburb in the city should not have high rise buildings inserted – but 4 and 5 and 6 storeys are appropriate if designed tastefully and sensitively – this is a city after all – the anti high rise people need to be told that they have nothing to be afraid of as there are no plans for high rise in bishopstown and that 4 storeys is not high rise – or even medium rise

i actually like victoria mills, it does not have a negative visual impact from any approach, doesn’t overlook, it is simple and unpretentious, AND BRAVE, looks very well at night. i have heard people whinge about this building as soon as they heard 9 storeys mentioned, before the structure was even being put in place. i honestly think that if that site instead had been developed as a cheap three storey red brick mock georgian confused looking building with 2 foot balconies that discolour before the contractor has left the site, people would not have uttered a thing –

we have worse buildings than this in the city that we should be talking about

@Bob Dole wrote:

…personally I find Victoria Mills above average, and I approve of the density for the site. I am much more offended by buildings such as that ugly hotel across the from the County Hall, and “pseudo architecture” like that Philisview Properties Building on Washington St. – it’s a project that would barely scrape a 4 in 2nd year, and looks like someone asked for an “architectural” design from someone clearly incapable of it. What I find sad about a building like this is that the client obviously would have paid for actual architecture, and instead was landed with this flabby “ah sure, a bit a’timber, some sticky out bits and some curved roofs’ll make it architecture alright” rubbish…

Bob, almost 90% of all architects I’ve talked to look at Victoria Mills with a smile. Whereas the general public by and large seem to disapprove. Similarly, ask the guy on the street what he thinks of 16 Washington Street West (Philisview Properties development) – generally he approves, whereas the architects I’ve questioned gasp in horror.

I suppose its the same way a hair-dresser can look at a clients hair and note the standard of a previous hairdressers technique – whereas the average customer may actually be quite unaware of such a technique, they’re happy as long as they think their hair looks okay.

I am aware of the architectural dynamics of Victoria Mills – even its innovations in terms of natural light accomodation, structural layout etc etc – but quite frankly, it is bland and uninspired from an aesthetics perspective. Personally, I am a fan of ye olde architecture (and I’m not talking about half-arsed copies – e.g. The Kingsley) – what I mean is, I love when a building displays a sense of flair. Where detail and aspect display the care and time that went into the formation of a building – as a positive and amenable contribution to a city-scape. I understand the economics and time constraints of modern property development quite well – but I still don’t see why such constraints need to offer us bland architecture. While architects may throw their noses up 16 Washington Street West because it does not represent their empirical modern view of ‘good’ design – the fact is, the building stands out, it’s something different – indeed a throwback – but at least it shows that the architect wasn’t afraid to conform to the standard red-brick, vertical lines, novelty balconies and monotonous style. And in fact, get your hands on the ‘blueprints’ – you’ll find yourself the internal and structural design of the building is actually quite clever itself.

I suppose, quite often, it comes down to a matter of opinion. There are those that cite Mahon Point as a quality architectural design. I don’t think so, but then that’s my opinion. Perhaps it is uniquely innovative (cough cough) it’s own right and in a way I may be unaware.

Further to that however, Magee Creedon have indeed produced some high-quality stuff – their Griffith Street and Coppinger Court designs are highly noted in my book.

-> Phatman, about Victoria Lodge, I agree – it ain’t the Lourve but it is relatively well shaded by trees and surrounding developments. But 5-storeys, high-rise???

😉 O’Flynn Construction 2003 Operational Profits record an increase of just over 10m euros @ 31.4m euros from 19.9m in 2002.

Merely a matter of bad phrasing phatman – that question at the end of my last quote was not actually directed at you – it was more me asking generally I suppose (in disbelief), how can people consider 5-storeys high-rise in the true sense of the word?

🙂 Quality Healthcare Ltd, the Isle of Man based Medical Care Firm, who recently purchased Shankiel Hospital – have today lodged an application for the premises w/ a development consisting of the retention of a two storey extension of 52 sq. metres providing more efficient hospital outpatient facilities; b) the construction of a single storey 125 sq. metre extension within the courtyard of the Annexe for use as a new operating theatre suite c) the demolition of an existing link building and the erection of a new single storey structure to accommodate a trolley lift shaft linking the main hospital building to the Annexe and d) Minor changes to window opes, a new water tank and ancillary site development works.

:rolleyes: Lance Investments have applied for the increase in apartments for their 2nd Phase Atkins Hall development at the former Our Lady’s Hospital on the Lee Road. The increase is to provide 98 apartments in this phase up from 82. The move comes in light of CCC’s refusal for Lance Investments proposed 232-bedroom, six-storey hotel on the site,

Pug – the Eglinton Street Tower is in Further Information. CCC are currently awaiting an EIS from Wilson Architecture. No objections to the development were lodged.

by the way, what was the info on that tiny site over by the bus station? i was away for the last while and someone tells me that 3000 sq ft went for some exorbitant sum of money? presumably the buyer is building something on it to recoup his money, whats the story? :confused: