Look at de state of Cork, like!
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Maybe when the Main drainage scheme is finished (when?) the Lee will become more attractive, it won’t be the open sewer it was heretofore. No wonder Cork turned its back on the river!
It’s true that money needs to be spent on the Quays, look at the Campshire in Dublin for example. There was some plan for a wallk to link the quays to Fitzgerald park at one stage. Unfortunately some of the heavisest traffic goes along the Quays, probably worse since some was taken off Patricks street. I wonder has the amount of traffic coming into the city fallen since the tunnel was built, as was promised and no doubt those pushing the new orbital route are promising the same. Some how i doubt it. Probaly more suburbanites driving in.
Cork needs to spend more upgrading the quays and putting in more cycle lanes. There wasn’t many of these when i lived there (2000)a ny more since? But does it have the money?
Hey Anto, CCC are currently working on a river/quayside walk that will link the city centre to the lee fields.
There are also plans in progress to develop cycle paths all along the quays.
@anto wrote:
Maybe when the Main drainage scheme is finished (when?) the Lee will become more attractive, it won’t be the open sewer it was heretofore. No wonder Cork turned its back on the river!
It’s true that money needs to be spent on the Quays, look at the Campshire in Dublin for example. There was some plan for a wallk to link the quays to Fitzgerald park at one stage. Unfortunately some of the heavisest traffic goes along the Quays, probably worse since some was taken off Patricks street. I wonder has the amount of traffic coming into the city fallen since the tunnel was built, as was promised and no doubt those pushing the new orbital route are promising the same. Some how i doubt it. Probaly more suburbanites driving in.
Cork needs to spend more upgrading the quays and putting in more cycle lanes. There wasn’t many of these when i lived there (2000)a ny more since? But does it have the money?
@mickeydocs wrote:
Hey Anto, CCC are currently working on a river/quayside walk that will link the city centre to the lee fields.
There are also plans in progress to develop cycle paths all along the quays.
Sounds good, Lee fields is fantastic green lung that almost comes into the city. Are they pinching some land off Pres, the Criket club, the Mardyke etc. Or a kinda boardwalk along side them? Good to hear they’re investing in cycle lanes too. Cork will be like Amsterdam, has the water, bridges all it’s missing is the bucycles and the Coffee shops
some of the walkway will be through the irish distillers site on the north mall with a bridge connecting with the land adjacent to the cricket grounds. There will be a boardwalk but only in the city centre.
BTW, a competition was recently launced to find a winning design for Kyrls quay. It is probably best to put a catalan flag with your entry 😉Any one see the article in last fridays examiner in relation to the government looking for a new site in Cork… the article mentioned that the government is looking to relocate to a 100,000 sq ft. office development, preferrably in the docklands. Any proposed deal will probably include the existing offices on sullivans quay… surely someone in here knows more… lex???
@anto wrote:
Sounds good, Lee fields is fantastic green lung that almost comes into the city. Are they pinching some land off Pres, the Criket club, the Mardyke etc. Or a kinda boardwalk along side them? Good to hear they’re investing in cycle lanes too. Cork will be like Amsterdam, has the water, bridges all it’s missing is the bucycles and the Coffee shops
Isn’t Sullivan’s Qy structurally unsound – or something equally dodgy? Which would be why the government want to quietly move office space and throw the existing site into the bargain. If they do move Eastwards hopefully it will be a bit more pleasing than their current home!
Has anyone noticed an improvement in water quality in the Lee or the Harbour area since the main drainage scheme was finished? It looks (and smells) the same to me!
What’s the story with the Village Inn in Sunday’s Well, it was supposed to have gone for a second planning application but it’s still standing getting uglier and probably more dangerous by the day.
Also, anyone know what Mr Hegarty is doing with the Good Shepherd’s now?Hey Corkdude- regarding water quality: recent tests suggest the water coming out of the new treatment plant in Little Island is cleaner than the water upstream before it comes into the city: the color of the water is related to agricultural pollution and not to sewage. So blame the farmers I say!
Its obvious now that plans do need to be put into place to build public better access to the river: for a start, the city could extend the possiblities of cafe-culture from the recently renovated pavements by renting out river barges to local pubs and restaurents – such as at the North Mall – a strategy used very successfully in many European cities.I’ve always found that the tidal nature of the Lee has a negative impact on utilising the quays. However this could be easily overcome by putting some kind of ‘weir’ (automated or otherwise), say, under the last two bridges before the two channels become one again. Just a thought – feel free to ridicule….!
As regards the effectiveness of the Main Drainage scheme, while there is undoubtedly a marked improvement in the quality of the river water, it will take some time for the river to regenerate itself, and for the visual effects to become apparent. Note that the scheme is simply processing the water itself, while the sludge and grime etc will have to be discharged naturally, over a gradual period, so don’t despair those of you who think it’s been a waste of 200 million squid.
As for your proposal blimp, it’s certainly an idea, one which wouldnt by any means break the corporation bank. Would be down more to environmental issues if it were ever to be considered, methinks. But I’m glad to see people are so enthusiastic about refocusing our attention on the river, such a so-far untapped resource, could be the making of the city. With proper planning and integrated schemes, as opposed to random non-complementing ones, there is a wealth of quay-side at our disposal. In particular the north quays downstream from Patrick’s Bridge, but as regards more extending the city-centre in terms of restaurants, shops and cafes etc, the whole quayside from Lavitts Quay as far as the Gate Cinema holds great potential.
Also, in response to Bunch, I would have to agree with you as regards the one-way nature of the quays, but perhaps more emphasis should be placed on pedestrian movement in the future, as im sure it will. The South Channel is largely ok, like you say, nothing spectacular, but does hold a certain charm, with the exception of the afforementioned fas building, which by the way, it is rumoured is to be demolished to make way for further development, should be interesting if anything comes of this.
Hello – sorry for not getting back sooner – but I was in Dublin the past 2 days at one or two meetings – and a spot of the ever stressful, last minute Christmas shopping. Big mistake! 😉
mickeydocs – the OPW plan to move the Revenue Commissioners to a city docklands site – they are looking for a long-term lease/sale for 80,000sq ft of office space and additional parking for up to 600 employees. Any deal, will in part include, the exchange of the 3/4 acre Sullivans Quay Government Buildings which also house FAS, Coillte and Dept of Marine offices – these departments will also be up for negotiation for an additional 20,000sq ft to 30,000sq ft. The existing Sullivans Quay buildings are structurally inadequate, at renovating the 100,000sq ft building would be exceptionally expensive. The site is valued at between 10m to 14m euros.
🙂 O’Flynn Construction have resubmitted their planning application for Eglinton Street to include an EIS – as requested. No changes have been made to the development.– in related O’Flynn Construction news, the company has sought planning to construct a new retail restaurant at it’s Eastgate Retail Park, next to KFC, for MBCC (Ireland) Ltd, – which will trade under the ‘Pizza Hut’ brand (who are also opening an outlet at Mahon Point in Feb 2005).
😮 O’Callaghan Properties have been teasing the Evening Echo w/ an insight to their planned 6-storey Academy Street retail and residential block. In article, Owen O’Callaghan apparently speaks of the 150m Academy Street development as fulfilling the commitment he made to CCC when he purchased the Mahon Point lands to reinvest back into the city centre. :rolleyes: (MacDonald Properties of Scotland had a rival bid of IR£50m on the site for which they planned a 500,000sq ft retail development versus the joint O’Callaghan Properties/McCarthy Developments bid of IR£42m) …anyway, O’Callaghan goes on to say how the design will be of a superior nature and host approx. 200,000sq ft of retail space, between 30 and 40 units of strictly international and national fashion brands (apparently, “allowing Cork rival the any of the best fashion retail districts of Europe”) with 80 apartments overhead. The article mentions the design stages are at an early stage with a collabrative host of European design firms (however, a preliminary “visionary” design has already been drawn up and seen by some), and a finalised design is expected mid to late 2005. Uhmmm. 😉often thought a bit more tree planting on the quays in Cork might be in order. Not great big Plane trees but something more suitable. Might be useful to hide stuff like Merchants Quay. Speaking of the Quays, the Gate Cinema was quite good but the apartments just above them are pretty dissapointing
lexington, do you have any idea of the price on the site for sale by cohalan downing beside the beamish and crawford units on the quays? beside the old ford plant, i mean
@anto wrote:
often thought a bit more tree planting on the quays in Cork might be in order. Not great big Plane trees but something more suitable. Might be useful to hide stuff like Merchants Quay. Speaking of the Quays, the Gate Cinema was quite good but the apartments just above them are pretty dissapointing
I very much agree – the quays should be tree-lined more in Cork, it’s a small but powerful addition to any city-scape. Merchants Quay most especially could do with it. However, I do know strategic plans for the MQ/St Patrick’s Quay area are in line for major redevelopment (St. Patrick’s Quay has for some time been due redevelopment for the St. Patrick’s Quay frontage of the Everyman Palace – plans are in the drawing room) and riverside walkways. A new pedestrian bridge is planned between MQ and St. Patrick’s Quay as part of the City Development Plan 2004. A boardwalk will extend along both quays – one of the plan aims includes ‘complimentary tree-linining additions’.
– As for the apartments over the Gate Multiplex, ‘box central’ – how utterly distasteful. I’ve always maintained my opinion of their unsightly nature – and its far from favourable.
sw101 – I assume that’s the 80,000sq ft Kennedy Quay site you’re referring to??? If so, offers in excessive of 4m euro were being heard on initial offering. My understanding is that this has been dramatically readjusted upward. I expect a final sale prices in or excess of 6m euros – but I could be wrong, I can’t really predict how bidders will go. :confused:Merry Christmas and the best of the season to all the contributors who make this particular thread such a special read, and especially to Lexington, Phatman, Dr_Dallas, Burge_eye, the blimp, etc… you guys know who you are 🙂
Echoing the sentiments of mickeydocs. I came kind’a late to the forum but have find it really enlightening over these past few months. Looking forward to more of the same for 2005 …….. fingers crossed may even be able to announce one or two projects personal to me early in the New Year!!! Happy Christmas y’all
Indeed – belated as this is, Merry Christmas to everyone – contributors and observers alike! I hope it is a warm, progressive and peaceful one – and with it, a prosperous New Year! I look forward to a prosperous 2005 for all of you and for Cork – let’s top 2004 and come out better than ever!!! 🙂
theblimp – interesting cover story on the small paper today (23rd December). 😉Yep, wishing everyone a very Happy christmas and New Year, and saying thanks for keeping this thread alive! Here’s to a prosperous new year for all of us, and to the redevelopment of Cork.
Thanks Lex, that article certainly raised a few smiles around these parts!!! To be fair to Joe I think he’s getting as frustrated as the rest of us at the Cork2005 scenario, and when you add into the mix the growing number of people who are now starting to do some big things themselves – while at the same time clearly stating that their work is NOT associated with the Cork2005 offices – he had to come out with something. Kudos to him for trying to be proactive – however, 3,000 capacity is not a ‘giant tent’ – one of our specialist designers has designed and constructed marquees that will take capacities anywhere from 8,000 to 22,000 ….. now they’re giant tents!!!
having worked in the Marina Comm Park adjacent to the Beamish site on Kennedy quay, if the surface there is anything like in the CommPk it might need some serious work subsurface. I believe there are some underground rivers in the area. In the comm park the road surfaces are like crazy paving, plus they take quite a pounding from trucks etc.
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