Look at de state of Cork, like!
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Just thought I’d mention a project that is rarely brought to attention – Fleming Construction’s 50m euro Market Square development in Mallow – effectively a town-centre redevelopment. Fleming Construction, who generally stick to residential development, are embarking on this, their first REAL commercial development project in Mallow – a town which has become an increasingly vibrant commuter and feeder town to Cork city and one embracing the results of pitching itself as such a town successfully.
Below are a few images of the Market Square development. In the end, the project will comprise of a new multiplex, shopping centre, residential units, offices and 456 underground parking spaces which will span beneath the entire development
And on the subject of Fleming Construction, here’s an image of their recently completed 61-apartment, 6-storey George’s Quay development which includes a few retail units, a restaurant and licensed premises. The original design was by CMG Architects but was later developed by Coughlan de Keyser Architects (of No.5 and No.6 Lapps Quay fame). The development is surprisingly large to the rear – its quay frontage is relatively narrow. Extensive courtyards and gardens, over a basement carpark, are provided to the rear of this frontage.
🙂 I can’t remember who asked this question a while back, but Harbour Point Golf Course was purchased for 11m euros by the owners of Cork’s 5-Star Hayfield Manor Hotel and the Royal Hotel, Killarney.
*UPDATES*😉 Werdna Ltd. through Murray O’Laoire Architects are expected to submit their revised application for Water Street in the next few weeks, assuming all goes according to plan. The new application will retain the central landmark tower, although it has now been reduced by 2-floors to 17-storeys (so I’m told, I haven’t actually seen the drawings yet so I can’t confirm that for absolute sure but the tower will remain). The tower height will not actually be altered much, I was so told, as the ground commercial units will now have a raised ceiling height. Minor elevational and layout changes have been made to the project plus a reduction in units numbers from an original figure of 400 to in and around 300. The boardwalk, business centre, underground car-parking and waterfront commercial units are all expected to be retained. But like I said, that’s what I got from a brief 2-minute conversation. I’ll get a hold of the drawings soon and confirm the definite spec. for you then. It’s a great project and I sincerely hope it gets the full-steam-ahead – as I do Eglinton Street.
😎 The Kilbree Investment Company are due a decision on their much needed 22-unit, 4-storey apartment development for the Lower Glanmire Road this Monday. The site is adjacent to Kent Station and is designed by Jack Coughlan & Associates.
I expect to be able to make a number of interesting announcements come the next few weeks – so fingers crossed!
Ladies and Gents
Any info or drawings on Clayton Loves plans for Carrigaline Town Centre? I know they are doing Douglas as well, any time line on either of them as to when they will be done?(this is purely selfish reasons, I just bought a house there and am looking to find out what developments are happening apart from Brideviews apartments near the Cogan garage!!)
cheersLexington (or any others who are in the know) Do you know if there are any residential developments on the horizon in Cloheen. I understand that one or two large land holdings have been sold in the area recently. Any ideas on what if anything is planned for this area?
@Pug wrote:
Ladies and Gents
Any info or drawings on Clayton Loves plans for Carrigaline Town Centre? I know they are doing Douglas as well, any time line on either of them as to when they will be done?(this is purely selfish reasons, I just bought a house there and am looking to find out what developments are happening apart from Brideviews apartments near the Cogan garage!!)
cheersI posted images of the Piton Properties Ltd (Clayton Love and Barry Collins) plans for Carrigaline Town Centre a few pages back.
I’ll have to get back to you on that one corkdood!Report on Cork in today’s Irish Times quotes Habitat as being the anchor for the Cornmarket Street Development.
I hadn’t realized there has been any decision/statement. Anyone know if this is true, or if there have been any other tenants confirmed?🙁 Although I have a lot of respect for the work Howard Holdings has and continues (even more so these past few months) to achieve in Cork – after a close inspection of their plans for a 7-storey, 125-bedroom hotel and retail and office development at Lavitts Quay – I have to issue a sigh of disappointment. Reddy O’Riordan Staehli have produced what is quite an awful awful building. Height is not an issue – and I have to say, the internal layout and basement parking provisions are thoughtful – but the general design is among thee most hideous to arrive at Naviagtion House.
Howard Holdings acquired the 16 Lavitts Quay lands in a deal with Thomas Crosbie Holdings – the land went in part payment for 30,000sq ft of new Irish Examiner and Evening Echo office space at Howard Holdings’ City Quarter development on Lapps Quay. TCH had previously attained planning for a 7-storey office building (which was initially to provide the new Irish Examiner HQ before the move to City Quarter) designed by O’Riordan Staehli for 16 Lavitts Quay – it wasn’t pretty, but it wasn’t ugly either. Just a little lazy. Though I had been aware of the Howard Holdings/TCH deal since early last year, and learned of Howard Holdings plans for Lavitts Quay – I never actually got around to viewing the early drawings of their hotel development. O’Riordan Staehli had been retained by HH from their deal with TCH.
What the hotel design effectively amounts to is this: similar to the Irish Examiner HQ, the building fronts onto Lavitts Quay at numbers 17 & 18 (16 is retained and incorporated) with a contemporary element of the building 3-storeys high. Basement parking is provided off Lavitts Quay at this point – and in fairness the frontage along the quay isn’t actually all that bad. Trouble starts as the buidling steps back to a plain white wall seven storeys high. At the 5th and 6th storeys a square teak box with seemingly the only 4 windows on the frontage, projects approx. 3-feet out, retracting to allow the 7th storey provide more plain white wall. It squares off like a huge brick. R. Arthur (Electricians/former Balloon Surprise premises) who refused to sell his property to TCH originally, has forced the buidling to cut an angular edge in it’s structure before fronting to the east on Half Moon Street – this elevation is pretty acceptable also. However, the jutted angle has no more than 6 box windows and is essentially a continuance of the plain white 7-storey frontage. Just 2 boxes, no design. If this is contemporary architecture – its very bad contemporary architecture. If it’s meant to be cutting edge, the edge is bleeding to death. The building looks utterly out of place with 16 Lavitts Quay (which is being retained) and even O’Callaghan Properties far more elegant and thoughtfully designed 21 Lavitts Quay (Patrick Cashman & Associates). The building may perhaps be acceptable were it to have an actually deisgn – or even if the Lavitts Quay frontage on the first 3 floors continued upward, incorporating more windows to take advanage of the beautiful water-frontage, and were the 7th floor now simply a square box, but perhaps a copper roof rounded back at it’s summit. The only other building that almost suits being alongside this disaster is the North Wall of the Opera House (before Murray O’Laoire updated it). On viewing the HH hotel development for Lavitts Quay, I only wish I had availed to view it earlier when asked – as the VIS passed before sight-line recently, I can only describe my facial reaction as the following -> 😮
🙂 On a lighter brighter note, the Further Information submitted by Cumnor Construction regarding its Sundays Well project has certainly changed mind on the project. Although initially I was oppose to the 7-storey apartment block, I have to say, Jack Coughlan & Associates have provided what is, in effect, one of their better designs of recent times. The building has been altered mildly but effectively – visual intrusion and spoil to the surrounding areas has been minimised signifcantly and through clever angular changes, structural rearrangements and innoative additions. The resident amenity area and gardens – with water landscaping is utterly charming, yet very contemporary. The balconies are designed to match the wooden decking that surrounds the building – and the red-brick former shop and bar fronting Sundays Well Road has been tastefully incorporated into the overall development. Its clear now why Further Information took so long to be submitted by Cumnor and JCA. It has won me over despite my original distaste for the project. 😀
phatman – regarding Habitat, Michael O’Donoghue (through a certain agent – affliated with Knight Frank, among others) had been in discussions with UK Department Chain John Lewis – as posted previously. Although I am aware discussions with Habitat, H&M and Zara (as well as others) had also taken place. John Lewis had been seeking a suitable southern Ireland location for a new department store. To the best of my knowledge, talks were still on-going with a number of tenants – however as Habitat having been strongly pushing for space in the development, it is no surprise that Rockfell Investments (Michael O’Donoghue) may indeed be looking to use his 9 retail units (= 120,000sq ft) for individual tenants as oppose to a department store entirely. That is not to say he may yet offer remaining units for such a use. CCC has however been anxiously trying to push bulky goods retail out of the city centre. I can know for sure by tonight if you want. Depending, I may also be able to get you a few other names. I’ll get back to you on it.I was having a brief talk with a gentleman earlier about a number of things, one of which involved the Cornmarket Street development by Rockfell Investments. Habitat have issued a Declaration of Intent to the development company regarding the Cornmarket Street development and have been thus allocated a sizeable unit. I was also given a list of other tenants/possible tenants but was asked kindly not to distribute these until later on in the year when a public announcement is more likely. The list I received comprises of those in talks and those agreed – it was not specified other than Habitat, who has and has not committed, but Habitat will not be the only ‘anchor’ store. It is stressed that all units are considered ‘anchor’ given their considerable size. The Habitat store will be Ireland’s 4th store after Galway – units already exist in Dublin and Belfast (an additional store in Dublin may open before completion of the Cornmarket Street development in Cork).
I remember a newspaper article some time back concerning Habitat’s expansion in Ireland and the Church site which is connected to the Cornmarket street development was mooted as the location they would choose in Cork. I’m just putting two and two together in saying this.
Also I think it would be better for the street if it was let to a number of “anchor tenants” instead of one large department store.I have to say I liked the idea of a department store at the development – Academy Street/Emmet Place retail development, the Capitol Cineplex and a number of docklands plans will bring plenty of ‘anchor’ tenants – but all the same, Rockfell’s Cornmarket Street development is a pretty nice one. Construction is due to begin late-January, early Feburary. A number of extensive subsurface excavations will be initiated beforehand, subject to this, main work is due for March/April.
@corkdood wrote:
Lexington (or any others who are in the know) Do you know if there are any residential developments on the horizon in Cloheen. I understand that one or two large land holdings have been sold in the area recently. Any ideas on what if anything is planned for this area?
Do you mean Clogheen? North of the city?
The 2 large land holdings I believe you may be discussing are the 36.8 acres on the Kerry Pike Road before Mackey’s Cross at Mount Desert, sold by Global Properties. That land was sold as ‘agricultural’ and is zoned within a strictly guarded Green Belt by Cork County Council. It won’t be possible to develop anything other than a possible owner-occupier single dwelling on the site unless the land is rezoned. The proposed new 500m euro North Ring Motorway is proposed to run nearby at Kerry Pike – so unless this alters the zoning of the area, no developments are planned, certainly not in the immediate future. The land had a guide price of 500,000 euros and sold for 608,000 euros.
The other land holding is the 70 acres nearby the aforementioned, sold by CCM Property. This too is agricultural land, and no plans exist for the site – other than a letting to a local farmer for rent of 5,000euros p.m. The land went for in excess of 850,000euros.
– another site, near Clogheen Church, managed spectacularly to gain planning for a small, low-key dwelling (apartment) development, however the site comes within a residential cluster area – and it was successfully argued that it does not strictly conform to Green Belt zoning conditions. This scenario certainly could not be debated for the other 2 sites already mentioned.
Thanks Lexington. You’re a mine of useful information as always. Was just curious as I had seen the for sale signs and there were some site clearance works going on so I assumed something big was on the cards.
I don’t think Clogheen is on main sewerage yet. Kerry Pike certainly isn’t. Until it is installed, I can’t see any great development going on in the area.
Here’s the Mahon Point website for anyone interested:
http://www.mahonpointsc.ie*UPDATES*
🙂 Although at this point and time I can’t comment on the finer details, I’ll just let you know (and trust me, it’s well before anyone else) that a MAJOR healthcare development is currently being planned for Cork city centre. The development is being co-ordinated with a local healthcare institution and is estimated to be worth in and around the 50m+ euro mark. The site for the development has already been acquired and is a location of excellent waterfront prominence. The backers of the development are well established with such development and not local (with the exception of the healthcare institution). I must inform you that this project is in pre-planning and that a formal announcement may not be due until late this year – but you heard it hear first. I’ll let you know more when and if I can.
This project is in addition to proposals for a 500m euro medical campus, which funnily enough contravenes with Cork County Council’s development plan, proposed by the Beacon Court Group at the Bandon Road Roundabout (along N25 – South Ring), on the outskirts of the city (near the Bishopstown Court SC Dunnes Stores).
bupa or the bon secours (or both) to build a new private clinic on the south channel of the docklands???
close to a proposed bridge???Afraid not mickeydocs – but sure it was worth the shot! 😀 It’s not a docklands site or BUPA or Bon Secours – so I’ll just leave it at that!
Geoff Butler of RORSA (Reddy O’Riordan Staehli Architects) is the man responsible for the monstrosity proposed by Howard Holdings for Lavitts Quay. Geoff was also involved with the far more pleasant St. John’s College building near Rutland Street. I have an image of the Lavitts Quay proposal – but am having difficulty posting it! Watch this space – I may get lucky!
*UPDATES*🙂 The Kilbree Investment Company have been granted planning for the development of a 22-unit apartment building with basement car-parking along the Lower Glanmire Road – across from Kent Station – subject to 20 conditions and despite 20 objections. The 4-storey building was reduced in height among other things in the grant. Appeals have 4 weeks – hopefully, failing that, construction will begin March 2005.
😮 I approach this with cautious optimism, but CIE Chairman John Lynch has confirmed that work will begin this year on the 25m euro redevelopment of Cork’s Kent Station. Local T.D. Deputy Noel O’Flynn has also confirmed this announcement, citing work is scheduled to be complete at the station for 2007.
The redevelopment will see the terminal and it’s platforms now face onto the waterfront along Horgan’s Quay, with new access roads for departure and arrivals. The platforms themselves will be completely refurbished and the extended terminal facilities will incorporate a variety of updated and new services. The plan, I am told, is to make Kent Station a vibrant centre that will remain consistently active throughout each day providing services not only to passengers, but nearby businesses and residents. New landscaping and groundwork will be provided along the new quay frontage and a large multi-storey car-park is proposed on the site of the existing terminal parking area. A new freight terminal will form part of the redevelopment as well as updated and improved maintenance facilities. The existing terminal will be completely refurbished inside and out, with a new roof covering supposedly proposed for the ‘dome-like’ canopy running along overhead of the main platforms.
However, despite this positive news (and I sincerely hope this doesn’t turn into another Bus Station scenario thanks to CIE), no indictaion has been given by CIE regarding their intentions for the larger redevelopment of the Horgan’s Quay site.
Are there any plans to extend the 2, 7A, 10 or 19 buses to Mahon Point, or is this to be a totally car-centric development?
:rolleyes: With the long-overdue advent of Kent Station being redeveloped – as announced by CIE Chairman John Lynch – further pressure has been put on the State-owned company to make a committed proposal for the remainder of Horgan’s Quay, inclusive of a development schedule.
I’ve posted a number of reports on the development situations regarding Horgan’s Quay – incl. outlines of certain proposals. I have also incl. a CG Image of one masterplan proposal commissioned by certain parties, among which was CCC, by Wilson Architecture. CIE had originally commissioned architects O’Mahony Pike to draw up their masterplan for the site – but no information has been ever clearly made public regarding this plan. However, some bits and pieces did filter out, incl. that which was interpreted as a recommendation toward high-rise structures on the site to accomodate the high-density accommodations required to fulfill Development Plan guidelines, maximising the return on the site and its investment etc etc On the back of that, other development companies attached to the project in conjunction with CIE commissioned their own design-proposals based on the OMP Masterplan and apparently one other report. In these proposals, a number of alteratives were devised – incl. one I mentioned regarding 3 residential towers. The position on that proposal is unclear – however, other derivations also incl. high-rise.
Pressure really needs to be pushed to get a firm commitment and schedule on a high-quality development programme for the quay. If Joe Gavin is still oodling the idea of a ‘Point-venue’ here, which is suggested (in the media at least) to be a cause of a stalemate between CCC and CIE – though it’s a nice idea – he should really leave it rest and he should know that. The reality of such a facility being built will be focussed elsewhere. It’s time to get this show on the road.
:p For those confused about the design team behind Douglas Central Properties Ltd proposal for an 8-storey hotel and commercial facility in Douglas – though it was sugg’d a number of architectural firms were behind the design (and my understand is that there were) – the chief design team is being led by The Hyde Partnership – yes indeed, my old buddies of the Watergold Building (see below) fame!!! HA!!! 😉
Feel free to scream! Hehe.
😀 More drawings of the Eglinton Street development on the way soon!
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