Look at de state of Cork, like!
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CCC have applied a Compulsory Purchase Order to no.’s 67-68 Shandon Street. They’re the two buildings immediately to the right of O’Connors Bros. Funeral Home as you look from the Gate Cinema.
They’re a complete eyesore and have been virtually derelict for many years.
Rumour has it (although I wont name him here) that the buildings are owned by a controversial local politician and that it is a dispute with a leaseholder which is resulting in a lack of movement to refurbish the properties.
This brings us to the issue of derelict buildings… god knows Cork has it’s fair share. More CPO’s should be used. If you’re not gonna tidy up your property it should be done for you!!
As we’re on Shandon Street, next time you’re up there, take a look at the totally half-arsed job being done on the road surfaces/footpaths, etc. The company employed to do the job (again i dont think its fair to name them) must employ the worst stonemasons/builders in the city. The work is very very low grade. They’ve failed to reduce the number of manholes (i know thats a job for the service providers too); they’ve used very very cheap looking materials– look at the cheapo railings near Blarney st. The stone work is dreadful and the job has so many snags left to finish its embarasing.Radioactiveman!!
🙂 John (Jack!) Hornibrook/Hornibrook Holdings 58-unit residential development over basement car-park and retail and restaurant units along Carrolls Quay and Camden Quay is coming to completion. The project was one of the first to get going in the rejuvenation of this area but has been snagged with numerous construction problems along the way. The project has been on site for near on 2 years w/ PJ Hegarty & Sons Ltd as the main contractor. Deisgn is by J.E. Keating and Associates – also the firm behind East Douglas Village and Seanna Mhuilleann along the Blackpool By-pass (see post a few pages back for image). Here’s a look at the final design – it’s a whopper of an image so forgiveness please!
😉 I’ve been told that the tenders received for the Doyle Family warehousing along Albert Quay (across the river from City Quarter and No.5 & 6 Lapps Quay – and adjacent to the Eglinton Street and WebWorks development) ranged from between 5 and 7.5m euros for approx. 14 offers. DTZ Sherry FitzGerald secretly have pretty much closed the deal – but it has not been made public or officiated yet. I am aware that Howard Holdings, O’Flynn Construction & apparently O’Brien & O’Flynn (oddly!) were among the initial bidders – however I haven’t managed to find out the final successful bidder. But I am looking into it. The development potential for this excellently located site is sky-high – although the chances are that it will go the office route in line with the rest of the area (which has become Cork’s most sought after office district).
– it was interesting to see the Evening Echo led with the McCarthy Developments’ 100,000sq ft, 8-storey office development for Centre Park Road (as mentioned last week on this thread) – the article quotes Tom McCarthy apparently indicating the 25m euro MOLA designed project could create up to 1,000 jobs. I wonder.
@Radioactiveman wrote:CCC have applied a Compulsory Purchase Order to no.’s 67-68 Shandon Street. They’re the two buildings immediately to the right of O’Connors Bros. Funeral Home as you look from the Gate Cinema.
Funny, they just came on the market with Christy’s sibling, Andy Moore handling joint sale. Agreed though, they’re an eyesore. That’s a problem with Cork, it has all these derelict buildings but 95% of them are all protected and CCC won’t let a finger touch them. Then it gives out about them being derelict. Cork logic.
The brick colour and the top of this image reminded me of the old Eircom building that is about to be replaced on South King Street in Dublin. When I scrolled down it obviously looked different.
Huh! Such a thought! 😉
This image makes the brick to be far darker than it is in reality. To be honest with you – it brightens up the quay for what it is, but it’s pretty ordinary by most standards. I wouldn’t be out to praise it too fast – however, anyone who has seen this building next to Camden Court (by OSB Group, designed by James Leahy & Associates, constructed by John Supple Contractors Ltd) will have to admit they work well together, even if Camden Court is far more imaginative – on that note, Phase 2 of Camden Court is to proceed within the next few weeks with initial demolition work first.
Lexington,
I believe for once you’re wrong (shocking I know 🙂 ). The two buildings which are for sale on Shandon Street are next to the two buildings for which the CPO has been issued.
Infairness, I could have the numbers wrong so will recheck them for you.UPDATE The two buildings for sale are no.’s 69 and 70. The two buildings with a CPO are no’s 67 and 68. UPDATE
I like most of the work going on around Christy Ring Bridge at the moment. The only thing that would bother me is the two very large developments opposite each other on Lower John Street. Balconies on both buildings, im sure if you tried hard enough you could jump across the street from balcony to balcony- cant be much privacy in that side of the developments.
Frinailla’s ‘plans’ for a library in their Lady’s Well development have been withdrawn, In further information they plan replace the ‘library’ with retail and gym. I’m confident that there was never serious plans for a library. Good PR for Frinailla though!😮 Following the news that Starbucks will have its first stand-alone unit in Dublin city centre opening in the near future – I can also tell you that the Seattle-based coffee chain have also assessed 3 possible units in Cork city centre (where Gloria Jeans is the main coffee-specialist chain existing at the present) for their first store in the city. 2 of the units are on or along near Patrick’s Street and 1 is supposedly located on one of the side-streets off the main thoroughfaure (Princes Street[?]). However, other suitable units are still be weighed up. When open, the unit will create up to 20 jobs and should heat up the competition nicely. No confirmation or specific date has been allocated for the time being however,
@Radioactiveman wrote:Lexington,
I believe for once you’re wrong (shocking I know 🙂 ). The two buildings which are for sale on Shandon Street are next to the two buildings for which the CPO has been issued.
Infairness, I could have the numbers wrong so will recheck them for you.Fair enough, I was thinking it would have been a little weird for those 2 buildings to be up for a CPO so soon after the sale sign went up – I heard about that CPO but hadn’t looked into it, but hey, only 1 number off in each case. I think all 4 of those buildings are hideously neglected.
@lexington wrote:
😮 Following the news that Starbucks will have its first stand-alone unit in Dublin city centre opening in the near future – I can also tell you that the Seattle-based coffee chain have also assessed 3 possible units in Cork city centre (where Gloria Jeans is the main coffee-specialist chain existing at the present) for their first store in the city. 2 of the units are on or along near Patrick’s Street and 1 is supposedly located on one of the side-streets off the main thoroughfaure (Princes Street[?]). However, other suitable units are still be weighed up. When open, the unit will create up to 20 jobs and should heat up the competition nicely. No confirmation or specific date has been allocated for the time being however,
Unitl some of the more traditional spots in Dublin and Cork are forced to close due to Starbucks invade and conquer policy. For example, whilst people seem to welcome McCafe’s there is uproar when Bewleys closes! Is there a link? I am not sure, but I think there must be.
It’s a funny aspect of the Irish psyche – it’s almost like a ‘I want everything’ attitude. We want all this new input and yet we don’t seem to show a care for the established until it’s threatened or gone. Of course then we protest. It reminds me in some ways how in 1997 after Princess Diana was killed in Paris, the public were screaming for the heads of the paparazzi and yet they were then the very same people that went out buying the tabloid magazines and papers that printed the pictures taken by the so-called ‘enemy’.
I remember recalling the irony of that aswell. I think you are right about wanting everything attitude: Tradition, modernity, globalisation all rolled into one!
🙂 Howard Holdings have earmarked mid-April for a commencement of construction at Albert House (along Albert Quay) of the new 4-storey (5-storey if you include the apex) WebWorks Business & Technology incubation centre. The building is designed by Scott Tallon Walker and will be constructed by PJ Hegarty & Sons Ltd. The building is a joint venture between Howard Holdings, Cork City Council (who donated the site) and Enterprise Ireland and will be located in Cork’s newest and fastest growing office district. The development will first dismantle the former railway station platform to the rear of Albert House ( 🙁 which I believe is really a great shame as I see it as a true reflection of Cork history – rather than the rubbish some individuals and organisations find justified in objecting too), the excavation of the site, provision of basement car-parking (66 spaces) and then primary construction of the building overhead. The new development will be linked to Albert House, which will see its upper floors converted to office use and ground-floor area utilised as a new restaurant.
🙂 Next-door along Albert Quay, the Doyle Family Group have agreed terms of sale (apparently) through DTZ Sherry Fitzgerald) for their Cork Warehousing Co. warehouse on a prime corner location between Albert Quay and Albert Road. The site is flanked by the Howard Holdings WebWorks development to its west and O’Flynn Construction’s massive Eglinton Street development to its south. Although I can’t name the prime suspects at this point, one of them claims that they will, if successful, seek to purchase the small warehousing block between the Doyle warehouse and Albert House first before proceeding with any development – as they wish to maximise available space and provide a sense of continuity to the quay and their development. A mixed-use office and retail development of approx. 7-storeys over basement car-park is envisioned by one of the developers in the running. Agreement was reached based on rates of approx. 7 to 7.5m euros (apparently), its original guide price was 5m euros. However I can tell you now, I would be most surprised if the final sale price exceeds 7m euros. My understanding is, it won’t – contrary to some newspaper articles.
🙂 Another development scheduled for April is that of Victoria Station by Aras Developments. As reported here a few posts back, the site gained planning for a 24-unit Student Apartment development over medical services facility (all units have been pre-let or sold) and parking (1/2 of all spaces available have also been pre-sold) by former site owner Justin Canty. The design of the development was devised by consulting engineers O’Shea Leader and consists of a 4/5-storey building with roof-top gardens. Mr. McNamara of Aras Developments acquired the site via Global Properties (who will be sole selling agents) from Irish & European for approx. 2m euros.
🙂 Just across the road, at the former Plumbing Utilities store, also acquired by Global Properties, this time for Frinailla Developments, is to soon seen planning sought by the development company for a medium-sized residential development, over commercial units.– Frinailla’s other big development is planned for the Dennehy’s Garage site just up the road at Dennehy’s Cross. The developers purchased the site for approx. 20m euros early in Feburary – the site is in 2 lots, one at the south-western side of the cross junction (the showrooms), the other is at the norther-eastern corner (the garage and service yards – with the excpetion of the Dennehy’s Bar). Frinailla have also bought up surrounding properties. They plan a large luxury residential development with local service facilities incorporated – incl. post office, hmmm).
😮 With so much going on lately, I forgot to mention that Jeremiah Lynch’s 123-unit residential development for Riversdale, Bishopstown (just north of the new Ballincollig By-pass, across the road from the University College Cork Technology & Business Centre and Curraheen Greyhound Stadium) designed by Murray O’Laoire, was given the greenlight there recently following an appeal to ABP. Cork County Council had initially granted permission. The development for the 6-acre site has seen some alterations over the planning process.
🙂 Just on a note of interest, Cork’s newest (and God knows much needed!) nightclub currently being developed by Newcastle-based, Ultimate Leisure UK Ltd at the premises of the former Maltings Bar on Lynch Street, is to be entitled “Blue Bamboo” and will be scheduled for an April opening.– Cork’s other new nightclub is under construction by Ridge Developments on South Main Street, over the former Classic Bar. The nightclub, being developed by City Properties, will adjoin the soon-to-be-opened restaurant complex (also owned by City Properties) hosting international noodle-house Wagamama and the first Captain Americas outside Dublin.
Just a few questions for everyone which have been bugging me for a while….
Q What kind of progress (if any) has been made on the redevelopment of the riverside of the Everyman Theatre?
Q Have the Revenue Commisioners decided where they are moving to yet? Will that eyesore on Sullivan’s Quay finally be demolished?
Q Any news on the IAWS/ R&H Hall development plans?Radioactiveman
@lexington wrote:
The nightclub, being developed by City Properties, will adjoin the soon-to-be-opened restaurant complex (also owned by City Properties) hosting international noodle-house Wagamama and the first Captain Americas outside Grafton Street in Dublin.
There used to be a Captain Americas in Dun Laoghaire. It closed about 12 years ago though.
@phil wrote:
There used to be a Captain Americas in Dun Laoghaire. It closed about 12 years ago though.
My mistake – that’s actually correct I remember even visiting that way back when. Sorry about that.
@Radioactiveman wrote:Just a few questions for everyone which have been bugging me for a while….
Q What kind of progress (if any) has been made on the redevelopment of the riverside of the Everyman Theatre?
Q Have the Revenue Commisioners decided where they are moving to yet? Will that eyesore on Sullivan’s Quay finally be demolished?
Q Any news on the IAWS/ R&H Hall development plans?Radioactiveman
1. A plan was drawn up by 2 developers with the Everyman Palace – which would see the quayside fronting St. Patrick’s Quay redeveloped as a 5-storey mixed-use development spanning the area between the Metropole Hotel Leisure Centre to the Sporting Club near Bridge Street. The development was scheduled to include lecture theatres, film development centre, training facilities, a conference centre, nightclub and roof-top cocktail lounge, restaurant, some retail, office units and basement car-parking all incorporated into the Everyman Palace. I’m not fully aware of how the status regarding the buy-up of appropriate lands has progressed. A prominent Cork-based architectural firm were enlisted to design the project – however, as best I am aware, these plans have been scrapped. There is a possibility a future proposal will be reimagined – this time including a well-known department store, however I have heard nothing solid of this as yet.
2. The deadline for final proposal submissions has been extended for March 24th 2005 until April 29th 2005 – as predicted. This is to allow some developers who approached the OPW get their projects into planning. This could mean a few new large-scale proposals headed for Navigation House in the coming weeks – but I can’t say. McCarthy Developments, O’Callaghan Properties and O’Flynn Construction have all approached the OPW and been approached in return. I am also told a very prime city centre site – the subject of many former planning applications – is also set to see a new application placed on it by its developer/owner. It possesses a very attractive location from the Revenue Commissioners perspective. The Sullivans Quay building will be set for either redevelopment or refurbishment – although the latter seems improbable given the substantial subsidence issues related to the current structure.
3. IAWS have assessed plans for the R&H Hall site along Kennedy Quay – though no date has been specified for an announcement, some believe it could be this year. IAWS have consulted with some developers related to the sale of the site or joint development. CCC is pushing a cultural or historical use to the site with some commercial elements – they favour the retention of the silos. One developer I’m aware of views this as unfeasible – so its still all up in the air.Thanks Lex,
One more thing, a few months back you mentioned something about a beam of light (or something like that anyway) which had previously been planned for the Gate Cinema. Anymore details/images? Or maybe it was all a dream i had 🙂@Radioactiveman wrote:
Thanks Lex,
One more thing, a few months back you mentioned something about a beam of light (or something like that anyway) which had previously been planned for the Gate Cinema. Anymore details/images? Or maybe it was all a dream i had 🙂I think your referring to the glass tower planned from the front entrance of the existing Gate Multiplex. The hollow, internally illuminated tower was part of the original drawings for the development but was subsequently removed – for some stupid reason, the structure would have added some desperately needed design to the building.
As people might know, CCC are currently “upgrading the public realm” (i.e. fixing the footpaths) along Watercourse Road in Blackpool. There is an interesting little piece of street furniture outside AIB on the street in the form of an old stone horse trough. Or there was up to a few days ago!! 😡
As far as I can tell the construction company removed it on Saturday and I’ve been unable to find out where it is or whether it is going to be returned (or even if its still in one piece).
The trough is identical to that located near Flor Griffins on Parnell Place. I think these were the only two left in the city- although i could be corrected on that.
Anybody got an ideas on how i can locate this item?I really hate when things like that happen. Even if they are replaced later on, there is still something taken away by it being tampered with like that. I am afraid I can be of no help though. Sorry.
The upper part of this building is remarkably similar to the residential element of the Swan Centre in Dublin – clearly going for that 80s Hanging Gardens of Camden Quay look 🙂
But I think brick is seriously underrated as a building material, having earned a bad name through inappropriate and banal use, and being associated with the very worst forms of urban renewal.
But a sophisticated use of brick combined with a good quality version of the material can produce very striking results.
The colour is so important – too often we’re lumped with horrible dusty pinky-red, while that deep wine/plum red that seems to be in use in this scheme is so rarely used: it can look fantastic.
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