South Great George’s Street

Is this site still owned by Dunnes Stores?

Further down the same street towards Dame Street, are the large offices of the revenue which must rank amongst the most revolting buildings in Dublin.

A few years ago there was talk of recladding these to make them more vertical, less horizonal in appearance, also, I think, to split them into two buildings, with different claddings and a passage between to castle, what happened to that?

To the best of my knowledge the site is still owned by Dunnes Stores. If I remember correctly, they wanted to clear the whole site for redevelopment, but the Long Hall pub wouldn’t budge. Aside from being a Protected Structure, it is held in some sort of trust by the staff – left to them by the owner – which prevents them from selling it. I’m hazy on the details- anyone know any more? So Dunnes had to incorporate it into their rejigged scheme. Can’t have been easy for the pub, particularly when all around it was being excavated; pity the foundations. Don’t know whether the two redbricks nearer the corner are PSs, though.
The buildings there prior to this new one were a mixture of relatively decent and somewhat non-descript three- and four-storey nineteenth century (?) ones which Dunnes had been systematically buying up over the course of a few years and allowing to fall into dereliction- presumably they’ve had plans for the site for a number of years. And any city council would prefer a shiny new corporate hq to a row of tatty, unloved old shops… There was also a fire in the late 1990s between the Dunlop building and the corner of George’s St- two (possibly) Georgians? I have print photos at home somewhere of the corner pre-redevelopment- I’ll try to get them on here somehow.
I’m glad they kept the Dunlop one, but I’m not convinced by that top-heavy glazed area above, and though the new George’s St building admittedly has its merits, it’s yet another example of the scaling up of the city centre by stealth. I’d be a happier camper if the facade had been slightly more modelled to reflect the original plot divisions.

…and there’ll be a new street leading to the grounds of Dublin Castle. Quaint tourist route, CB Library then Ship Street toSt. Patrick’s.

thank god they kept the long hall!

For sure, notjim- particularly as the recently sold Stag’s Head is slowly rechristening itself the Stag’s and Hen’s Head. Another one bites the dust.
Long live the Long Hall (so much more bearable since the smoking ban- must have been one of the worst ventilated pubs in the city).
Was anyone ever in the Long Hall when it had its actual long hall, i.e. the screened entrance hall running the length of the bar? I was but a bairn when it was taken out. There’s a photocopied illustration of it behind the bar.

All five from 47-51 George’s Street are protected structures. 51 is the Long Hall. 47 is the first building on the left and 48-50 is the middle three.
Interestingly, the only other listed buildings on the street are the Markets and Number 65, which is part of what used to be Sosume bar. It has changed its name again recently and evades me at the moment.
I think the building Frank refers to is Wicklow House where the Revenue are. But there is also something called Castle House, which is where Yamamori and all that are, and it’s pretty wicked too, I think.

Agreed on that building; it’s vile and possibly my least favourite in the city especially because of it’s affect on what is largely a very attractive, lively and interesting street. I’ve a vague memory of reading that the building was never designed for Georges Street – it was designed as a stand alone building in a business park. The builders bought the plans to save money. I also remember seeing plans a few years ago for its replacement – I didn’t really fancy the replacement personally but I guess it couldn’t have been worse. It was to incorporate a new entrace into the Castle and would have formed part of a new pedestrian route from Grafton St. via Wicklow St. to the Castle. It will be very hard to replace that building because the scale of any replacement is not going to match that of the rest of the street and it will also have to follow a slope. The latter is something that the existing building does horribly. Also it’s far longer than the new Dunnes one. I agree that the new Dunnes building beside the Long Hall is not bad but I was absolutely disgusted when the earlier buildings were leveled; yes they were run down (deliberately so) but they still fitted into the context of the street perfectly. From what I recall they were all similar in age/style to the Long Hall building. I was shocked to see them suddenly gone, being under the impression that historic building stock was valued by planners these days.

I think it’s great to see stuff going on on George’s St. In my opinion it’s one of the most interesting in the city. The new street to the castle sounds like a good idea too. What use are all these developments being put to though?

kefu- I think Sosume became The Dragon?
jimg- I know what you mean about those previous buildings. While they might not have been first-rank city buildings, they were important constituents of this varied streetscape and contributed much to its character.
Graham/TLM- afaik, the Dunnes building is to house their head office, though I don’t know what the groundfloor is to be used for- looks like retail. Perhaps the Dunnes outlet in the Market Arcade will be moving? I doubt it, as the other location seems ideal and must get significantly more footfall that the west side of the street.

Off to try and find those other pics in the ‘archive’ (read: top of the wardrobe).

i thought someone told me that it was going to be a dunnes clothes only store.

kefu- while I was on George’s St today I checked (and nearly broke my ankle on the kerb outside the Globe as I was looking up- the things I do for Archiseek 🙂 ) and Castle House and Wicklow House are almost the same building- both are parts of the monster. Yamamori is in the Walton’s School of Music building- a (probably) once fine Victorian building whose ground floor has been horribly mucked about, with almost full glazing and a weird mezzanine level. Most odd.

Here are those pics of the old corner pre-redevelopment. Sorry for the quality, but they’re digital pics of 4-5 year old prints sellotaped together. 😮 Should be sufficient to get a feel for what was there originally. As you can see, there were a couple of Georgians (see the bulky chimney stack?) on Stephen Street- this was the site of the fire I mentioned previously. And you can make out, just about, the buildings that once stood on the George’s St side of the Dunnes site, though as is so often the way the ones I really want to show aren’t the focus of the pic, and it’s now too late to rectify.
Seems my previous description (“a mixture of relatively decent and somewhat non-descript three- and four-storey nineteenth century (?) ones”) wasn’t too far off. 😎 I particularly like the pair with the bold cornice below attic level (which are probably early 20th c.- I have a more recent pic of their demolition, showing what seems to be concrete frame construction).

I am also of a similar position; I usually don’t like to see the loss of built heritage;

But in this case the curved elevation onto Stephen St is of real quality; and in many ways it is the perfect scale to develop a city at; I like this unified scheme and feel that Leitrim House has preserved its status at the top of the architectural hierarchy.

The entire complex also appears to have been withdrawn from the market after a summer with joneslang; I can only speculate that Dunnes will afterall by occupying the premises. Whilst on the subject of marketing I was very impressed by the signage on the scheme and the way that the end gable was used for the board as opposed to the front elevation of a protected structure.

True,

But a giant V-Board would have caught both sides.

Des Byrne as immediate past President of the SCS was very vocal on heritage; I am happy that his Druker Fanning practice is implementing his policies.

left myself logged in…

That’s a persuasive argument you make about Stephen Street. The new opening will certainly be an interesting addition to the pedestrian adventure, and the new building suits the context of the Dunlop better. If the George’s St ones were to be kept, it sounds like a fair trade-off.

@Graham Hickey wrote:

prints disposed of once their original purpose has been fulfilled,

If only you knew the truth… 😮
I have the hoarding tendency (disease?)- I recently spent some time, not entirely without occasional moments of enjoyment, throwing out a bunch of newspapers, some dating back to 1999. Just, sort of, never got round to it. They made for interesting reading.
So it won’t surprise you to know that photos don’t really get thrown away. I took the digital plunge a few months ago.

Great shots Graham.

ctesiphon, here’s patched together version of your scan:

It’s very interesting what long-term dereliction can do to you. When I saw that this site was finally being developed, I was absolutely delighted because the ground floor of these premises had been vacant for so many years. But when you see a picture like above, you realise we’re still losing the fabric of the city in a wholesale way. The Georgians are safe, but almost everything else is disposable.

Thanks for that, Morlan.
I’m pretty handy when it comes to invisible mending with a needle and thread, but photos have thus far eluded me. Funny how the corner buiding in the composite takes on a slightly Gehryesque feel with its bendy walls. 🙂

It’s going to be Dunnes New HQ building – not sure about what retail element is on the ground floor though

@Rory W wrote:

It’s going to be Dunnes New HQ building – not sure about what retail element is on the ground floor though

its going to be new Dunnes Home Ware store.. i see the advertisements for it in the Dunnes in the Green Centre

It´ll be worth keeping an eye out so that they put the brass plaque back on Dunlops factory – it being the worlds first pneumatic tyre factory & all that. V. important it goes back up – Im all too tyred when vernacular history simply disappears. Up with the plague of plaques! 😀

Agreed, hutton. Where social history is concerned, which is not always immediately apparent from the physical fabric of a building, it is important to tread softly. ( 😮 I’ll get my coat…)

The site is owned by Dunnes Stores and Cassidy’s Shoes to the best of my knowledge. Dunnes Stores took a short term lease on Beaux Lane House (owned by Royal College Of Surgeons) to allow the redevelopment take place. I like it but am sceptical of the windows throughout. I expect a certain amount of the offices will be let. It’s great this redevelopment is finally up and running. Dunnes owned so much property in this area that they had not been utilising to its full potential but now seem to have reversed that policy at long last – see the supermarket on the other side of the street and the sandwich bar behind it. They’re also planning to bring the upper floor of the George’s Street supermarket back into use – I think either as a restaurant or cafe. Will they close the supermarket in St Stephen’s Green after they move back in to the new hq? Sounds like replication by having drapery and food on one street and an anchor store offering both within five minutes walk of each other.

It would seem logical to cut down on the number of stores….especially as rent in the St Stephens Green Centre must be quite high. But its a major store in the SSGC and I wouldnt be surprised if they felt that the area could take stores at both locations. There’s a lot of new retail space coming on line in this area (South Anne Street, South Kings Street, change of use on South William Street). Good to see.

Back to an earlier point about the new pedestrain element abutting a protected stucture. It seems the wall is getting a curved frame which should tie the developments into each other.

@ctesiphon wrote:

Agreed, hutton. Where social history is concerned, which is not always immediately apparent from the physical fabric of a building, it is important to tread softly. ( 😮 I’ll get my coat…)

Yeah- get yer coat, take yer hat and all the rest of it – such puns wheely bore me :p

what ever happend to the plan to tear down and rebuild the block towards the north end of south great georges st????
i like the look of what dunnes are doing but i seem to recall a proposal to tear down the building further north which was originally designed for an industrial estate in england!!?!! if that gets built and along with the dunnes work it will have a great effect, at least physically, on the street…

In the last 10-15 years, the Market Arcade has really come back to life. There was a student conservation study carried out in around 1989 (in UCD Richview library) that showed considerably more dereliction than today. Agreed, it’s a bit shabby, but it is a living building complex that really adds vibrancy to this part of town, not least the mix of shops, stalls and cafes. I’d be worried that any major conservation project might push up rents on the units, forcing out the existing traders and altering fundamentally the character of the place. It changed hands a few years back and the new owner/s have done a good job of maintaining or introducing just the right mix, both inside and outside. In fact, I’m not sure whether the external units are separately owner or are part of the whole. Anyone know? Also, I’m intrigued by the basement- apparently it’s huge, but I’ve never seen it (aside from the individual basements of some units- Road Records, a couple of the cafes, one of the hairdressers).
There’s a picture of the interior of the arcade from the 1950s or so in the cafe at the George’s St end (Simon’s Place) showing cars parked inside, and the entrance to the Market Bar retains shopfronts in the ‘lobby’ area (unsure if they’re original though). If it was to change, I’d love to see an English Market style daily food market, i.e. butchers, fishmongers etc., rather than a fancypants food emporium. It’s something this city sorely needs. But I’d rather it stayed as it is for now, with maybe minimal running repairs, particularly as the DCC project for the old fruit and veg markets on the northside will hopefully provide such a food market as you see in Barcelona and elsewhere. Then hutton could have all the fresh fruit and veg he needs!

PS One criticism of the market- a few years ago they took out the old floor of what seemed like sandstone flagstones (doubtful, but my memory’s hazy) and replaced it with the current tiled surface. Not only does it look too new, it’s lethal when it rains.

Worth a wander is down under the arcade in the carpark accessible from Drury Street

Re the shopfronts in entrance to market bar, afaik, originally there was a second “mall” intersecting with the first one and running out through the Dunnes onto Wicklow Street

Interesting point- I could well believe it. The little olive/fudge/lentil stall on the inner north side of the arcade is set back from the line of the main arcade passage. I presume this was the other arm and was truncated in later years.
Now I’m off to find someone with a car so I can explore the basement. Cheers for that.

Worth a wander is down under the arcade in the carpark accessible from Drury Street

Definitely. It’s like being in a dungeon or something with the arched ceiling. All the stone/bricks have gone completely black. Compared to the purely functional design of modern car parks, it’s wonderful. I’ve only been
there in the evening; I heard they have a valet (or whatever it’s called – a guy who parks and retrieves your car) service during the day.

Walk down for a look – its what I did.

It was used for a rave a few years ago.

. .

Some more pictures of the Dunnes site pre-redevelopment to augment ctesiphon’s view.

One of the demolished facades on George’s Street had an extraordinary cracking pattern in the plaster (top right pic), like a dried lakebed. At first glance you thought it was part of the finish.

I understand a planning application has been lodged for the site opposite (as mentioned above) involving facade retention and demolision and reconstruction to the rear.

Wow, that’s pretty shocking alright – but on the other hand it could have been a whole lot worse! It’ll be interesting to see how those balcony things along the top work out (at the moment it sort of looks like a take on the “battlement” idea), but otherwise it seems to be of at least reasonable quality – much like the rest of the scheme. Are these apartments or offices?

typed in error.

i am shocked myself. one can picture the newer building saying “move out of the way” to the older one.

I think that such a high proportion of tinted glazing was ill considered in such close proximity to a stone structure and given that what you see is in fact lower than what was proposed it is actually better than it might have been. It would be interesting to compare how far the building line moved towards the stone structure in this development. Does anyone have any archive photos?

In relation to the retail element I am a little disappointed by Dunnes use of the window displays and general shop fitout; they have a lot to learn from habitat; I am however glad that they will occupy their City HQ as opposed to their propsed edge-city move.

I have no photos, but the corner of the new dunnes building on Georges st/Stephen st is starting to look very well now with the hoarding down.
The new retail areas on georges st and stephen st on the ground floor, should provide that part of the street with some well needed new life.

Yes, and no sneaky increases in height here from the private sector!

That is really nice – who are the architects? pity about the shopfront on the victorian though

Gibney & Partners.

NEW BUILDINGS AT THE JUNCTION OF CHANCERY LANE AND GOLDEN LANE

To avoid starting a new thread I’ll put these here, as they are quite close to George’s Street.

The L-shaped street Chancery Lane, which links Bride Street and Golden Lane, has been almost completely rebuilt over the past two years or so. These buildings (above) are at the top end. I think the scale is appropriate. It’s fine to go higher here because it’s in a ‘no man’s land’ between Dublin Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

And stepping down to existing buildings adjoining – nice to see a bit of manners!!

The buildings are coordinated too. The architecture may be fairly standard with a few ‘hi-spec’ touches, but you’re not looking for Pritzker prize material here – you just need a decent standard of backdrop to the historic ‘character areas’ that adjoin (castle & cathedral).

This is what repair of the city should be about imo – respecting the surroundings, achieving coordination and going higher where appropriate – not the awful results we’ve seen in some places. I know I’ve gone on about it before, but the dog’s dinner of unrelated new buildings at the junction of Ardee St & the Coombe bypass is my favourite.

Feature ‘wedgy bit’.

While i agree with your point about height, I find them completely bland and uninteresting. I’m also curious at this new trend of leaving cladding in between windows. Is there a reason for this. It also appears to be proposed for Arnotts. I think it looks absolutely terrible.

Compared to what you’ll find in glossy architecture books, they may be “bland and uniteresting” but compared with the masses of apartments that have filled the city (especially around this area – Christchurch, Patrick St, etc.) during the last 15 years, this looks like a big step up.

@jdivision wrote:

I’m also curious at this new trend of leaving cladding in between windows. Is there a reason for this. It also appears to be proposed for Arnotts.

It’s just another way of breaking up the facade when there’s a large site to be filled.

The other end of Chancery Lane. I wonder what will be built on the derelict site (on the right) where the Napper Tandy pub was.

Also worth noting in the area is this recently built block (centre).

Together with the Adelaide Square complex, it frames a new view of St. Patrick’s spire. Nice views make me smile.

That new block is an extension to Adelaide Square, I don’t like the grey balconies but otherwise it looks good.

By the way an application is up in the Dunnes Homestore window for a sizable extension (nearly 400 sq m if memory serves) of the shop into the office space behind. I wonder if they’re planning to put drapery in there. I hope they don’t move the homewares to the back as it’s a good shop and the window displays add to the street.

That application (5941/06) was declared invalid: insufficient information on site notice, invalid newspaper notice, sub-minimum submission of plans, drawings, elevations etc, and insufficient Conservation Method Statement to support an application for change to a protected structure.

Computer Says No.

@jdivision wrote:

I wonder if they’re planning to put drapery in there. I hope they don’t move the homewares to the back as it’s a good shop and the window displays add to the street.

The displays certainly seemed to have attracted a pigeon today at lunchtime, spotted browsing through the soft furnishings. I guess it’s not only cash-rich/time-poor Dubs who like a bargain…;)

a bit late, but more of the old stuff:

Thanks for those, fjp. That 747 travel shopfront on the corner is an absolute disgrace. It’s not still there, is it? 😡

I’m pretty certain that 747 is still there, complete with the huge lighty-up sign on the wall facing down georges street.

at this stage I’d almost miss it if it was gone. but only the lighty-up bit…

For some reason I really like that 747 neon sign. Would definitely miss it if it were gone.

I think it would make a big difference to Geroge’s St if the block at the Dame Street end of the street on the city hall side could be given a bit of a face lift …. it really is an eyesore.

There were plans to completely redevelop that site back around 2000 but it just like the Hawkins House plan evaporated in the 2001 office market slump. Now that the office market is strong again there is no reason why something might not emerge again although I doubt complete redevelopment would be on the cards unless the Revenue Commisioners Lease expires and that the specific divions are staying in Dublin.

Re The 747 shop front; I hate to say it but the shop fronts on the west side of Aungier St are so bad that this one might actually be the best of them; the dead frontage of the casino and hostal really does p**s me off.

Thanks for that pvc king, here’s hoping..

Agreed about the state of the shopfronts on Aungier Street… this whole stretch has loads of potential but needs some serious improving first.

Here is some details on that plan. Very dissapointing that it didn’t materialise, especially the pedestrian link into the Castle opposite Exchequer Street.

MINI URBAN PLAN WILL OPEN CASTLE TO THE CITY

A route once called Informer’s Lane is to be opened linking South Great George’s Street to a new civic courtyard in the grounds of Dublin Castle. It’s part of an ambitious plan that also involves renovating several office blocks Frank McDonald, Environment Editor, reports

Anyone attending the Flood Tribunal in Dublin should know what the Office of Public Works means when it refers to the “unsavoury mess” that exists in the “no man’s land” between the Stamping Building in Dublin Castle and the rear ends of Wicklow House and Castle House, on South Great George’s Street. But now, in a fine example of public-private partnership, the OPW is collaborating with the owners of these two awful office blocks of early 1970s vintage on what it calls a “mini urban plan” for this quarter of the city. And the declared aim is to integrate the Castle with the surrounding urban fabric by creating an exciting new pedestrian route.

The idea of opening up Informer’s Lane, as it used to be called, to provide a new entrance to the Castle on the axis of Exchequer Street was first mooted some years ago by Dick Gleeson, now Dublin Corporation’s deputy chief planning officer. All it needed to be realised was a willingness by the OPW and the office block owners to get together.

Within the next few weeks, the corporation is expected to grant planning permission for a complete overhaul of the two aggressively horizontal office blocks, including much more sympathetic elevations to South Great George’s Street and a two-storey arcade on Informer’s Lane, leading to a new “civic courtyard” in the grounds of Dublin Castle.

Surprisingly, however, the opportunity is not being taken to redevelop the Stamping Branch building itself. Designed by Frank du Berry, then a senior OPW architect, and completed in 1973, its running balconies led Plan magazine to liken it to hotels on the Spanish costas. “Where is that Mediterranean sun and the bathing towels,” an article asked.

The building’s skewed angle to the established grid of the castle might suggest a forward extension to bring it into line. But David Byers, OPW assistant principal architect and one-time manager of the Castle, said it was so intensively used by the Revenue that the disruption to those working there would have been too great for a relatively small gain.

Some years ago, consideration was given to recladding it in brick more sympathetic to its setting, but nothing happened. Now there is a view that it is “quite an interesting example of its period, as Byers says, and one of the best-built buildings I’ve ever seen, with the plant-draped balconies providing sun screening in the absence of air conditioning.

Not a shred of merit can be attached to the two office blocks on George’s Street. Designed by English architects Arthur Swift and Partners for Guardian Properties, they were plonked on the site of Pimms department store with no concession whatever in terms of colour, materials or proportions to the Victorian character of the area.

The advantage to their current owners of doing something to rectify this ghastly mistake is that they will get double the depth of the two buildings, gaining an extra 110,837 sq ft of office space separated by atriums from the existing streetfront blocks, while the city gains immeasurably from a remodelling of their facades.

And because this scheme, designed by John O’Keeffe and Associates, has been effectively amalgamated with the OPW’s civic courtyard, the net effect is to reduce the developers plot ratio from 5.5:1 to 2.4:1. This seems to be quite a reasonable trade-off for the planning gain of a new east-west pedestrian route where one is sorely needed.

When it is completed, not only will the terrible pair of buildings have smart new fronts sympathetic to their surroundings, but the public will have access via a two-storey arcade to a sunlit circular courtyard to the rear, within the precincts of the castle, and onwards to the award-winning Chester Beatty Library and Little Ship Street gate.

The courtyard, with a diameter of 90 feet, will incorporate a circular ramp for disabled access to compensate for a three-metre drop in levels between George’s Street and the Castle. It is to be clad in Penryn-type green slate and enclosed by a cylindrical curtain of stainless steel grillework, which will include a sliding security gate.

The circular form of the courtyard echoes the design of the Castle’s Dubhlinn Garden, which doubles as a helicopter landing pad (the lighting is cleverly concealed in its spiral pathways). Though inspired by Stirling’s Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart, it will be less heavy, according to David Byers, and softened by trees and park benches for relaxation.

The Printworks building, with its curious undulating roof, which has housed the Flood Tribunal’s public hearings for so long, is to get a new foyer overlooking the courtyard. And in deference to the idea of creating a new civic space, the rear elevations of the extended office blocks on George’s Street are designed as if they were fronts.

The opening up of a two-storey arcaded entrance to Dublin Castle should offer a glimpse of the Bermingham Tower from Exchequer Street. But more than that – it will open up the Devil’s half-acre, as Michael Collins once called it, to the rest of the city centre by puncturing the existing hard edge on George’s Street to the southside retail zone.

The raggle-taggle of buildings that currently occupy the proposed courtyard will be swept away – but not, it should be emphasised, the rather more impressive group still occupied by the Garda. A new building is being planned for the southern side of the courtyard to re-house some of the facilities in those earmarked for demolition.

The pay-off for the Revenue is a new penthouse floor on the Stamping Branch, providing an additional 5,920 sq ft. This will be a lightweight steel structure, prefabricated and metal-clad, with terraces and a light overhanging roof. Of course, no attempt is being made to eliminate the clutter of cars in the Lower Castle Yard.

The new pedestrian route, which will be open to the public during all reasonable hours, is seen as one element of an integrated architectural sequence linking Dublin Castle with Leinster House. All that’s missing is a name for the circular courtyard; the informal working title, incidentally, is Flood Court, in honour of Mr Justice Fergus Flood.

© The Irish Times, February 15, 2001

btw – does anyone know of any photos showing the street before the huge office block? that’s something I would really really like to see…

re the stretch that needs improving – shame there isn’t something that would force business/building owners to keep building facades to a certain standard without the requirement for the businesses themselves to be taken over by topshop. whilst I’m not the biggest fan of the “run-down” look, I do sort of like streets that can be perused by people who are NOT stinking with money. there’s probably a whole world of social wrongness with what I just suggested, and a few grammatical errors too.

the old Pimms Department Store was there – have a picture at home

I don’t know where there’s any photos of that – I don’t recall seeing it myself.

Thanks for that Devin, that looks like it was a really inspired plan not only hugely improving Georges St but also opening up Dublin Castle to the public. Really hope it re-surfaces..

Thanks for that image Graham. In a strange way there are actually some similarities between that building and what is there now; serial monotony etc etc.

I have alway wondered if it is possible to get to Dublin Castle through the underpass that presently exists in the current building and proposed as a pedestrian route in the 2001 proposal. I have never quite had to guts to walk in. Always scared that some security guard or another will think I am up to no good and chuck me out 😀

On a slightly different topic, but same street, I noticed that the tiles on the front of the Long Haul have been restored/replaced recently. Seems to have been a pretty good job done.

ooh – many thanks indeed to paul and grahamH!

If I recall correctly, and it was a very long time ago now, Pims had been demolished for many years before the replacement buildings eventually emerged. Probably very soon after the shop closed, (in the mid / late 1960’s?) it was demolished.

I recall passing a hoarding there for what seems like ages, but then time is relative, except for the purpose of an appeal.

Interesting to see that vignette sketch, but it’s surprising there aren’t more photographs of it around given that it’s only gone since the ’60s, as you say dc3.

I was over on George’s Street today at lunchtime and the portion of the street between Exchequer Street and Fade Street was closed, as were Fade Street and Exchequer Street themselves. Apparently the slates were flying off the roof of the Arcade (South City Markets) earlier due to high winds so the Guards stepped in to block the junctions.

Couldn’t get any pics as the streets were closed, but I did see shards on the ground.

Aside from the significant concerns this raises about the building itself, I thought some of you might care to know in case it’s part of your route home.;) No traffic at all – cars, buses, bikes, pedestrians – is being allowed down at the moment.

It looks like the plan has been revived. The lead article in the commercial property section in the Times today is about the Revenue Commisioners having rented space in the new Dunnes building at the top of Sth Gt Georges St.

The end of the article says –

“The Revenue’s office deal with Dunnes Stores means that its staff will only be moving a few hundred yards from its offices in Castle House and Wicklow House at the bottom of South Great George’s Street. Once its lengthy lease of those buildings ran out, the Revenue looked for alternative space close to its offices in Dublin Castle. The new block completed by Dunnes proved an ideal alternative and staff are due to move in the coming weeks.

The owners of Castle House and Wicklow House, Chartered Properties, in which the McCanns of Fyffes are investors, plan to embark on a €60 million redevelopment of the buildings which include 15 shops. When completed it will have a new frontage and 13,935sq m (150,000sq ft) of offices”.

Thanks for that Brian. I wonder if the plan to link Georges St into Dublin Castle on the axis with Exchequer Street is also now back on the cards..

@TLM wrote:

I wonder if the plan to link Georges St into Dublin Castle on the axis with Exchequer Street is also now back on the cards..

Good question, I would presume it is much the same plan. The original planning permission granted in 2001 is valid up to August next year. Trawling through the Council site, I found a “Pre-Application Consultation”, submitted in Jan 06 which is still undecided, reference PAC0019/06, location “Castle House, Georges Street, Dublin 2”, text is “Change to previously approved development from office to residential on upper floors and the addition of two more floors.” Frank McDonald’s article quoted by Devin above mentions 110,837 sq ft with an additional 5,920 sq ft in a new penthouse floor on the Stamping Branch, but yesterdays article mentions “150,000sq ft of offices” (which may include the existing buildings)

Anyone have any more goss on it?

Hey look what appeared on the street in recent days

Looks great!

Makes me want an Ice cream! Or get my hair cut….

Or maybe a pint

I see Starbucks have applied for planning permission to open in one of the recently renovated buildings near the Long Hall pub. They are really starting to pop up everywhere. Another planning app has gone in for a Starbucks at Glasshaus centre in Tallaght and ones have recently opened on Dawson Street and the CHQ in IFSC.

Planning Apps.

Posted: 12/01/2008 DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL We Silverwood Developments Limited, intend to apply for planning permission to amalgamate and change the use of an existing ground floor retail unit, No. 47 South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2 and first floor office space No.47 to No.49 (incl) South Great Georges Street all protected structures to form a new Starbucks coffee unit with seating area & customer toilets. Works also to include the provision of 3 No. illuminated internal advertisement signs of various sizes and designs,, together with 1 No. illuminated external sign to be mounted on existing shop front, at No.47 South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of Dublin City Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application

That’ll really be a test of whether the centre line of SGGS is the western boundary of the wider Grafton St retail area (as I suspect). The fact that a pharmacy recently moved from the west side to the east side (former futon shop, I think) would tend to reinforce this in my mind.

Starbucks have suffered from their late arrival in the market here as most of the prime pitches have been snapped up by other chains and they are left with slim pickings. Its really noticeable when you compare to London where they are everywhere!

I see there’s a clean up job taking place on the South City Markets as well. Are there apartments on the upper levels. I’d love to have a look.

Any progress on the Drury Street plans to link Grafton St with SGG St. In fact surely a whole framework plan and design statement is required for this quarter.

@StephenC wrote:

Are there apartments on the upper levels.

There are apts on the upper levels facing outwards, certainly, but I’m not sure about the upper level windows facing into the arcade- perhaps they’re related to the outward apts, though the plan seems too deep in each range for that.

Also, on the subject of the west side: I thought the glazed corner building at Stephen Street was supposed to provide public access to the Castle. Am I misremembering? Or did the developers change their minds?

Wasnt that the proposals for the redevelopment of Castle House or whatever that monolithic monstrisity is called? Dealt with further back at the start of this thread I think.

I don’t think so Stephen, I have been wondering the same thing. My understanding was that it was supposed to be a public street. Perhaps it technically is but doors and a reception desk certainly don’t create that impression.

The Starbucks mentioned above to open at the corner of George’s Street & Stephen Street has just got planning permission – Ref. 1301/08. Is there any chance that this one will attract a wider cross-section of the city community, because the College Green one has been full of knobs since it opened 2 & a bit years ago? Actually all 3 city-centre Starbucks so far seem to have been opened with Trinity College south-Dublin knobheads in mind, or “Valley Girls” in the Frank Zappa song. Look at the locations: one at each entrance to Trinity (the College Gn. one & the new one near the bottom of Dawson Street), and one in BT2s, Grafton Street, for when they totter up to buy their Ugg boots and skinny jeans.

The new Starbucks will be diametrically opposite (in ideology and in George’s Street) to Simon’s Place coffee shop at the entrance to the markets. Will a Starbuck’s fit in on boho South Great George’s Street? I suppose it will attract well-heeled airheads from the nearby business college on Aungier Street. But then airheads seem to come out of nowhere anyway whenever a Starbucks opens …

@Devin wrote:

Actually all 3 city-centre Starbucks so far seem to have been opened with Trinity College south-Dublin knobheads in mind

Jeesh, bit of a chip on our shoulder have we?

Devin- the other argument – a la Temple Bar and Stag/Hen parties – is that these places serve a necessary purpose across the wider city by ensuring that the valley girls and boys don’t take up the good seats in the good cafes. So Shhhhh!! What’s the other option? Simon’s Place smelling like the perfume counter in BT2? No thanks!

Starbucks the acme of fashion? What have I missed?
Any city that can’t maintain a gold-plated brand of cafe like Bewley’s in a time when coffee shops are flourishing everywhere deserves Starbucks (their dark chocolate bars are good!).

Bewley’s suffered because of its food offering. It didn’t change with consumer tastes, the same thing as happened the Kylemore Group whose restaurant presence has shrunk significantly.

Is there any chance that this one will attract a wider cross-section of the city community, because the College Green one has been full of knobs since it opened 2 & a bit years ago?

If there is a knob skew in their customer demographic, I assume it’s due to the fact that their coffee is muck and I’d imagine that knobs have little taste or appreciation for decent coffee.

Before you draw any conclusions though you should establish whether its exclusively the “knob factor” or whether it’s just the fact that you’ve reached an age where being in the proximity of teenagers socialising brings you out in a rash.

I used to be with it, but then they changed what “it” was. Now, what
I’m with isn’t it, and what’s “it” seems weird and scary to me.

jdivision: yeah, that was my view as well; the food was never up to much and when the sticky buns went unsticky and unspicy the writing was on the wall. What a loss though! Maybe CB will realise in a few years that they made a mistake and have a change of heart (again).
As for the ‘it’ thing – cafes are for drinking coffee, talking and reading (and maybe the odd live performance); hysterical teenagers and screaming weans can go elsewhere. By the way, mine’s a small americano with some hot milk on the side.

@ctesiphon wrote:

Simon’s Place smelling like the perfume counter in BT2?

Lol! But I suppose we should be thankful; in the old days Starbucks would have agressively bought out the Simon’s Place lease AND opened the one on the other side of the street before they got a bad name for that sort of thing.

The Building News – oct 3 – 1873

One of the other entries for the South City Markets

Would have been equally magnificent.
What’s the church in the left-hand portion of the picture? Seems too close to be the tourist office??

There hasn’t been any mention of the corner of Lwr. Stephen St for a while. Any action due soon on this building? Is the proposal below what was approved (planning app 5827/05 )? I thought Jaipur restaurant might be staying.

http://www.mdo.ie/project.php?number=64&owner=29

No Jaipur is closing or could even be closed at this stage to allow work to start on this

Anyone look inside the windows of the refurbished buildings beside the Long Hall?
Some nice old tilework in both units

Paul, well spotted! Can we not have an outbreak of fashion for tiled (glazed brick?) walls in shops again? And any colour except beige. Any pics of these shops in context?

Right on the button; thanks again. What do you think of the shopfronts? Good compromise? And right next to The Long Hall (Aaaaagh… Must get back to Dublin!)

@Paul Clerkin wrote:

Anyone look inside the windows of the refurbished buildings beside the Long Hall?
Some nice old tilework in both units

Nothing like Edwardian tiling to add another few grand to the rent roll and get the change of use to cafe from retail. Keoghs on Trinity St should take it

Who would give JLL a retail instruction?

Well it is empty

South Great Georges Street, even in its still slightly shoddy state is probably my favourite street in Dublin. It has such a nice diversification of shops, pubs and restaurants and has a wonderful faded grandeur. It has so much potential for today as well. One thing I miss is the Oil and Vinegar store. That was great. The street could do so well with more stores like that.
Aungier street is such a dive though. It is kind of hilarious. From The Capitol bar to the hostel it is dark and depressing, somewhere you walk quickly heading to the fun of Wexford street. Do you notice the amount of drnken/drugged people who always seem to inhabit this area. It is kind of funny and a personification of what the street is like now.
Does anyone know what happened to the Oil and Vinegar store?

The Oil and Vinegar store shut down because it is impossible to make money from such a venture. There was a notice in the window during its closing down sale thanking the few people who actualy ever bought anyhting there.
I don’t understand how the thousands of pharmacies like the one that replaced it make any money.

Had the O+V store been in the South City Markets or in the Iveagh Markets (is that project actually going anywhere?) it probably would have survived, but it’s prob too much of a gamble as a stand-alone.

I suppose the rent was pretty high. Yeah is the Iveagh markets going ahead? I love the Liberties and that would be something great in the area.

@Conorworld wrote:

I suppose the rent was pretty high. Yeah is the Iveagh markets going ahead? I love the Liberties and that would be something great in the area.

Was walking up Francis St yesterday as two English tourists passed in the other direction. Heard them note with disgust the state of the Iveagh Markets and say how it would make a lovely little version of Covent Garden! It ain’t rocket science, is it? And it’s right on the tourist trail already.

On topic, I love those shopfronts. And Jaipur was still open last time I noticed it a couple of weeks ago.

A design by Lockwood & Mawson for Bradford Town Hall shows some interesting detail very reminiscent of the South City Markets

http://uk.archiseek.com/england/victoriana/yorkshire/0032.html

@Andrew Duffy wrote:

I don’t understand how the thousands of pharmacies like the one that replaced it make any money.

Accoring to one of the biggest pharmacists in Ireland, it is one of the few countries that don’t print out prescriptions. So most are hand written. you can imagine what happens after that.

A suggested redevelopment of the building at the corner of Golden Lane and Ship Street in the style that came to be known as “scott tallon walker shite”. No planning, it just appeared in the paper in the late boom years. Not that it would happen now, but completely unsustainable as the existing building was only built a decade or so ago and respects the Dublin Castle buildings opposite. I remember being in the pub that was demolished for it in the late ’90s – the Old Chinaman. Was a rocker bar in its final years. Deco of Paranoid Visions drank there.

God, I remember the Old Chinaman. I think it was known for the cheapest pint in Dublin at one stage.

remember a lot of the drinks in the old china man been served by the can. dog rough pub. not a popular choice for a first date. only made that mistake twice. 🙂

Ok a few of us remember the Old Chinaman, which I recall was a 1970s building.

But does anyone remember a PREVIOUS version of it in a Georgian bdg, apparently just called ‘The Chinaman’? I’m seeing some pictures of it here in the DCC Libraries site:

http://dublincitypubliclibraries.com/image-galleries/digital-collections

Unrecogniseable streetscape.

The building was also reminding me of the corner building at O’Connell Street / Henry Street.

No Aungier Street thread…this will do.

No doubt GrahamH will soon treat us to a visual feast and overview, but I stood admiring this recently revealed confection on the corner of Aungier Street and York Street yesterday afternoon.

Nice sunny picture. But when I passed it recently the yellow looked pukey. That might even be a conservation yellow but I still find it pukey. Why does every newly refurbished plastered building have to be painted some tone of yellow?? It’s the Irish yellow obsession that’s been going on for the last decade or so.

Now, dear me what happened to this fine commercial building on Aungier Street? See it below from Google Streetview. Mind you most of the historic shopfront detail still survives. The surviving right-hand half of the building was recently, or still is being, refurbished.

Also note Aungier Street’s provincial-town character in the old photo, haha!

Currently seeking planning permission for…a takeaway and replacement of said shopfront. Of an retention permission for all those ongoing works. Ref 2217/12 was invalidated but I understand they are going in again.

Planning permission is sought for the upgrading, refurbishment, extension and re-roofing of the existing two storey over shop building including: A) The conversion of existing retail/Shop unit on ground floor to restaurant/take-away facility including food preparation , storage area to front and rear. B) The conversion of existing residential accommodation at first and second floor to a one-bedroomed apartment (at each level). The work includes the demolition of a rear return at first floor level to facilitate the construction of a new return at first and second floor level and the provision of new recessed private balcony to the rear of each apartment. C) The upgrading and refurbishment of the buildings exterior and street elevation including the replacement of existing shopfront at ground floor level including the provision of external halogen signage lighting,. Please note that some of the above works have commenced on site and this application seeks the retention of such partial works.

http://www.dublincity.ie/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=2217/12&backURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=1680587%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%20%3E%20%3Ca%20href=’wphappsearchres.displayResultsURL?ResultID=2080187%26StartIndex=1%26SortOrder=APNID:asc%26DispResultsAs=WPHAPPSEARCHRES%26BackURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=1680587%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E’%3ESearch%20Results%3C/a%3E

There is a lot of dodgy dealings going on down on Aungier Street (lets not forget, a street included some of the city’s oldest surviving buildings.) The attractiveness of the street to cheap and cheerful new uses is growing as business seek a position close to the main retail core but without the high rental…you can see already a new plant store and ‘cafe’ half-heartedly inserted into vacant units at 19 and 20. No 21, the most historic house on the street for many, remains a refugee hostel and halfway house, despite its tax status its intact timber interiors. Imagine that, a building dating from 1680, extremely rare, used as a hostel! I understand that No 25…dating from about 1720 was also recently fecked over…perhaps Graham /Gunter will have heard more.

The historic house No 21 Aungier Street initially ran as the planned guesthouse when a lengthy refurbishment finished in the late ’90s, then there was bigshit when he, the fella who ran it, turned it into refugee accom about 10 yrs. ago ……….. why is it things that work in other cities – ie. historic house as guesthouse – don’t work in Dublin?

No. 6 will be back for their takeaway permission soon enough …….. there’s another takeaway currently under appeal two doors away at 8 Aungier Street. It’s depressing!

But there are a few decent cafes on the other side of Aungier St, and Bald Barista within Avalon Hse – knockout coffee.

I’m kind of chancing my arm but…
I was watching this documentary called A Stranger’s Notebook on Dublin (http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=3288112) made in the 1960s, and I saw this building (crap screenshot, sorry: http://s1128.photobucket.com/albums/m493/marsnominee/?action=view&current=CouldThisBePartofPims.png). I don’t know where it is, but I was wondering if it could be part of the old Pim’s? The documentary did include shots of South Great George’s Street, but this one was spliced in with shots of Grafton Street. I know Pim’s had more embellishment and a balustrade on the parapet, but can’t think where else could be? Does anyone remember if Pim’s had its decorative elements removed before it was knocked down?

I came across this interesting render on http://www.facebook.com/comeheretome Sorry I dont know who to credit it to.

Its an interesting solution to a site that has remained surprisingly unresolved for so long. Another option of course is a plain old simple green space or pocket park. The commercial use of the site however has the advantage of making it better cared for (at least in theory) with attention from the premises owners each day.

Hey Stephen

Good find. I have to say, I was always very surprised that this site was never developed. Given building technology and innovation and some of the structures that were shoe-horned onto miniscule sites during the boom, this should have been a prime candidate for construction. I can only assume that there are complicated ownership issues with the “site”……much like derelict sites on Dean St which remained undeveloped for just such a reason.

C

I’m not so sure the DCC would allow actual public seating 😉 They seem to be against it in most areas of the city. And they made a right mess of the square opposite the Olympia.

Really don’t like all the brushed steel stuff in that 3D sketch. It looks hideous in most of Dublin.
A nice simple green canvas cover design and seating more appropriate to the rest of the street would be better I think.

I doubt there is even more need for a food outlet either. It’s a bit noisy for a long sit down spot. Perhaps changing book stall, or feature with seating.

Well well…perhaps the above render is not so fanciful after all.

http://www.dublincity.ie/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=3391/12&theTabNo=1&backURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=1805577%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%20%3E%20%3Ca%20href=’wphappsearchres.displayResultsURL?ResultID=2226937%26StartIndex=1%26SortOrder=APNID:asc%26DispResultsAs=WPHAPPSEARCHRES%26BackURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=1805577%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E’%3ESearch%20Results%3C/a%3E

Very welcome to see this patch being redeveloped.

Brushed steel and birch trees strikes again,… and again and again and again……. keep it for eastwall business park, please. Perhaps some warmth and texture, why does everything have to be so bloody contempary, cold and clinical.

Back to that building mentioned above (in April) on Aungier Street. This is the building a couple of months back after its refurbishment

There is a whole back story to this… a tale of works undertaken without permission and retentions sought etc. On top of this is the proposed use of the shop unit as a takeaway – hardly an aspiration for what is one of the most historic streets in the city.

Anyhow “conservation ” works undertaken….new render, new quoins and architraves, new repro windows…in fact very little conservation. Still rather than reduce the building to rubble someone obviously felt they were doing the city a favour.

And then this…

To me, this is a perfect illustration of the failure of the planning system in this city. Unable to deal with unauthorised development, unable to guide (and compel) the development to a more appropriate conclusion and unable even to repair the bloody pavement afterwards!

Meanwhile on (now swanky) Fade Street

Great to see this building back in use and the refurbishment is very well done (albeit a less challenging building than 6 Aungier Street above).

Fade Street has come together very well. Apart from the street lamps (which are a bit to bling) the street looks very smart. Established premises like Hogans and Le Gueilleton have used the public realm refurb as an excuse to smarten up their premises…exactly how it should work.

No. 6 Aungier Street is an extremely important house for a couple of reasons.

It was built by Nicholas Carter in late 1724 / early 1725 on the site of an earlier house built as part of the first phase of the Aungier Estate development in the 1660s.

Although later alterations disguised its gabled house origins and made it look like a pair with no. 5, it was actually built by Carter as a pair with no. 7, which has since been completely rebuilt. Carter was a bricklayer by trade, a Quaker, and a significant property developer in his time. Carter is one of the men who shaped the gabled tradition, building houses [usually in pairs] throughout Dublin including on College Green, College Street, Carter’s Lane, Dame Street, Cecilia Street etc. This house on Aungier Street, even in its gutted form, is one of only a handful of his structures that survive in any shape or form.

At the very least, the renovation of houses like no. 6 Aungier Street must be preceded by a detailed investigation of its origins. Too much irreplaceable early material is being lost on a daily basis through a lack of very basic research.

5 & 6 Aungier Street in 2009

a 1960s view of 5 & 6 [posted earlier by exene] showing how the facades of the two houses had been altered to reflect the joining of the two properties into a single commercial premises

an aerial view from the 1950s that shows that no. 5 was a deeper house than no. 6 and it had conventional mid-wall chimney stacks, but that nos. 6 & 7 were a pair, as indicated in the lease records, each having a single chimney stack that betrays the presence of corner fireplaces, even though the original cruciform roof structures to both Carter houses had been replaced by standard early 19th century double pile lateral roofs

Speaking of Aungier Street…

Dublin Civic Trust are hosting an exhibition in the street as part of Design Week:

http://www.designweek.ie/pivot-dublin-aungier-street-historical-exhibition/

There are also tours being conducted by Dublin City Architects of the street on Monday, Wed and Friday of this week. A good chance to ask where it all went wrong with No. 6?

I have great time for the Dublin Civic Trust. The always put forward thoughtful but very practical proposals.

In contrast, An Taisce seem to think the only way to preserve old buildings is to stop new architecture being constructed….

Frankly, with the standard of your commentary on Archiseek, you’re not in a position to be proferring approval or disapproval of Dublin Civic Trust and An Taisce. Both have very different roles in the context of the city heritage; the Civic Trust (a body formed out of An Taisce) an architectural heritage awareness body, and An Taisce a vital cog in the development consent process, among other things.

I dunno, maybe you’re just a kid. If so, sorry. Go off and work abroad for a few years. Good for getting perspective on things.

I was previously going to offer a more measured response, so I might just side step exene1’s comments, which are just a tad intemperate.

I think it is fair to say that Dublin Civic Trust and An Taisce are two different beasts (each with their positive aspects and failings). DCT does not generally involve itself in the development process (and so attract the negative comments that that would entail) and hence it might be looked upon in a more positive light. However it also struggles to achieve any of its aims.

An Taisce are not at all the D4-boogey men and naysayer that they are portrayed as (as a direct result of their statutory role in the development plan process) and its obvious (to me anyhow) that so much of what the organisation argued during the boom rang true. In my experience AT generally argue against development within the context of the Development Plan, they aren’t pathologically opposed to new architecture or taller buildings (at least at a corporate level). Do they fuck up? Undoubtedly! But then they are an underfunded, membership-reliant organisation, run on a shoestring and really only in existence due to the selfless work of a number of people – there are bound to be weaknesses there.

But then ask yourself….did hugely wealthy developers fuck up in the boom? Did well funded and resourced and professional design firms/planners/engineers fuck up in the boom? Did the local authority fuck up in the boom?

Anyhow back to Aungier Street, and another curious case on the street to raise with DCC if anyone does the street tour tomorrow is No, 79 who have happily been undertaking work to their premises over the past few months including fencing off the front area (a private landing), repaving and refurbishing the shop front. A lot of the work deviates from a previous grant of permission in 2010 that included a condition requiring revised plans to be submitted before works began http://www.dublincity.ie/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=3774/10&theTabNo=2&backURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=1809310%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%20%3E%20%3Ca%20href=’wphappsearchres.displayResultsURL?ResultID=2231186%26StartIndex=1%26SortOrder=APNID:asc%26DispResultsAs=WPHAPPSEARCHRES%26BackURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=1809310%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E’%3ESearch%20Results%3C/a%3E

Now its seems its time to apply for retention (application pending validation). After the works have been completed.

The heat lamps are going in at Fade Street Social…and the tables and chairs are sure to follow in time for Christmas. And sure why not.

Interesting condition on the permission for signage and awnings on the building:

4) The projecting awning shall remain free of any advertisements (including the name of the premises) and the colour of the awning shall be similar and complimentary to the existing awnings on Fade Street. Reason: In the interests of visual and environmental amenity.

Roundly ignored of course. The awning are bright cyan and have the premises name on them.

There is little logic applied to planning decisions concerning shopfronts these days. And as ever those City Council Shopfront Guidelines (2003 and really only relevant to O’Connell Street) remain as elusive as ever.

@StephenC wrote:

Well well…perhaps the above render is not so fanciful after all.

http://www.dublincity.ie/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=3391/12&theTabNo=1&backURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=1805577%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%20%3E%20%3Ca%20href=’wphappsearchres.displayResultsURL?ResultID=2226937%26StartIndex=1%26SortOrder=APNID:asc%26DispResultsAs=WPHAPPSEARCHRES%26BackURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=1805577%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E’%3ESearch%20Results%3C/a%3E

Very welcome to see this patch being redeveloped.

A decision is due on this cafe development next week. Its interesting that the owner of the site is confirmed as Dublin City Council. I always wondered who owned the land and why it was continuously left in such a poor state…no I know why :lolno:

Perhaps the cafe scheme will work out but South Great Georges Street is now dominated by restaurants (pricey restaurants at that) and cafes. Its just my opinion but perhaps a very simple parklet with some greenery and a bench and a small statue or fountain would have done just as well. A free place to sit and watch the city go by. Not at all beyond the means of the City Council.

The latest Dublin Civic Trust study focuses on Aungier Street. The study has been co-written with Dublin City Council Conservation Office and should b published shortly. A lead-up to the report features here http://www.dublinpeople.com/article.php?utm_medium=referral&id=2061&utm_source=t.co&l=100

At long last an application has been lodged to refurbish and bring back to use the former Dockrells store on South Great Georges Street. No details up as yet…you know how you need to wait 4 weeks until DCC scans on the documents…modrin technology and all.

http://www.dublincity.ie/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=2452/13&theTabNo=2&backURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=1907210%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%20%3E%20%3Ca%20href=’wphappsearchres.displayResultsURL?ResultID=2346076%26StartIndex=1%26SortOrder=APNID:asc%26DispResultsAs=WPHAPPSEARCHRES%26BackURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=1907210%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E’%3ESearch%20Results%3C/a%3E

The development will consist of the upgrade and extension of existing retail shop building over three floors above basement level. The works will comprise of; the upgrade and extension of existing retail shop building over three floors above basement level. The works will comprise; the upgrade of the existing fabric to include; the retention and repair of; existing brick and stone to front, rear and side facades. Existing windows to front, rear and side facades. 6no existing brick and stone chimneys. The reinstatement of two number windows to existing modified picture window to first floor level to Georges Street. The demolition and removal of 600msq of existing retail shop area comprising; the flat roof extension to rear of first floor terrace building including existing lift enclosure. A section of the 3rd floor structure 2no. existing brick chimneys to the main roof to Georges Street. The demolition, replacement and upgrade of existing structure comprising; existing ground floor, first floor and second floor structures. Existing roof structures. Existing roof profile to be reinstated reusing existing slates. The provision of 550msq of new retail shop area comprising new 2 storey above ground floor extension to rear of existing brick terrace (overall height 13.00 metres to parapet, 17.83 metres to lantern) The provision of new stone and glass shop fronts to Stevens Street and South Great Georges Street, detail of signage to form subsequent application. The subdivision of the overall retail premises of 3250msq (2250msq existing and 550 msq new) to provide 3no. retail units comprising; 1no. new retail unit to South Georges Street of 463msq GFA extending to Ground and Basement Floor Levels 1no. new multi storey retail unit of 2192msq GFA to South Great Georges Street and Stevens Street, extending to ground, basement, first and second floor levels, 1no new retail store to Lower Stevens Street of 222msq GFA, including Ground, first and Second floor levels all associated works.

Thanks Steven. I wish planners would use bullet points and a bit more page structure when drafting these development applications. The rambling unformatted descriptions with bizarre grammatical devices are so off putting. I bet the template hasn’t changed much since the 1960s.

Its all driven by the nonsense that is ‘the Validation Process’. Scandalously, since we emerged from the Celtic Tiger period where fortunes were made by site notice erection companies and newspapers charging €1,000s in some instances for notices, all at the behest of the bureaucracy, little if nothing has been done to being sense to this process.

Actually a prescribed form of site notice has only appeared since the P&D Act 2000. Despite asking for a ‘brief description’ of the development, validation officers have repeatedly pushed for more and more detail..all on this one page (hopefully A4). Hence the format.

Of course, there is evidence that this push to detailed site notices is not universal. I have regularly seen site notices in Jackie Healy Rae land that say simply: Brief description of the proposed development ‘a house’. Tradition?

Needless to say, a more logical notice system applies in the UK. And there the Local Authority erects the notice.

If you would like to witness site notices gone made and contributing to the overall sense of urban neglect…then pay a visit to the HenryStreet – OConnellStreet – Moore Street site owned by Chartered Land.

Dublin City Council – City Architects have published a new study on Aungier Street. One hope that there are some tangible actions arising from it.

AUNGIER STREET: Revitalising an Historic Neighbourhood

On Friday 23rd August at 3 p.m. as part of the Carmelite Community and Priory Gathering Weekend, the Lord Mayor Oisín Quinn will launch the Aungier Street Project Report.

The project is a pilot of the wider Dublin City Council Public Realm Strategy which recognises that condition, character and uses of the surrounding buildings can add to how the public experience the area. The publication sets out a number of recommendations and next steps to be undertaken in collaboration with local residents and businesses.

The project lists possibilities and ideas to stimulate change on Aungier Street, transforming it from a place to pass through into a destination, showcasing the value of its heritage and unique character and promoting economic regeneration. This urban project is innovative in approach – looking at things afresh, rethinking the ground-rules and proposing change for the better. This is an opportunity to reinvent a part of the city; to make the undervalued valued and the ordinary extraordinary.

The Lord Mayor Oisín Quinn says: “I want to compliment Dublin City Council, the Dublin Civic Trust and the Heritage Council for their work in producing this excellent Report. My view of Aungier Street will never be the same now that the splendid architecture of the buildings and the mansions has been drawn to my attention. This report makes us all see the street from a totally different perspective. I look forward to new initiatives taking place in the Aungier Street area over the coming years and the street going from strength to strength.”

Ali Grehan, City Architect with Dublin City Council, says “Although Aungier Street is often over-looked it is one of the great neighbourhoods in the historic core of Dublin and has a fascinating history. The Aungier Street project looks at revitalising the area by using its historic value as a district and its quality as a place to live in, work and visit.”

The street was laid out by Francis Aungier in 1661 through the former grounds of the Whitefriars monastery. Planning a street of this scale among the narrow lanes of the medieval city was a new departure. The grandeur of the street also gave rise to a new type of city mansion, several of which still survive to greater or lesser levels of intactness. These would have been the grandest houses in pre-Georgian Dublin and the known survivors are designated as both recorded monuments and pro­tected structures.

There is an exhibition about the architectural history of Aungier Street on display in the Whitefriar Centre for the gathering weekend and there will be a guided walk of the area at 1 p.m. on Friday 23rd August led by Pat Liddy and a walk on Saturday at 12 noon led by Dublin City Council architects’ division.

To view the Aungier Street Project report on line click on http://bit.ly/14ClvH2

ENDS

I presume you’ve all seen this by now?

http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/historic-treasure-on-dublin-s-aungier-street-1.1897404

Was the discovery just ‘luck?’

The new opening will certainly be an interesting addition to the pedestrian adventure,
and the new building suits the context of the Dunlop better.

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hanifkhan

The corner of George’s Street and Stephen Street has sold again.
http://www.independent.ie/business/commercial-property/georges-st-site-set-to-be-redeveloped-after-selling-for-well-over-guide-price-31022233.html