The Opera Centre

@CologneMike wrote:

Personally I would expect the “same conditions” to be re-applied as in the first approval and similar protective conditions for the Quin building and the former Town Hall.

The Bank Place in layout is nothing but a throw back to the days where the city showed it’s arse to the river.

The entrance / exit for deliveries must be moved to Michael Street (i.e. Former Work Space Building).

Maybe they could instead move the entrance / exit for cars to the opposite side of Michael Street and access to the underground car park per tunnel.

Regeneration Developments would have us believe that Bank Place will be transformed into some sort of idyllic plaza area when in reality there will be a service road ploughing through it!

The internal configuration of the complex will also have to be improved. You simply cant have one of the “landmark entrances” opening onto some department store!

I believe the developers argument against using Michael Street for deliveries etc is that it is too narrow for large trucks and access to the basement via a ramp would be difficult.

Realistically though, if a proper delivery strategy could be agreed, traffic circulation on Michael Street could be managed effectively?

I also hope ABP lays down strict conditions in relation to the Granary as the proposed intervention seems pretty unsympathetic to me anyway!

Attached; Proposed Michael Street elevation.

@CologneMike wrote:

A decision on the revised plans is expected next month, after Regeneration Developments submitted revised drawings for the project two weeks ago.

Is there any way of finding out what these revised drawings show, is it a comprehensive re-design, or just a bit of tinkering around?

@Tuborg wrote:

I also hope ABP lays down strict conditions in relation to the Granary as the proposed intervention seems pretty unsympathetic to me anyway!

Completely agree with Tuborg, that was one of the more disappointing aspects of the proposal. The opportunity to integrate the retained street-front buildings on the perimeter of the block into the internal ‘streetscape’ / circulation routes of the shopping centre, as has been done to great effect elsewhere, was completely missed. This seems particularly unfortunate in the case of the Granary building.

@Tuborg wrote:

Id love to know what these “revised drawings” contain!

Again, there must be some way of finding this out, is there no public entitlement to see such a submission, even if there’s no ABP mechanism for further commenting on it?

There’s a further information notice in on this in the Irish Times today. Seems a number of the buildings scheduled for demolition will be retained, or at least have their facades retained. Somebody more familiar with Limerick than I am will probably be able to say more on it.

Thanks for the scan gunter, I didnt see the Times today and couldn’t find it online either.

It looks like Regeneration Developments have finally come to their senses anyway. They’ve amended much of the elements we’ve been banging on about here for ages! Its pretty obvious now that ABP let it be known that the project wouldn’t have had much chance of proceeding in its previous form!

Looking at the details, the retention of additional buildings on Rutland Street/Patrick Street along with the salvation of Ellen Street, are massive improvements. The relocation of the service entrance from Bank Place to Michael Street is also a hugely positive move!

@Tuborg wrote:

. . . Its pretty obvious now that ABP let it be known that the project wouldn’t have had much chance of proceeding in its previous form!

You sometimes suspect that this is what happens, but unless the Bord actually write to the applicants seeking specific further information, I thought they were precluded from giving tips and pointers!

This could be a genuine change of heart on the part of the developers, or more likely, a bit of belated sound advice from their architects (who are the architects now, do we know? wasn’t it originally Douglas Wallace?).

Anyway, top marks to whoever is responsible and, as reddy said, it’s nice to see the system working once in a while . . . and look! the sun has come out:)

@gunter wrote:

You sometimes suspect that this is what happens, but unless the Bord actually write to the applicants seeking specific further information, I thought they were precluded from giving tips and pointers!

This could be a genuine change of heart on the part of the developers, or more likely, a bit of belated sound advice from their architects (who are the architects now, do we know? wasn’t it originally Douglas Wallace?).

Apparently the board expressed “serious concerns” about the project a couple of months back and requested “revised drawings”. Presumably this related to the loss of Georgian building stock and probably issues with the Granary aswell.

Its a joke that we cant find out for sure what ABP requested or the exact nature of the revisions. All this information should be available on their website but unfortunately its fairly hopeless!

@dave123 wrote:

What other Shopping centre’s could you compare this development to in this country. There is no shopping centre in Ireland that manages to to retain most of the old into the new in such an unique way.

I still think it’s just like a more modern and larger scale version of Arthur’s Quay. After all that development surrounds some old streetfront too.

I mean even the location means it’s very little differentiation in my mind – I can’t see it adding much more to the city either.

@dave123 wrote:

What other Shopping centre’s could you compare this development to in this country. e.

The only one that is slightly similar to me is The Eyre Square s.c in Galway…although lets hope it turns out better than that but the idea is similar. Couple of anchor tenants, lots of smaller units etc..

@dave123 wrote:

Opera centre is like two or three times bigger and retains far more older architeture into the new Shopping mall. I’m not to sure if Eyre sq shopping centre retains this factor. Also I much prefer these type of inner city malls than out of town malls imo.

I’m not a shopper as such, but its seems more logical to have a shopping heart in the centre of the city rather than sprawling warehouses around the city, leaving the city like a ghostown.

I don’t think you’re going to bring people into the city to go to a shopping centre, when there are already shopping centre all over the outskirts. That’s the big problem here, it’s being seen as a lynchpin of Limerick’s future success. But in order to be truly successful and vibrant, Limerick has to give people what they can’t get anywhere else. Yet the Crescent shopping centre opens on Thursday and Friday nights, and on Sundays which are among the busiest times for shopping, while the city becomes a ghost town.

Limerick needs to develop particular city centre attractions to thrive – like quality eateries, pubs, specialist shops, and of course extra-curricular activities. The very least it needs for starters is a cinema, which being in proximity to many pubs and restaurants would provide a unique appeal. And then it needs to expand opening hours. I think there’s nothing that would increase the buzz than changing general opening hours to 12pm-9pm every day, if not later. You’d be amazed how many people there are who’d like to be able to go to a coffee shop at 11pm.

Ok, well that’s a point. But I think you could further stress its uniqueness by making it a less boring plan. We have all these Georgian buildings and historic laneways and the like; wouldn’t it be a lot better if they did a Powerscourt kind of thing where you stress the historical fabric, and you have a series of covered laneways and arcades giving the whole scheme a sense of being a little more upmarket?

I actually think one of the most important things they could do in Limerick to bring people into the city is to focus on aesthetic issues. I thought the city development plan was a great vision. Look how many more people frequent Thomas Street and Bedford Row now. If they focused on details like pavement, appropriate windows, lampposts, wires on buildings, and shopfronts, then Limerick could have a sense of quaintness which would draw people in. I mean it almost makes me cry to compare the potential of William Street with its reality. If you dealt with all the above issues on this street, you could have a completely unique and beautiful Georgian commercial street that people would specifically come to Limerick to visit.