Thomas Street & James Street, Dublin!

Dublin Civic Trust launches a new study aimed at promoting the regeneration of Thomas Street. More details http://www.dublincivictrust.ie/news-entry.php?title=thomas-street-study-launched&post=1334570004

Regeneration proposals for historic Thomas Street in the centre of Dublin’s Liberties have been put forward in a new study by Dublin Civic Trust, being launched on Tuesday 17th May 2012 by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague in the National College of Art and Design in the centre of Thomas Street.

Commissioned by Dublin City Council, the study, entitled Thomas Street – Improving the Public Face of an Historic City Centre Street, puts forward a vision for the future of the historic thoroughfare in Dublin 8, which has suffered from urban blight, dereliction and vacancy, including during the recent economic boom period. The study highlights Thomas Street’s historic building stock as one of its principal assets, while underlining the importance of its retention and restoration as part of a drive to improve the appearance of the street and its architectural character. It also promotes the consolidation and branding of local indigenous businesses, and the development of visitor attractions, an improved public realm and on-street public information to capitalise on the considerable tourist potential of the district.

Chief Executive Officer of Dublin Civic Trust, Geraldine Walsh notes that: “Thomas Street is the commercial heart of the Liberties and one of Dublin’s most historic streets. This has been recognised in recent studies conducted by Dublin City Council, including a major Local Area Plan, however there are now limited funds to implement initiatives of this kind. What we have done with this study is focus specifically on Thomas Street as the public face of the Liberties, and brought a recognition to the fact that most change can be driven by individual stakeholders on the street – the building owners, businesses, traders and residents. It is these efforts on the ground that effect real, meaningful change.”

Conservation Research Officer with Dublin Civic Trust, Graham Hickey notes that: “Thomas Street is all too commonly perceived as a decrepit route through the Liberties, whereas it is in fact a street of enormous significance to Dublin. Not only is the route grounded in over 800 years of the city’s evolution, but the scale and hierarchy of its churches and institutional complexes lend the street a remarkable grandeur and status within the city. Its stimulating streetscape scene of fine grain merchant premises interspersed with imposing public buildings never fails to excite the visitor and citizen alike, and it is this unique resource that this report seeks to highlight to commercial and cultural advantage for all. There is enormous scope to build on this asset by developing quality retailing, services and visitor attractions that complement this character and develop an unrivalled brand for the district.”

The report follows on from Dublin Civic Trust’s long-term involvement in the area, which has included achieving an Architectural Conservation Area designation for the district and writing a book on the history of Thomas Street. Geraldine Walsh notes: “Unfortunately since the book was written in 2001, many of the architectural qualities it highlighted have since been eroded – you would never think that one of the most prosperous eras in economic history had even occurred here. The boom bypassed Thomas Street, leaving it open to site assembly and the resulting dereliction we see today. This has had considerable economic impact, as businesses gradually closed and footfall decreased. Thankfully, we are beginning to see a turnaround in this negative cycle – something that now needs stimulation through improving the public realm, promoting business and harnessing the cultural assets of the street.”

Graham Hickey says: “In spite of the losses of the twentieth century, Thomas Street retains a fascinating tapestry of early buildings that simply do not survive elsewhere in the city. This includes the Frawley’s terrace, proposed for demolition in 2008 and saved by the Trust on appeal to An Bord Pleanála, where the important early eighteenth century mansion of banker Joseph Fade still lurks behind deceptive peeling render, while formerly gable-fronted ‘Dutch Billy’ houses survive in the midst of The Digital Hub’s holdings further along the street. What makes Thomas Street so exciting is that it constantly reveals new information about the early structures of the city, hidden behind modified merchant facades. Only late last year we discovered a giant timber cornice, commensurate to a prestigious mansion dating to about 1700, in one of the most unassuming buildings on the street. This is what we have aimed to showcase in the study with a series of architectural visualisations, highlighting the quality of what we have here, as good as any continental city. It’s all about identification and changing perceptions.”

The 112 page report puts forward a three-pronged vision for Thomas Street:

Create a high quality urban setting that showcases the architectural diversity of Thomas Street and creates a comfortable, interesting and visually attractive pedestrian experience.

Heighten the cultural and tourist potential of Thomas Street and The Liberties.

Enhance the market profile of the street and propose an effective mechanism to manage and promote Thomas Street.

The key recommendations of the report are:

[*]Make use of the many existing studies carried out for the area.

Develop the East-West Cultural Trail, currently under formulation with Fáilte Ireland, with a focus on Thomas Street as the prime tourist route in the area.

Stimulate the restoration of upper facades of buildings, windows and brickwork through an information and grant assistance campaign.

Use powers under the Architectural Conservation Area status to control shop signage and shop fronts, and issue guidance to shop owners on how to present their businesses to the benefit of the wider streetscape.

Encourage the restoration of key buildings on the street, such as the former Frawley’s department store and early eighteenth century houses, through collaboration with private and institutional owners.

Improve the public realm through the widening of pavements, planting of trees and installation of appropriate street furniture.

Re-imagine the current motorway-like High Street as a tree-lined boulevard and a key link to the city centre by taking out the current central median to slow down traffic and improve the pedestrian experience.

Rationalise public signage clutter, railings and redundant street furniture. Identify areas for civic space and public leisure use such as Cornmarket and the James’s Street island.

Develop a cultural trail through the district, focusing on its rich history, character and major events. Capitalise on major institutions such as churches and former distilleries as tourist attractions.

Manage the retail offering in the area under a Thomas Street Business Improvement District, or under a management umbrella that coordinates uses and presentation of shops and services, and builds a brand for the district.

Develop a Design Quarter, harnessing the considerable creative energy of NCAD and the antique and arts quarter of Francis Street. Develop sculture trails, design fairs and cultural evenings.

Dept of Transport confirm a €1m allocation via NTA for the upgrade of the Thomas Street/James Street QBC http://www.dttas.ie/pressRelease.aspx?Id=533

The original plans that went to public consultation in 2010 showed all the hallmarks of Roads Engineers happily ensuring that 4 lanes of smooth traffic made their way unimpeded through this historic street. The report brief was to take account of the reality of the QBC given that it is an opportunity for funding for the street. The ideas in the report are intended to soften and ameliorate the impact of the QBC so that it doesn’t simply become a route ferrying people through the street.

View the plans for the QBC here http://www.dublincity.ie/RoadsandTraffic/QBNProjectOffice/DCS/Documents/NORTH%20CLONDALKIN%20QBC%20PLANNING%20DRAWINGS.PDF

As part of the process of the Thomas Street Study the views of a locally-based planning and design firm were sought and this didnt come down very favourably for the current designs pointing our that the design undermined the urban qualities of Thomas/James Street by creating a suburban traffic route. Im not sure how successful the Dublin Civic Trust study will be in changing the design to place a greater emphasis on Thomas Street as a place to be rather than a place to get through.

Digital Hub refurbishing and converting to office use I think

Work underway on the former library building on Thomas Street as new incubator offices for Digital Hub. DHDC advise that the building is already let out to firms employing 50 people. The biggest difficulty that DHDC faces is a lack of funding to bring other properties in their portfolio forward for refurbishment.

Elsewhere on the street there have been a couple of new businesses opened…and ice-cream shop and a florist. The former Carpet Mills unit is being converted into an Asian supermarket. You can see the fit-out taking place inside. Nothing has happened to the front yet. And no planning application.

Couldn’t find an appropriate thread for this

http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=10038814

Interesting 1960’s doc on excavations in High St and Wood Quay. Some slightly depressing views of the decaying city (including a hapless looking Tailors Hall) but overall a good insight into the findings of archaeological digs in the area, which ironically wouldn’t have been possible without the wholesale demolition of the area

Courtesy of Silicon Republic …

Dublin City Council to take over control of Digital Hub

The Digital Hub Development Authority will no longer be reporting to the Department of Communications and will instead report directly to Dublin City Council, which has plans to develop Dublin as a hub for digital and green enterprises.

When it was first dreamt up in the late 1990s the €250m Digital Hub project, it was hoped, would act not only as a propellant for industries of the future but as a catalyst to spread prosperity into one of the most economically disadvantaged areas of Dublin.

The original plan envisaged a sprawling district populated by digital media enterprises, café bars, shops and residential areas.

However, this was not to be and it never grew beyond its current nine acres. The closure of MIT’s €51m Media Lab Europe in 2005 – the centerpiece of the endeavour – cast something of a shadow that began to abate following the formation of the National Digital Research Centre.

The Digital Hub cluster, which today comprises 80 companies employing 700 people, was to be merged with either IDA Ireland or Enterprise Ireland under public sector reform plans tabled last year by Minister Brendan Howlin TD.

Since its founding in 2003 it has supported over 2,000 jobs and 170 enterprises in total.

It has also played a role in regenerating the Liberties area, engaging closely with the local community and opening up opportunities for schools and local people in terms of the digital economy.

However, today Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte revealed that instead of merging the DHDA with another State agency, Dublin City Council seemed to be the best option.

Dublin City Council is keen to develop Dublin as a hub for digital and green enterprises. It also has considerable experience in the management and development of property and in urban regeneration. This makes the Council particularly well placed to oversee the continued management of the Digital Hub Development Agency.”

“Throughout the recession, the DHDA has continued to support new indigenous digital enterprises. The presence of a strong cluster of these enterprises in Dublin complements the presence of large ICT and digital content multinationals in Ireland and puts Ireland firmly on the map as a digital economy.”

Minister Rabbitte said that there will be a transition period over the next few months.

He said that a governance model needs to be fully defined for the DHDA. “I have asked officials from my Department and Dublin City Council to work on a transition plan with the DHDA, with a view to putting appropriate administrative arrangements in place by the end of the year.

“The plan will address detailed operational issues and identify opportunities to draw on the skills and capabilities that exist within both the City Council and the Digital Hub. Importantly, the plan will set out how the Hub will continue to operate effectively and assist the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the development of national digital policy,” he said.

Business as usual at Digital Hub

DHDA chief executive Philip Flynn said that the agency is already working with Dublin City Council and stressed that it is business as usual at the Digital Hub.

“We are already working with Dublin City Council officials on the management and development of property and urban regeneration and the digital enterprise cluster,” Flynn explained.

“Moving to the City Council now will allow the Digital Hub to continue to operate effectively while at the same time realising important cost savings for the Exchequer. The move will bring particular benefits in relation to the project’s enterprise, property management, learning and community functions. Dublin City Council has a wealth of expertise in relevant areas and, furthermore, has property interests adjacent to those of the Digital Hub.

“I want to stress that the Digital Hub is open for business and will continue to be throughout and beyond the transition. This move will not impact on the tenancy arrangements we have in place with the 70-plus digital enterprises currently located at the Hub.

“The project will continue to serve existing tenants and facilitate prospective new tenants, as well as proactively engaging with the local community in Dublin 8,” Flynn said.

My emphasis…sorry but I beg to differ when one looks at the street around the Hub.

and once they have ‘identified the opportunities’ will they then ‘draw on the skills’?
Or will they ‘consider the establishment of a working group to determine the potential to undertake a study to identify opportunities to draw on the skills that exist’?

The cheek aj! Interfering with Govt policy.

In my view the letters page of the Irish Times is the only place where these letters have effect. You can be damn sure the hurt souls of Dublin City Council would spring to defend their honour at such remarks!

Sure didn’t the City Council recently have a host of their peers from the EU visit Dublin to view our efforts at regeneration and to advise on how to maintain the momentum. I would love to read the follow-up from that…nothing mentioned afterwards.

Its interesting that all these agencies in Dublin – the DDDA, Temple Bar Properties and the DHDA were all established as stand alone agencies because it was considered that Dublin City Council were shite at delivering meaningful urban regeneration. And here we are now merging them all into the City Council again. How the wheel turns.

I think I posted a few shots of this earlier..maybe in this thread. Its a great image isnt it. Although “fanciful” as Graham might say.

@StephenC wrote:

I think I posted a few shots of this earlier..maybe in this thread. Its a great image isnt it. Although “fanciful” as Graham might say.

Fanciful is right!

Didn’t notice your post Stephen, sorry – but nothing wrong with posting it again!

Whilst ‘fanciful’, it’s certainly interesting. It shows a still-intact, richly dense and almost clausthrophbic city, continuing to exist as recently as 1890. You could get a handle on what Charles Dickens allegedly once said about the Coombe/Liberties area being ‘a maze, and easy to get lost in’ – or something similar. Nowadays he’d simply need to follow the nearest dual-carraige way and he’d be grand