well what about the developments popping up in the shannonside ?

A public amenity and commercially run?

The development will consist of 4,215 sq m gross floor-space, over 4 no. levels (from River Level to Second Floor Level) at its highest, and will comprise:

• Boat club and store (591 sq m);
• Cafe, including an ancillary kitchen and seating areas (330 sq m)
• Restaurant (497 sq m);
• Civic space (429 sq m);
• Office floor space (1913 sq m);
• Staff area (20 sq m);
• Ancillary space (435 sq m).

I wonder what type of tenants has Fordmount Developments in mind for them to realistically see a return on investment, in the form of rent to justify spending €20 million there.

Firstly they will receive no rental income from the Limerick Boat Club.

There was talk of the Tourist Information Office acquiring space there. Especially they will have to move when Arthur’s Quay gets redeveloped as proposed. They would attract footfall in the form of visitors. Being a public service they also operate commercially a craft shop and also act as booking agents for accommodation, ferries etc.

Is the Dolmen art gallery still open? If so they would also have to relocate from Honan’s Quay. Would their commissions be adequate enough to operate there?

A top quality café / bistro on one floor and a top quality restaurant on another floor should do well. Ample glass front views of the river facing the west.

Pity that the School of Architecture, has intentions of basing its “city centre wing” on Kings Island. It would have been interesting to have seen them taking up the office floor space (1913 sq m) here. On the other hand, that would equate to half of the building space. I think UL would prefer investing €10 million towards a new college building than renting one to that value?

@justnotbothered wrote:

What do they mean by “extend” I wonder. Odd building, could easily be part of a masons film.

I was a bit curious about that aswell. They’re not going to be allowed to make any such alterations to the temple building but there is a pebble dashed building to the rear that also forms part of the bank, I presume this is the part that would be extended.

justnotbothered

Rent out space to the city council for a new city library, guaranteed money packet for as long as he wants.

massamann

We need a new site for a library

Sure the city requires a representative municipal building for its library. We once had one i.e. the purpose built Carnegie Library at the Peoples Park. A library building here on the Shannon in my opinion would be “too introvert in nature” to fully appreciate the river.

One must bear in my mind that Wellesley pier is an island serviced by the Sarsfield Bridge and is positioned between Thomond Bridge and Condell Bridge. It is also situated where pleasure boats can leave the estuary part of the Shannon and enter the Abbey weir / Ardnacrusha waterway to make their way up to the upper parts of the Shannon. It is also situated at the entrance of the city centre. Most importantly of all it lies in the middle of the riverfront / promenade landscape with views in all directions.

Its proposed use should take water sport and local / visitor recreational needs on board.

@justnotbothered wrote:

Saw that image too, I don’t think there’s really much doubt that the proposal is a flawed one (and I’m being charitable).

Afaik, majority rules on the council, but the city manager (who has been quite coy all through this) will probably try and streamroll it through.

He was the guy who felt building on Cleeves Bank/Westfields was a top notch idea too, luckily, the councillors pulled him on it before he could sell it. I’m sure he’s waiting for another chance to work some “development” there too.

We need a manager who realises the city is more than just facing the river. All well and good focusing on the river, but areas like Parnell st and Roches st. are straight out of a neon Angela’s ashes. He should focus a little more on the entire city.

,,,,

@Fairy wrote:

Not for a moment am I suggesting that this is the best design, but God it’s at least innovative! Recall the enomous ructions/damming reactions to the inconceivable design of the Sydney Opera House (similar situ). Looking at the design put forward it sure is inavative – loooking into a much smaller concept imigne taking all the the Bell Table has to offer and (add add some flash) move it into the Boat Club it would be – a winner in IMO, a place to take in a play, lunch, bite of lunc h while talking in the majestic Shannon, We so desperately need a ‘centre of the equivalent RIGHT IN THE CENTRE OF LIMERICK CITY. See it all in my dreams, ‘lights,steps, etc, ect.. Then

Opps, ,my apologies, Battery saying its at its end!! Back later. Fairy::(:(

Opera Centre goes back to the drawing board

Art students’ creativity sought.

DEVELOPERS behind the proposed Opera Centre have said that they will be approaching the local art college to improve the look of the boarded up buildings along Rutland Street and Patrick Street.

Opera Centre project manager, Pat Keogh, told the Limerick Post that he would bring the issue of the unattractive hoardings up with the developers of the proposed shopping mall, following complaints from a local councillor.

Joe Leddin has labelled the boarded buildings, which face onto Patrick Street and Rutland Street, as “a complete eyesore,” and called on the hoardings to be removed immediately.

“It is a complete eyesore for those walking or driving past these streets. I have received a number of complaints from people that the image of the city is being tarnished with all these premises boarded up,” Cllr Leddin said.

“Visitors and tourists to our city who visit places like the magnificent Hunt Museum must surely be wondering is the whole city closing down when they look across the road,” he continued.

Cllr Leddin said that developers and local auctioneers needed to be more conscious of the image of the city when they go about erecting signs and hoardings.

He further suggested that the developers approach the Limerick School of Art and Design to find a more attractive alternative to the hoardings.

“I am sure students would be only too willing to be involved in designing a more appropriate method of securing these buildings,” Cllr Leddin told the Post.

When contacted by the Limerick Post on the issue, Pat Keogh embraced Cllr Leddin’s proposals.

Mr Keogh conceded that the hoardings were unattractive, adding that he would approach the Limerick School of Art and Design with a view to design something more appealing.

“We certainly don’t want the area to appear derelict,” he continued.

He said that the hoardings were erected due to continuous break-ins at the vacant premises, which stretch from Rutland Street to Patrick Street.

“We have no choice about this as we don’t know how long it’s going to take before we get planning permission. If we get planning soon, we’ll be able to start but we don’t know long that’s going to take,” he said.

Mr Keogh also defended the development from recent comments, which suggested that the city was losing out on commercial rates while the buildings remain unoccupied.

He claimed that 50 per cent of the rates were being paid even while the buildings were unused, and noted that rates for the Opera Centre would be much higher than those which were being charged once the development goes ahead.

When contacted by the Limerick Post, the director of the Limerick School of Art and Design, Richard Ruth, said that the art college would be more than happy to design something fitting for the building, as they have done in the past.

“We have done it before in the city, in particular on Bedford Row while building work was going on in the Marriot Hotel. Our sculpture department designed a facade which depicted images of people who were born in the Bedford Row maternity hospital,” Mr Ruth said, adding that this project had been particularly popular with the people of Limerick city.

He’s actually talking a lot of sense here, is Cllr Leddin. The City Council have been making lots of noises recently about improving the visual quality of the city centre, particularly the aesthetics of buildings and shopfronts. Why then have they not batted an eyelid at this recent development?

For those who havent seen them, large, white security screens have been attached to the buildings forming part of the opera centre site, enhancing the feeling of a ghost town on this high profile approach to the city centre.:(

@NevilleNeville wrote:

Some short term active use in front of the buildings may be an alternative or a s someone suggested previously letting out some of the builidngs to start up businesses at least while the Planning Permission and An Bord Pleanala processes are being waited on.

This idea has been ruled out because it would have raised security and planning issues for the project. Having tenants installed in the premises could effect start-dates etc.

Speaking of Limerick School of Art & Design, Here are some photos of the work going on there at the moment. The Sculpture and Fashion Departments will be vacating Georges Quay in September and moving to the Clare St, meaning all LSAD’s departments will be located on one campus.

Redemptorist Monastery, South Circular Road, Limerick.

An Bord Pleanala has given the go ahead to the Redemptorists for a residential development on their lands on the Soth Circular Road, albeit on a reduced scale. Full report here

Original application

Refurbishment of the monastery building,construction of residential development and crèche. The refurbishment of the existing monastery building will provide enhanced accommodation and facilities for the Redemptorist community. It will also include the provision of five private apartments. It is proposed to construct a residential development of 286 units and a crèche on the lands associated with the monastery building. The refurbishment of the monastery will involve internal and external works to the building including the replacement of windows. The private residential development of 286 dwelling units is to be provided in nine blocks on the associated monastery lands. The blocks extend from three storeys over basement to seven storeys. In total the scheme includes 291 number private residential apartments (inclusive of the private apartments in the monastery building) comprising 39 number one bedroom units, 195 number two-bedroom units and 57 number three-bedroom units.

Limerick resident’s woe over apartment plans

CITY councillors and residents on the South Circular Road are disappointed that An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission to build over 200 apartments as part of a controversial development proposed by the Redemptorist Fathers.

Some 17 conditions have been set out by the planning appeals board, however, in granting the application and the development has been reduced in size from 291 to 208 units.

It is unknown how the decision has been greeted by the joint developers – the Redemptorists and P Elliott & Co Ltd – as a spokesperson for the Redemptorist community would only say: “We have received a document in relation to the planning application from An Bord Pleanala and we are assessing it”.

But Fine Gael’s Cllr Maria Byrne said locals are still disappointed with the density of the development, as Limerick City Council had previously only granted planning for 189 units.

Cllr Jim Long, meanwhile, said he is outraged that the residents’ views have not been taken on board by the planners.

“I actually didn’t think it would go ahead; I thought reason would have prevailed. It’s outrageous that it took seven and a half months to make a decision on this and never really consider the residents’ concerns,” said Cllr Long.

Massive opposition to the development at Mount St Alphonsus was last year mounted by residents on the basis of traffic congestion, noise and the density.

Under the terms of planning set out by An Bord Pleanala, two of the residential blocks must be omitted “to protect the setting of Saint Alphonsus Church” and a further block of apartments must be reduced in height by one floor.

The board has also ordered that other apartments be reduced in number to comply with the design standards for new apartment guidelines under the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Limerick Leader

@Tuborg wrote:

Redemptorist Monastery, South Circular Road, Limerick.

An Bord Pleanala has given the go ahead to the Redemptorists for a residential development on their lands on the Soth Circular Road, albeit on a reduced scale. Full report here

My God, that area simply can’t manage the traffic as it is. To put 200 apartments there is utter folly.

Proposed Limerick Boat Club Redevelopment (2008) and Cologne Chocolate Museum (1993).

I thought I post this as both have some similar characteristics.

• Both are positioned on the head of river piers. (Shannon / Rhine)
• Both piers are intersected by bridges. (Sarsfield / Severin)
• Both have similar glass front facades at the head of their piers.
• Both riverfronts are in the process of major redevelopments. (Arthur’s Quay / Rheinauhafen)
• Both locations have mooring facilities for pleasure boats.

The Chocolate Museum is built around a former custom and excise building on both sides. The large usage of aluminium might give a factory feel to it. In fact the museum contains a working chocolate production line from start to finish. Of course it has gastronomy facilities (Café / Beer Garden) and a shop (Chocolate). It is a commercially run museum and a very popular visitor attraction.

Obviously there also many differences between the two locations especially scale of size. The 1993 exterior design might look somewhat cumbersome and could put some people off in supporting Fordmount’s proposal for the Boat Club. However it is just a practical exercise at comparing this proposal with another one elsewhere.

Any thoughts?

Images from susemueller ralpe mikepirnat