well what about the developments popping up in the shannonside ?
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That report is a damning indictment on the authorities at all levels; I haven’t been in Moyross for 15 years and as bad as it was then it was fully occupied and not much to different to parts of D11 or D22 at a similar time.
To visit central Limerick now you could be anywhere it really has developed very well with a great retail offering and some of the best city break hotels around.
But the report is really shocking and will be seriously expensive to implement particularly on the regneration side with 3000 houses to be built or rebuilt at a likely cost of €200k a unit that comes to €60m alone in what is basically the result of criminal activity carried out by brainless savages that would rob a coke machine if it were left there. Shocking and not good enough for the entire city in general and those so poor that they can’t leave these 2 estates in particular.
Real microcosm of Ireland over the past decade; private sector doing well with the state sector getting ever more chaotic and unable to manage even a couple of housing estates.
@PVC King wrote:
with 3000 houses to be built or rebuilt at a likely cost of €200k a unit that comes to €60m alone
Thought it was 1000 houses ? (With a land footprint available which is capable of providing 2-3000 homes. These are not promised by the report). Personally I don’t think the cost of implementing any of this should be an issue, in the same way as it is not an issue for the Ballymun regeneration. The problems in these areas have been ignored by succesive governments for far too long. While I would agree that LCC have to accept some of the blame, the boundary issue means that Moyross is governed by more than one authority and that has meant it has been left to rot as no-one has taken full responsibility for the area . As indicated a single body is needed to govern. As has been discussed many times the boundary issue is also skewing the true city population(whatever it may actually be) and as such the level of policing available to the city has never really been sufficient. The addition of extra Gardai is very positive.
The addition of the link road from Coonagh to the N7 is also a very positive step, opening up a whole new side to the city. It is probably the only way private investment would consider these areas. There is huge potential there.
As you say, Limerick city is really coming along nicely and with the implementation of this report which by all accounts is to happen pretty quickly, the only way is up and that can only be seen as a good thing.As a matter of interest, has the Ballymun regeneration made much impact socially. Are there many negatives or is it pretty much a positive move as a whole? Has it just pushed the problems elsewhere?
There is some ambiguity in the figures as he lists 35% of the 1500 units in Southill and 35% of the 1000 units in Moyross with a further 500 other units in unspecified places. On those estimates you have 1350 requiring demolition and half the remainder requiring serious renovation. Why not just level the lot on a phased basis and give these people a new start? I also like Colnemike’s point on integration why not develop 10000 units in a five year strategy at 50% at market 20% key worker and 30% social? All on a PPP basis under private mangagement companies post completion.
Re Ballymun the causes in Ballymun were more complex you had the very obvious social problems but the buildings also had extensive asbestos components which would have made their future maintenance costs prohibitive. The external cladding was also done on the cheap and all required replacement due to corroded steel fixings which in some cases were only years from failing and progressive failure could have led to panels weighing tons departing the building voluntarily.
I agree that it is a situation where costs shouldn’t prevent solutions but ultimately over the past decade two suburbs might as well have been on Mars for the amount of simularity that they had with the rest of Limerick.
On transport I note the way O’Malley Park was to be cut off from the road network in previous posts. Moyross has an operational railway with no plans for a station, Southill ditto. I just wonder what are the Department of Transport doing?
Drink stains scar city streets
UGLY staining on the pivotal city centre pedestrianised streets of Bedford Row and Thomas Street, is proving a major embarrassment.
The new paving is particularly marked with ingrained stains on the highly visible corners of O’Connell Street and Bedford Row, and at both corners from O’Connell Street into Thomas Street.
The Limerick Post has observed that the staining has remained permanent and the newspaper has also received a number of complaints from concerned citizens. There is also a concern that people are drinking alcohol as they loiter on Bedford Row.
When Limerick City Council’s phased pedestrianisation programme was first rolled out, councillors were assured that the newly revamped streetscape would feature top level materials and workmanship. The paving subsequently used is French limestone.
Cllr Jim Long said he is “totally dismayed by the ugly stainingâ€, and is of the opinion that it is caused by cola drinks and/or beer.
“I’ve seen people sitting on the benches on Bedford Row leaving half empty cola cans and beer bottles. Cola stains very badly and beer also.
“I complained to City Council and told them it is not acceptable that sections are already being disfigured with permanent staining.
“I was informed that attempts to remove the stains by the street cleaning machines have not been successful“.
“First of all, the areas involved will have to be power washed before a resurfacing skin of petroleum solution is applied and topped with a non-slip glaze which will be easy to maintain.
“However, the council says that it will have to purchase new machinery, specifically geared to clean and maintain the streets. I’m bemused that having spent huge money in transforming the streets, they didn’t source the maintenance needed or secure guidelines from the contractor involved on the type of machinery requiredâ€.
One city centre business person said it is imperative that the newly pedestrianised streets be “maintained to the highest standard.
“Their upkeep – their cleanliness,, appearance and overall attractiveness, are vital. As it is, it looks as if the council’s housekeeping is at fault,†she said.
The Richard Harris sculpture is shortly to be unveiled at the entrance to Bedford Row. The ceremony will be attended by local and national dignitaries and it is to be hoped efforts will be made to have the problem sorted by then.
City co-ordinator Andrew Mawhinney has conveyed the concerns of the business community to the city council and a special meeting to address the issue of maintenance and security is to be held next Tuesday.
Limerick Post 21 April 2007
Sadly the upkeep of the Bedford Row area in particular has been extremely dissapointing, apart from the staining of the pavement, the area is almost constantly strewn with rubbish and it lools like the grills surrounding the new trees havent had a good clean out since they were planted, they look like giant ashtrays. At the moment Bedford Row is more of a building site than a city street but that dosent excuse the state of the place. It reflects very badly on the City Council that they didnt make it their business to purchase the right equipment to maintain the area, whats the point in spending a couple of million euro on a fancy remodelling job if you’re not going to look after it properly. At the moment the City Councils maintenance fleet consists of a few street sweepers that give the major streets a quick going over every evening. Lets hope they get hold of some more sophisticated equipment fairly soon!:o
Below is another take on the City Central development on Bedford Row/Henry Street (taken from The LimerickBlogger)
ALL HOUSES IN ISLAND FIELDCOULD FACE DEMOLITION
EXCLUSIVE BY EUGENE PHELAN
PLANS are under way which could see the entire housing stock in St Mary’s Park demolished and replaced by an ultra-modern financial centre, hotels and upmarket housing.St Mary’s Park, also known as the Island Field, is one of the best and most valuable sites in the city and this week residents were informed that work has started on the regeneration project.
Informed sources have told the Limerick Leader that one very possible scenario is that the City Council could draft a compulsory purchase order for the 480 or so houses, so that the site can be completely cleared. St Mary’s Park was the city’s first local authority housing estate, but
“The Corporation own most of the houses, which is a good thing. Everyone, of course, would be rehoused around the city. This would also allow 40 acres at the back of St Mary’s Park, which is currently landlocked, to be opened up for development†one official at City Hall confirmed. The precise course of action will be decided in the coming months, but the ‘nuclear’ option would appear to have considerable support.
“Even at this early stage,†confided one local politician, “it looks certain that they will go for a compulsory purchase order, the knocking of the houses and a complete change from one of the least desirable to one of the most desirable areas to live.â€
Reports advocating the demolition of the estate and another arguing for renovation have in the past been knocked by Government, but now money is available for a massive regeneration of the area. McNamara & Partners in Ennis have already been appointed to oversee the project and come up with a regeneration plan. The Limerick firm of Murray O’Laoire have also been called, along with other experts from England who have worked on similar projects there.
A letter has now gone out to residents and key stakeholders. They will also receive a questionnaire, designed to help the professionals with their report.
Local councillor John Gilligan, who lives in nearby Lee Estate, concedes that the demolition is a possibility, but believes that it would be “outrageous†to knock all the houses.
“I have said all along that unless there is consultation, nothing will happen,†Cllr Gilligan said. “There is a strategy and nothing has been decided. It is entire speculation to suggest that the houses will be all knocked.â€
A mix of shopping, private and social housing, without knocking all of the existing houses, would be his preference. “One of the main problems, as you know, is not the houses, but some of the people living in them,†he added. “You can’t just knock all the houses and transplant all the people.â€
Early in May the consultants are to meet with the four local councillors to gauge their views and share ideas.
There will also be a walkabout with City officials and local residents. One of the most important events will be workshops organised over two days with residents. Statutory agencies will also be involved.
21 April 2007
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2.6 Negative Impacts on Limerick City
Local community representatives are frustrated with the negative image portrayed of their areas as a result of the activities of a minority.
In Limerick more generally there has been a shift in the focus of commercial activity away from the city centre to outlying shopping centres. For example, retail rents in the city centre are uniquely, for a city of its size, below the levels in outlying shopping centres (see Appendix 7).
The scale of the criminal, social, and economic problems in areas such as Moyross, Ballinacurra/ Weston and Southill, and their spread, is not only a blight on the communities that have to live there but, left unchecked, could pose a real threat to commercial and social life in Limerick city as a whole.
This interesting retail rental statistic again reflects our doughnut shaped city due to the three local authorities that run (ruin) it. Peculiarly Limerick is the only city where the retail rental rates are higher in the suburbs than in it’s city centre core. Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway and Waterford all reflect a healthy 2:1 ratio in favour of their city centre cores.
Residents living in the Raheen, Castletroy, Caherdavin and Parteen suburbs and their local councillors cannot afford to have their heads buried in the sand when it comes to the long overdue boundary extension in order that one local authority administers the city for the common good of all. Fitzgerald’s report warns of complacency for the city’s well being and even that of the region itself!
3.7 Develop the Region
There is a clear need for the development of regional strategies, particularly for housing and retail shopping. Limerick city has little further capacity for social housing within the boundary, and so regional approaches must be progressed with a view to putting an agreed strategy in place to be implemented by the relevant authorities in the region.
This will be critical to ensuring that the problems now being experienced are not repeated. All adjacent local authorities have a responsibility in this regard. Visionary plans for the Limerick region and the Limerick-Shannon Gateway rely on the long- term well being and protection of Limerick city centre.
@vkid wrote:
ALL HOUSES IN ISLAND FIELD COULD FACE DEMOLITION
PLANS are under way which could see the entire housing stock in St Mary’]McNamara & Partners[/B] in Ennis have already been appointed to oversee the project and come up with a regeneration plan. The Limerick firm of Murray O’Laoire have also been called, along with other experts from England who have worked on similar projects there.
Fitzgerald Report
It seems that all these masterplans below, that had been tucked away for sometime in the drawers of the City Council are now been acted upon in light of the Fitzgerald report or is it just a bit of pre-election knee jerking?
Masterplan Limerick City Centre Rapid Study
Bourke-Kennedy Doyle Architects
The Limerick City Centre Rapid Study was commissioned by the Limerick City Council to access and address the issues of deprivation and social inclusion through investment and development in this area of the city centre. Bourke-Kennedy Doyle’s role was to produce a masterplan study for this document.
The Study included the “Watergate” area of the city centre and all of the King’s Island including both the heritage area around King John’s Castle and St Mary’s Park estate at the north end of the island. The completed plan successfully identified areas for development and regeneration, and outlined uses to be considered in each of the three zones. The key urban planning issues along with proposals for their resolution were also highlighted to be included as part of any regeneration programme.
LIMERICK CITY SOUTH RAPID PLAN
Murray O’Laoire Architects Client: Limerick City Council
In March 2001, 😡 in recognition of the growing disparity in economic and social standards in Ireland, the Government launched an initiative called Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development (RAPID). Limerick City South was designated as one such Area.
As part of the RAPID programme, MOLA was commissioned by Limerick City Council to undertake a study to identify and assess the Area’s problems, needs and potential. The Study examined key issues impacting the Limerick City South RAPID Area (LCSRA) pertaining to housing quality, the environment, community and amenity facilities, and infrastructure.
The study is centred on a development strategy for four principal areas in the LCSRA. These strategies were devised to address the immediate problems in the Area through a series of coherent and co-ordinated projects in addition to developing an interrelationship between the various neighbourhoods of the LCSRA and furthering the Area’s integration into Limerick City.
The projects includes creating an amenity greenbelt catering to the diverse interests of local residents, enhancing reference places to help locate the LCSRA in Limerick City and foster a sense of identity, linking housing and community facilities through improved access for pedestrians and cyclists and furthering the potential for employment expansion. Each proposed project included its own implementation and phasing plan, providing a practical framework for realisation of the scheme.
This Study forms part of the Limerick City South RAPID Plan that was submitted to government for funding in 2002.
You have to see a pattern 2001 RAPID plan submitted 2002.
2006 2001 Fitzgerald dispatched 2002 2007 no doubt another report and plan submitted to government.
Prediction July 2007 plan binned and nothing happens for another 4 years when another report will be commissioned.
A cabinet minister and junior minister have delivered what exactly over the past five years?
@Goofy wrote:
Fitzgerald Report
A new road is currently planned to the north of the city linking the N7 to the Coonagh roundabout
Interesting. Has anyone else heard any about this
Fitzgerald Report
3.4 Improve access and infrastructure
Experience with other regeneration projects has shown that a key element in developing economic activity, and ending the isolation of deprived areas, is through putting in place a sound roads and transport infrastructure. Moyross is currently a cul de sac with some of the major problems being experienced at the furthest end of the estate.
A new road is currently planned to the north of the city linking the N7 to the Coonagh roundabout (see map at Appendix 1). The planned link road from the Coonagh roundabout to the Moyross Interchange should be ‘]Funds to do so have already been allocated[/B] by DoELHG.
A new road is currently planned to the north of the city linking the N7 to the Coonagh roundabout (Highlighted in purple below). Not only is this good news for Moyross but also good for a 360° balanced expansion for the city from it’s inner core. Meelick, Parteen, Westbury, Clonlara will have better access to Shannon, U.L. etc without having to choke the city centre roads. I trust the Clare County Council will fulfil their obligations on proper development of their side (slice) of Limerick city. I wonder will this road be tolled too, otherwise we will probably see more traffic flows on the northern than on the southern road?
A badly needed development, even if it will spoil some parts of the countryside I really like. We badly need to balance the growth of the city.
The boundary extension is a pretty good symbol of everything that’s wrong with this country, small town politics ahead of actual progress. What I don’t understand is why the land can’t nominally remain in Clare but be administered from Limerick city, things like addresses wouldn’t change but there would just one authority running the area. As it stands, it’s just a haphazard association which is actually starting to hold the entire Shannon region back.
I’m not sure that building a dual carriageway 2 miles north of Moyross will benefit Moyross in any substantial way. For starters car ownership levels are a fraction of the city average and secondly it will accomodate areas that currently have scant linkage with deprived areas such as Moyross and the Island.
I am not saying that it is not a valid project on any level but to package this as a must have to eliminate the transport deficet for Moyross is ludicrous and disingenuous. It is further felt that the through traffic flows through Thomondgate create an unacceptable level of pedestrian severance. These flows post southern bypass and if a 3 ton weight limit were introduced would and will make a much more positive impact to both Moyross and the Island.
My fear is that the above road if built in the absence of investment in public transport just facilitate more unplanned and peicemeal development. Large quantities of out of town retail and low density housing would in reality just gridlock routes to areas such as Meelick and Parteen as people in the inner suburbs flock to shop at the weekends and as the residents of the new sprawl commute to city centre locations.
Sounds like more M50 planning and we all know what happened there.it is a classic example of no co-operation between local authorities and a gridlocked chaos resulting. There is a very common theme on boundary issues between all City and county councils which has been entirely ignored at the highest level.
@PVC King wrote:
I’m not sure that building a dual carriageway 2 miles north of Moyross will benefit Moyross in any substantial way.
It is further felt that the through traffic flows through Thomondgate create an unacceptable level of pedestrian severance.
I could not imagine that the planned North Road will be built to dual carriageway standard, as it would primarily only serve local needs. Whereas the Southern Ring is part of the national road network.
Moyross being a cul de sac, it’s residents would benefit enormously if the first section of the north road would be built from the Coonagh Shopping centre to Moyross. It would provide local jobs , shopping and services. Public bus transport would deal adequately for commuting or cycle-lanes would also complement the private car.
Bear in mind there is no industrial estates on this part of the city and to crown the estates lack of facilities in the past, it was built along side the city’s landfill dump! The planned North road would in fact relieve Thomondgate by giving Heavy vehicles an alternative route away from the city centre. The North Road would be a purpose built road for cars i.e. most of the roads in the Meelick, Parteen, Athlunkard areas are nothing more than country boreens built in another era and teeming with traffic.
YET ANOTHER towering 20-storey glass fronted building could soon dominate the Limerick skyline
The building is proposed for the riverside site at Limerick Boat Club, who, as part of the package, will be provided with a new headquarters, at the same location. The club is also promised a yearly financial bonus.
The Limerick Post has learned that Michael Daly, who acts for the Fordmount Consortium, is behind the project. Fordmount are responsible for the Marriott Hotel and shops on Bedford Row. It was earlier revealed a footbridge across the river, from the Boat Club to Poor Man’s Kilkee, and leading into Bedford Row, was in the pipeline.
Concerns regarding the development have been expressed by Cllr Kathleen Leddin, who claims a developer has been in communication with City Council executives regarding the structure, to be built when the boat club is demolished.
The councillor, who earlier this week was told by director of services, Kieran Lehane that he was unaware of any preplanning process, called on the city planners to be sensitive to all aspects of the design plans, with particular relevance to the building’s impact on the prime quayside site.
“We must be very careful that we don’t ruin this vital part of the riverscape and also what we do with the Limerick Boat Club. Unfortunately, on the other side of the river, the Hilton Hotel complex is very disappointing, architecturally – we must ensure that whatever goes up here is vastly superior, more appropriate to its setting and more attractive to the eyeâ€.
Cllr Leddin told the Limerick Post that although she failed to receive confirmation of preplanning discussion, she is reliably informed that the project is in train.
When contacted, Mayor Joe Leddin who is a longstanding member of Limerick Boat Club, disclosed that a leading city developer is actively engaged in driving the project forward.
“The boat club, which was built in 1870, is in a rapidly declining state of repair and professionally, we’ve been told that the best option is to demolish it and rebuild but financially, the club is in dire straits. The developer has come up with a deal on the basis that we surrender the site and he would build us a state-of-the-art boat club, slipways and the finance to buy new rowing boats. From the rents he secures from the upper floors of the building, which will be anything from 10 to 20 storeys high, he would pay us a fixed annual income, to be reviewed periodically. We would get a beautiful new club, great boat facilities and rowing on the river – as it is we’ve almost ceased to exist.â€
“I can tell you there has been discussion with the officials in City Hall and the next step is to look at the drawingsâ€.
At a meeting of Limerick City Council, John Field, head of finance, said that as the boat club site is zoned residential, a rezoning would be required to facilitate commercial development.
Mayor Leddin points out that should the developer opt to install a gym, leisure centre and other sports facilities in the new building, a rezoning would not be required.
“As part of the project, a new footbridge would link the site with Poor Man’s Kilkee. The city would retain one of the oldest boat clubs in the country and gain a new landmark building to enhance the riverside, but I share Cllr Kathleen’s concern that the project must be one that will greatly enhance rather than diminish the riverscape,†he said.
Huge extension to Parkway Retail Park
By John O’Shaughnessy
The Dublin Road area is taking on a new dimension with the extension to the Parkway Retail Park, a new 90 bedroomed hotel, discount store Aldi,and retirement village at Castletroy Park Hotel, all within an area of a few hundred yards.
THE planned multi-million euro extension to the existing Parkway Retail Park, stretching to the Groody River, is up and running, and a new set of traffic lights has been installed at the sole entrance/exit, on the Dublin Road.
The bulldozers moved in recently for site preparation..
It has emerged that the owners Alocin Limited, intend to apply for permission for amendments/modifications to the development already sanctioned, for mixed use retail/commercial and leisure, and incorporating a public park on the site (6.89 ha). It is proposed to have parking spaces for almost 1,800 vehicles.
The site in question is at Singland, bounded by the N7 to the north, Parkway Retail Park, and Castletroy View to the west, Carn na Ree to the south and undeveloped lands stretching to the Groody River to the east.
The proposed changes include, reconfiguration of stair and lift cores, reduction and circulation/mall areas resulting in associated increase in depth/floor area of retail and restaurant units on ground floor mall;change of use of store area and incorporation into retail units G23 to G27 inclusive, change of use of unit G15 from restaurant to retail;and creation of three new retail units G29, 30 and G31, within eastern courtyard level plus 19.5m revision to previously approved access ramp to southern multi-storey car park, associated increase in depth/floor area of retail, bank, restaurant, library units and foodcourt area on first floor mall;provision of new car parking deck (172 new spaces). The overall number of car parking spaces on the site increases from 1,598 to 1,788.
The gross floor area of the development remains unchanged (75,142 sq m); however, a total of 5.154 sq m at ground and first floor retail levels is reallocated from “circulation/ancillary†uses as previously permitted to retail, restaurant, bank, foodcourt and library use.
Permission is also sought for revision to access/service road layout.
The Parkway Retail Park, originally the brainchild of Michael and Ralph Parkes, is a resounding success story.
It would appear that plans for a multiplex cinema on the site have been shelved.
Meanwhile, just down the road, and on the land once occupied by the former Oaklands Furniture, discount store Aldi, are ready to open their second Limerick outlet.
Alongside them is a new hotel, in the course of construction, in addition to a number of units aimed at retail and professional services.
One of the investors behind this project is local entrepreneur Joe Hanrahan, whose family home was a hundred yards away, at the top of Groody Hill.
Joe is son of Brian Hanrahan, who developed the Castle Oaks Hotel in Castleconnell, and one-time defender with both Limerick and Shelbourne AFC.
Cllrs’ warn against ‘ugly’ development
By Marie Hobbins
IT has emerged there are no significant changes to a new planning application for the construction of 49 apartments on Clancy Strand.The controversial development, sited alongside the protected structure, Jackson’s Turret, has evoked strong objections from local residents, backed by local and national politicians on the basis that a five-storey, 49 apartment block would be out of character with the historic riverside area, would impact negatively on the local traffic management, would intrude physically into the adjacent cul de sac, Priory Park and put severe pressure on the water and sewerage infrastructure.
At a meeting of City Council, Cllr John Ryan alleged that “the Hilton Hotel design is not in keeping with the area surrounding it, “and now we have this valuable prime site on Clancy Strand – I don’t think the proposed development will add aesthetically to the area.
“There is also the issue of a strip of land whose ownership has not been established yet, and though the developer says its his, there is no proofâ€.
In agreement with Cllr Ryan, Cllr Kathleen Leddin said:
“Let’s admit it, we made a mess of the Hilton – it’s an ugly building and if we’re not careful, we will ruin this part of the riverfront on Clancy Strand with another ugly developmentâ€.
Mr Tobin said that the planning department has not received all the additional information it requested from the developer.
“On that basis, we can’t make a decision – the application will have to be withdrawn and resubmitted. It is now in the hands of the developer whether he wishes to comply with submitting further information.â€
Asked if he could make a decision at this stage, Mr Tobin told Cllr Ryan:
“Under new regulations, we can only make one request for clarification and if this is not submitted within three months, it will have to be withdrawn. This application was submitted before the new legislation, so we are seeking clarification on the issueâ€.
Fitzgerald tackled on ‘boundary’ issue
By Mary Earls
JOHN Fitzgerald was accused of not revealing his full intentions regards Limerick’s proposed boundary extension, when he briefed Limerick County Council on his recent report,Addressing this week’s meeting of Limerick County Council, Cllr Richard Butler claimed that Fitzgerald had initially tried to avoid the forum and hadn’t discussed the extension proposals with any of the councillors who would be affected by the change.
Mr Fitzgerald recommended that a limited extension up to the Clare County boundary, from Moyross to the Coonagh roundabout, be put in place. However, Cllr Butler believes that this is just the first slice of the cake for Limerick City Council, who will be demanding more portions in time.
“Mr Fitzgerald told deputy Michael Noonan that he had no intention of consulting members of the Bruff area and the councillors involved. He didn’t even talk to the one councillor, Cormac Hurley, who will lose his seat if this goes ahead.
“Mr Fitzgerald was also asked by Michael Noonan if this issue will go away if we agree to the minor boundary extension, and he replied that it will be here forever. So, it’s not what was said at that meeting that’s important, it’s what wasn’t said,†said Cllr Butler.
Mr Fitzgerald originally told the County Council briefing session that he didn’t deal with the boundary issue in his report.
“This is because if the boundary changed in the morning, it would still not deal with the major problems in Moyross and Southillâ€.
But he warned that it will have to be looked at in future.
However, he later said that the area in the map with three local authorities “is a total messâ€.
“I’m talking about the section from the Coonagh Roundabout to Moyross. It’s a very minor boundary extension. And this is the solution for the regeneration and redevelopment of the north side of Limerick city. However, I see this as a longer term issue though, so I haven’t dealt with it because of that,†he told the meeting.
Cllr Butler said that Mr Fitzgerald “started off not wanting an extension and went on to actively propose itâ€.
He added:â€The majority of councillors would agree to sit down with Mr Fitzgerald or members of Limerick City Council and discuss this. And many would agree to grant this small extension if this was the full and final end of the matter. But no-one will promise thisâ€.
Describing himself as the councillor closest to the “battlefield,†Cllr Cormac Hurley said that he was never contacted by John Fitzgerald “even though it seems he has talked to countless groups and individuals.
“We were also not afforded the opportunity to look at the proposed extension map until this meeting. And this map includes my area of Caherdavin and Coonagh,†said Cllr Hurley.
Cllr’s Eddie Wade and Jerome Scanlan said that there should have been a joint briefing session between the city and county councils to discuss the boundary issue. And Cllr Kieran O’Donnell added that “the residents of Caherdavin and Coonagh have rights as wellâ€.
But, according to Mr Fitzgerald, the city “can’t survive on its own as the problems are not getting better†and “there is recognition that this limited extension of the boundary is in the long-term interests of the region as a wholeâ€.
At a recent briefing with the County Council, Mr Fitzgerald said that it would be better if the boundary extension issue was led by county councillors.
“A number of problems have arisen from the difficulty, over many years, in resolving issues relating to the Limerick city/county boundary. For example, the most troubled part of Moyross is in the county, while the majority is in the city. “The boundary issue creates difficulties in making effective use of public and private lands to support regeneration and investment.
“In my view, this city boundary extension is critical in facilitating the intensive development and regeneration of the north city area. Economic regeneration, the creation of employment opportunities and the development of mixed housing will be crucial to the longer term resolution of current problems.
“There is a clear need for the development of regional strategies, particularly for housing and retail shopping. Limerick city has little further capacity for social housing within the boundary and so regional approaches must be progressed with a view to putting an agreed strategy in place to be implemented by the relevant authorities in the region. All adjacent local authorities have a responsibility in this regard. Visionary plans for the Limerick region and the Limerick-Shannon Gateway rely on the long term well-being and protection of Limerick city centre,†he stated in his report.
According to Mr Fitzgerald, there has been a lot of tension in the system over the boundary and it has been there for the last 40 odd years.
“New social housing for Limerick city will be a problem, along with shopping problems, and trading problems that it can’t sort out by itself,†he said.
In Limerick, there has been a shift in the focus of commercial activity away from the city centre to outlying shopping centres. For example, retail rents in the city centre are uniquely, for a city of its size, below the levels in suburban shopping centres. This is in direct contrast to cities such as Cork, Galway and Waterford, where city centre rents are much higher than the county, the report outlines.
Of the approximate 18,900 houses in the City Council area, 8,000 of these were constructed as social housing. And according to Mr Fitzgerald, “Limerick is unique in having such a high concentration of social housing within the city boundary – roughly 40 per centâ€.
He said that the city centre needs to be preserved, or it may adversely affect the entire region.
“I’ve never seen anyone to go somewhere just to see a suburban shopping centre. And I think this issue would be better led by you. The problems are not getting better and it would be far better if you would show leadership and set up the structures. The existing structures in the city can’t cope with the severity of the problems. The city can’t survive on its own – it needs urgent regional leadership,†he told councillors.
Pointing out that Southill is adjoining his parish, Cllr Wade said that he “is opposing any extension to the city boundary and making no secret of itâ€.
“There are a lot of politicians silent on this and riding two horses at the same time
“A few acres were recently bought by Limerick City Council next to Rathbane Golf Club. And now my major concern is, were these lands bought with the intention of coming into the county. This is a very serious question and one that I am very concerned about and my neighbours are very concerned about. I don’t want to oppose the goodwill of regeneration but this is very close to my battlefield. And I am concerned that the city will soon want to extend into Donoughmore and Ballysheedy,†concluded Cllr Wade.
Butler to go head-to-head with new shopping centre
By John O’Shaughnessy
ROBERT Butler, always one with an eye for a site with potential, is planning to go head-to-head with the new shopping development currently underway at Clondrinagh, alongside the Coonagh roundabout.Mr Butler, who, inside the last two years, purchased the former Texaco station close to Elm Motors, and a landbank across the road, and practically adjoining the new shopping centre, has now applied to Limerick County Council to develop a retail park, at Clondrinagh.
The development will consist of 12 retail units and a stand alone restaurant with drive through facility (maximum building height 13.9 metres over finished floor level), an external enclosed garden centre area, roof mounted signage structures (height 9.0 metres over roof level), individual unit signage, associated car and bicycle parking, service yard, waster compound, ESB substation and switchroom, an access road linking to the N18, landscaping and ancillary works to facilitate the development.
The overall gross floor area is 1,300 sq m, on a site area of 5.0763 Hectares.
Said one long-time Coonagh resident; “There was a time when we had very few facilities in the area. All that is about to change, especially with the opening of the shopping complex, where the anchor tenant is to be Tesco. We are also going to have cinemas…Coonagh is no longer way out in the country…it is about to become a town in itselfâ€.
Meanwhile, hundreds of new homes are in the pipeline in the Clonmacken, just a short distance away from Clondrinagh.
What’s happening with the handsome building (Rutland House?) where the Green Onion was and the Limerick Post still is? I presume closure of the former was due to the Opera development but surely such a notable structure is protected from the ravages of developers?
Anyone have any info on this as I’m getting anxious about what Opera is going to do to the area?
@vkid wrote:
Boat club trade-off
YET ANOTHER towering 20-storey glass fronted building could soon dominate the Limerick skyline
The Limerick Post has learned that Michael Daly, who acts for the Fordmount Consortium, is behind the project. Fordmount are responsible for the Marriott Hotel and shops on Bedford Row. It was earlier revealed a footbridge across the river, from the Boat Club to Poor Man’]Mayor Joe Leddin[/B] who is a longstanding member of Limerick Boat Club, disclosed that a leading city developer is actively engaged in driving the project forward.
“The boat club, which was built in 1870, is in a rapidly declining state of repair and professionally, we’ve been told that the best option is to demolish it and rebuild but financially, the club is in dire straits. The developer has come up with a deal on the basis that we surrender the site and he would build us a state-of-the-art boat club, slipways and the finance to buy new rowing boats. From the rents he secures from the upper floors of the building, which will be anything from 10 to 20 storeys high, he would pay us a fixed annual income, to be reviewed periodically. We would get a beautiful new club, great boat facilities and rowing on the river – as it is we’ve almost ceased to exist.”
“I can tell you there has been discussion with the officials in City Hall and the next step is to look at the drawings”.
It’s very hard to imagine a 10 to 20 storey glass fronted building situated on the cut stone Sarsfield bridge without instinctively feeling that it is here out place. High rise buildings are more appropriate for the Docklands or on the Kerry Co-op site. It would impair views of St. Mary’s Cathedral and Shannon Boat club from the Cleeve’s river bank and distract attention away from the bridge itself. Maybe Justnotbothered might reveal more?
Photos courtesy of ecscw07 taken from Hilton hotel see link
@hailtothechimp wrote:
What’s happening with the handsome building (Rutland House?) where the Green Onion was and the Limerick Post still is? I presume closure of the former was due to the Opera development but surely such a notable structure is protected from the ravages of developers?
Anyone have any info on this as I’m getting anxious about what Opera is going to do to the area?
Check out the house numbers by viewing the reports, directions and orders at An Bord Pleanála. see link
I don’t think all of Rutland street is part of the Opera Centre? See also post
Below in the first image (blue highlighted) is the entrance to the proposed Opera Shopping Centre at Bank Place. I believe a pedestrian bridge ‘red highlighted’ will cross the Abbey river from Michael Street. In the second image of Rutland and Patrick street is the (blue highlighted) main entrance to the shopping centre.
By the way have you heard any news on the proposed Film House for the Belltable?
Photos courtesy of chocfrog75 and erlkeylala
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