ew

I don’t know – missed it myself – interview was refered to in the news segment on Damien Kilberd.

That’s the end of that…
from

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=302&si=1039793&issue_id=9739

UK chain pulls out

UK PUB chain JD Wetherspoon is putting its property at 121-122, Capel St, Dublin up for auction on 2 October through joint agents CB Richard Ellis Gunne and Van de Berg (UK).

The UK group has decided to defer its decision to locate in Dublin for the forseeable future.

While no reserve has been disclosed for the sale of this large shell unit, a price in excess of €2m may be on the cards.

Wow. “Overhaul”, “modernising”, “upgraded” these are certaintly not words I like to see in plans for a listed building. (Sounds like they have their eye on the ilac canopy that could find a new home down on store street or something.)

The article also says

“CIE chief architect John Clancy explained that Busaras is a listed building. So the revamp will be primarily internal”.

Judged on that statement alone it would be fair to interpret Mr. Clancys understanding as being if a building is listed you just have to hang on to the facade. That would be scary stuff. I’m sure he has been misquoted or something. As a chief architect he surely understands the full extent of what protection is implicated by the protected structures list.

A first step [particularly if the planning application is available yet] could be to ask John Clancy to clarify his statement. Have you ever met the guy on your research Paul?

I hope the restriction stays in place. The cap is probably all that stands in the way of WalMart (for example) entry to Ireland. It has been my experience that huge stores squeeze out all the smaller stores which leads to less consumer choice and the death of local shopping. Mega stores also tend to be car based which leads to social exclusion as you need private transport to access the stores. City divides into haves and have nots, downtown and public transport become no go areas. This has all been well documented and I find it hard that any planning department would consider allowing the cap be removed.

Ikea is the one that is often used as an example, as they claim their business model is dependant on the large store size. And I accept there is a real need for better quality cheap furniture (as a walk down capel street area will show). However there are smaller Ikea stores in Netherlands and Germany that return a good profit, so I think Ikea are just being manipulative and their bluff should be called. They know they can split their stock into two – bathroom + kitchen / livingroom + and all other, and they have no real intention of going north of the border.

I thought the graveyard was wonderful. The biggest part of its charm for me was the fact that it was quite overgrown and decaying. I’m not sure I’d like to see it restored and cleaned to an original clean state. I accept that it must have been nice when it opened originally, with clean cut stone, tidy lawns and maintained pathways but that is not what should be aimed for. I think preservation rather than restoration is more suitable in this case. I suppose this means fixing roofs and the like to stop further major decay but please stop at that.

I know it’s a hard balance to strike, and I would have more experience of the issue regarding classic cars – the patina and scuffs of old leather seats coupled with the smell of old cars is often the first thing to be destroyed when a car is restored.

I would highly recommmed a vist to mt. Jerome too by the way!

I think it’s very interesting that the cows that are still on public display are as you’ve mentioned, mostly down the docks. They wern’t moved to there though, whatever’s there was there at the start.

There were comments in the papers that suggested that the “deprived” residents of the innercity had vandalised the public art that they were to ignorant to appreciate.

As it turns out any cow unfortunate enough to be within areas that draw crowds from the suburbs in the evenings is now gone and all that’s left is the cows in the docklands that are surrounded by the inner city locals.

Speaking of which – well done to Sherrif Street After-school project (and Gavin Friday) and the “no cow”. That would be a “community effort” GoodFella!

I don’t know who did the handprint cow, but I heard there was a similarly painted one you could participate in at the Special Olympics in RDS. I think the one at campshires is more subdued colouring though.

and..

I saw one of the exiled cows as it walked down to the ferry. He looked a bit sad to be leaving…

The anti-car lobby seem to be losing the battle in the UK too. Seems incredible.

I think this would come under the Derelict Sites Act, 1990.

And so if it hasn’t been already done, the site should be added to Derelict sites register.

The site can be added if it meets the following definition:
“In this section “derelict site” means any land (in this section derelict site. referred to as “the land in question”) which detracts, or is likely to detract, to a material degree from the amenity, character or appearance of land in the neighbourhood of the land in question because of—

( a ) the existence on the land in question of structures which are in a ruinous, derelict or dangerous condition, or

( b ) the neglected, unsightly or objectionable condition of the land or any structures on the land in question, or

( c ) the presence, deposit or colleffion on the land in question of any litter, rubbish, debris or waste, except where the presence, deposit or collection of such litter, rubbish, debris or waste results from the exercise of a right conffered statute or by common law.”

Then the owner has to “take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become or does not continue to be a derelict site.” Sec 9.

and the local authority has to “take all reasonable steps (including the exercise of any appropriate statutory powers) to ensure that any land situate in their functional area does not become or continue to be a derelict site. Sec 10.

Then the way would be clear to compulsory purchase etc. Which might of course be what the owner wanted all along.

See
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1990_14.html