jpsartre
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The worst 3 recent buildings in Limerick in my opinion are ( no particular order ) Cornmarket development (i.e.- Smyths , the Car Park , whole block etc..) Riverpoint and The Clarion
The Cornmarket is among the worst developments not just because it is an over-massed multistory carpark in the very heart of the old city but also because some very fine (neglected) buildings were razed to the ground in order to make way for the development. The Clarion on the other hand does not exist at the expense some other worthy part of Limerick’s built heritage. I know the apartment blocks adjacent to it were built on sites cleared of 18th C granaries but not the Clarion to the best of my knowledge. Its also a very elegant building as far as high rises go imo. I believe it will stand the test of time unlike Riverpoint which has no charm at all and will date very quickly. I see no harm in high rises on the riverfront per se just not anywhere near whats left of the historical district.
As for the boat club I recall reading in one of the local rags that Councillor Leddin and the developers were hopeful of a favorable response on their delisting app. given the slowdown in the economy etc. I don’t believe they’ve had the go ahead yet. Fordmount (developers?) got their own guy in to pronounce on it’s architectural merits, and whether it ought to be listed. Surprisingly he said he did’nt think so, citing the Belfast roof as the only thing remotely interesting about either building. His reasoning being that all the changes made to the interiors of the buildings offset any heritage value they may otherwise have had. Horlicks of course. See this short piece recently broadcast on BBC London News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7796040.stm
Lower William street contender
Arthur’s Quay shopping centre is the worst city centre building in Europe
What about the apartment block on Sarsfield St.- the one with the balconies. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I look at it. Its just so horrid.
Is shanekeane James Howard Kunstler? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ZeXnmDZMQ
Its a funny thing but I took a walk down Nicholas street today and along Mary street for the first time in I don’t know how long. It looked completely different to how I remembered it as a kid, especially Mary street (I drive down it all the time but some how I don’t notice the changes when I’m driving.)
I recall looking at a site notice in a window there on Bridge street and the application was made, I think, in June or July so I just assumed either the app. had been knocked back or the developer/builder decided to pull out. The site’s proximity to the road would affect its commercial viabilty I would imagine.
Of the other site on Nicholas street I only know what you’ve already made ref. to viz. the discovery of a mediaeval fireplace held up the project. (the cafe thing is interesting. In 1785 a ‘cafe’ named the Merchant’s Coffee House was opened next door to the Exchange on Nicholas street according to Georgian Limerick Vol II. Just a thought.)
Personally I can’t see Nicholas street attracting any serious investment until the perceived threat from elements within St. Mary’s Park is addressed. Stix is a real hoodie hang out that does nothing for the area. Also, and this is a personal view, I don’t like the road surfacing. They’ve use granite, a quality material, on the footpaths which is great but the concrete setts on the road are horrible. Simple as that. I’d rather they used asphalt. If Nicholas st. and Mary street were paved with a limestone or even the tegula favoured by Nicholas de Jong (although I still prefer stone) it would really lift the area imo, I don’t think you can underestimate the impact of quality paving materials.
Dave I’m not sure what you mean by ‘small implications’ but if you think that a slapped up, sand & cement finished shopping centre jusifies pulling down half a street of classicallly proportioned houses built of Limerick limestone and Limerick fired brick dating back to the mid 1700’s is a minor matter then I think you’re mad. Nothing personal you understand, I just do not believe it will turn the city centre into the kind of vibrant CBD that you describe. Do you think Arthur’s Quay has been a wonderful success? I don’t. I believe the future of this city lies in preserving the little we’ve got left. The old neglected laneways and bow-ways in Limerick are perfectly suited to the Parisien arcade treatmet if only we had developers with the vision. These are the kind of shopping focussed developments that will put Limerick on the map not crappy shopping malls with thirty year life spans. That said if an accomodaton is reached that doesn’t invovle pulling down streets I’ll certainly welcome it.
Why in Gods name woulf you oppose that?!
Anything would be better than that eyesore.This si getting ridiculous.
I’m all for questioning some of the more dubious applications, but you seem to have to apply to An Bord Planala five times if you want to sneeze in the city center nowadays!I don’t want to sound like a smart arse but its only an eysore because its been left to fall into dereliction. Shabiness per se is no excuse for wholesale demolition of a built heritage (no.s 34 to 41 Catherine St. I believe are to be demolished). But I take your point. The Georgian Quarter needs investment if its to survive but nobody is going to want to invest there if they think ABP will end up scrutinizing every application, assuming conservation concerns were the basis of the objection. It’s a bit of a catch 22 I think.
On a different note I was quite struck by the Christmas ‘tree’ on the river as I walked along O’Connell street the other day. Shannon street frames it and its quite eye catching at night when its lit up. This got me thinking about focal points in Limerick or rathe the lack of them, so here are a few suggestions:
Spring Rice Monument – I read somewhere that Hartstonge st. was built such that the monument would serve as its focal point. But this intention was clearly never acted upon as the view is obscured by vegetation and there is no gate to frame it. See mock-up.
Wellesley Pier Clock – If the Limerick Boat Club buildings are to be demolished and similarly the Penny’s building along with its clock then maybe the new building on the pier could incorporate a clock. The site is perfect imo. See mock-up (inspired by lighthouse concept).
Fannings Castle – This is the tumbledown behind the former LSAD building on Georges Quay. Since the much publicized mediaeval quarter presently consists of a mere 2 buildings proper, making a centrepiece of Fannings Castle might make the ‘mediaeval quarter’ claim a little more credible. I propose demolishing the former LSAD building (won’t be missed imo), tidying up the Castle with particular care paid to lighting, and opening up the space to create a little square in front of the building. This space would also help link the potato market to the canal corridor and form something of a focal point at the end of Michael st. See mock-up.
Other possible f.p. structures could include a very large structure at the top of Mallow st. visible from the Shannon Bridge roundabout, and another on the newly proposed square at Pennys on O’Connell st.. The Dominican Church by Tate’s Clock & St. Michaels on Pery Sq. could be lit better imo.
Does the scope of this project extend to improving the area around the Cathedral and drinking fountain?
Just the drinking fountain – what I referred to as the monument earlier – you can just make out the extent of the proposals in the third pic., shaded grey. Nothing in the way way of new public realm works planned for the area around the Cathedral in the planning app.. Bear in mind the road in front of the cathedral will eventually form part of the new orbital route around the city. Which is a pity really because the whole area would make for a very impressive plaza if traffic could be diverted around it.
these are some pictures from the John’s Sq. planning app.
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They’re going to use Kilkenny blue limestone all the way from the monument to Gerald Griffin St./William St. which will be kind of classy and a bit different to the French(?) limestone, Granite and pc slab they’ve used at Thomas St. etc.
Lighting will play a big part in the scheme with all the buildings and trees being uplit. The pendant lighting thing is new to me but looks damn cool in the cg viz. imo.
I also like the boules paving thing, wonder how that’ll go down in the town!, continental style outdoor bowling http://www.petanqueromania.ro/petanque_p84.html
First stirrings of activity at Clancy Strand in prep. for boardwalk construction. I think the road is being closed to through traffic for the duration of the build.
Personally I would rather see it shelved than see half of Ellen st. ripped down. I thought the Georgian society had appealed this and it now rested w/ ABP? Anyway if the developers can’t raise the capital from the banks it doesn’t matter what anybody thinks even the developers. It won’t be built.
Do we understand this is a P&R to serve buses? Are there QBC’s here I don’t know about? The extraordinary thing is that Lisnagry has the Nenagh train track runnng right through it. If anybody is serious about a P&R on the Dublin road this is where it should be. The Green party have been talking about a rail supported P&R at the junction of the Limerick By-Pass and the Ballysimon road for years. This is certainly feasible.
Agreed. It is a joke. Public transport is not taken seriously here. This is just one more cynical attempt to justify a development that has no merit whatsoever (except for developers and rate recipients).
Is there any more news on the park canal? I’ve tried walking down there a few times lately but teenage scobes have moved in under the Corbally link bridge. This is a really bad sign. I’ve stopped walking there now.
