justnotbothered

As I mentioned last week, there’s been more discussions about building on the Westfields nature reserve. The plan seem completely unrealistic but we must be vigilant against this type of development, regardless of how unlikely it seems.

32-storey icon planned for pier
by Marie Hobbins
Political support not forthcoming

A LIMERICK based consortium has revived its interest in a major development on the river bank from Shannon Bridge to Barrington’s Pier and beyond, a story which first broke in this newspaper.

When the story initially broke, city manager, Tom Mackey, said that the stretch of riverbank involved was mostly owned by the Department of the Marine and the Office of Public Works and he also pointed out that the area is zoned Open Space.

This week, auctioneer, Pat Kearney, said the proposed mixed residential/commercial development will include a 32 storey “iconic” building on Barrington’s Pier, a yacht club and marina, an international language college, leisure and cultural outlets.

‘What we’re looking at is a whole new vision for Limerick and with the opening of the tunnel crossing and an upgrading of the Condell Road, as well as a train station at Barrington’s Pier”.

Ned Sheedy, the driver of the project, said while they have yet to enter into preplanning talks, they are seeking meetings with the local councillors “to receive their advice, views and hopefully, their support”.

Confirming that the main focus will be on residential development, Mr Sheedy, who originally hails from NCRd, declined to name the other stakeholders, adding the aim is to develop inner city living.

“We want to see families living in beautiful accommodation on the river – we’re talking about plenty of living space on 14 floors, all with a southern aspect. We’re looking at condominium style living with some commercial, that would house between 4,000 and 5,000 people.

“This would change the voting patterns of the city, which might not be to the liking of some politicians and as it is, we haven’t yet been able to find political support for our project which is breaking new ground and will be no threat to anyone in the area – in fact it will enhance their properties’ value”.

Mr Sheedy said that the city manager had pointed out that the river bank “has been there for thousands of years and will still be there after I’m gone”.

City planner, Dick Tobin said that while the council owns some land on the river bank, “everything behind the bank, out as far as Barrington’s Pier, is owned by the council.

“We bought most of it to facilitate the building of the Condell Road and the Shannon Bridge and on the land side, it is all zoned Open Space

“To lift the Open Space zoning, the developers would have to do a deal with the Department of the Marine to buy land and they’d also have to get an EU Natura 2000 lifted – this is a series of sites designated as environmentally sensitive – in this case, including all of the river and the swamp, as well as the area around Barrington’s Pier which is designated”.

Local councillors, Michael Hourigan and John Cronin, have expressed reservations regarding the development.

“There’s considerable concern about its scale. The Condell Road is currently used to capacity and as the question of access to the road is governed by the National Roads Authority, it’s not within the remit of City Council to grant access on to this route,” commented Cllr Hourigan. He also voiced concern regarding the environmental implications of the development, particularly in relation to the Westfields Wetlands.

Less than enthusiastic about the development, Cllr Cronin said he has no desire to meet the developers.

“I’ve no interest in yet more apartment blocks going up – I’m certainly not impressed with the Steamboat Quay complex,” he said.”

I’m speaking from experience, I’m a mod on a different board and we often have to remove libelous material.

Of course you have a right to express and defend yourself, but it’s a complete turn-off to considered debate to be confronted with a barrage of personal abuse. It’s hard to take serious points on board when they are expressed in a scatter-shot manner with a liberal use of seemingly random “swear” words.

As far as I can see, most other posters refrain from using offensive personal insults, you often don’t. it only makes your argument look weak. The best way to counter a point you disagree with it is to set out rationally, concisely why you consider it to be flawed.

Word through the varous grapevines is that the residents of O’Callaghan strand intend to object to the re-development of the strand. This is a huge pity, the strand is completely neglected and is in real need of renovation. If done properly, we could develop a promenade from Thomond Bridge to Barrington’s pier that would rival Salthill’s prom. I’m referring to simple things like wider footpaths, flower beds and seats.

I have posted several times that I object strenously to the any proposed development on the Westfields side of the river between the Shannon Bridge and Barringtons pier, we should be seeking to integrate the wetlands into the city by providing proper access through better footpaths, viewing stations and street lighting.

The Kerry Co-Op site has such huge potential, it really needs to be managed properly. I would rate the ESB site and that site as the two most important sites in developing Limerick. We also badly need to address the failure that is Liddy st and the 2 storey Dunes stores.

I presume all the shopping centres are being built because of Limerick’s location, ie half way between Cork and Galway, as well as having it’s own large population. Quite a few of my Galway based friends would make trips down to the Cresent for shopping for example.

Anyone know how Coonagh Cross is developing?

The Refurbishment continues unabated.

Clancy Strand makeover underway
by Marie Hobbins
FOR the next eight months, the entire length of Clancy Strand, from the Treaty Stone to Sarsfield Bridge, will be undergoing a complete makeover.

In the latest phase of riverside development undertaken by Limerick City Council, Clancy Strand and O’Callaghan Strand are to be completely upgraded and enhanced to complement the turnabout of the city that is still progressing on the opposite banks.

Some months ago, the council revealed plans to transform the strands into attractive riverside routes and this week, senior engineer, Vincent Murray, confirmed that work is due to commence on Monday, June 25.

“Work will commence at the Treaty Stone and proceed on to include a new riverside park at the Curragower Falls, which will provide an attractive area for the public.

This vantage point will enhance the amenity potential of the area by maximising the dramatic riverside views of King John’s Castle, St Mary’s Cathedral, the Circuit Court, the Hunt Museum and park and Arthur’s Quay Park, as well as the spire of St John’s Cathedral, etc,” said Mr Murray, adding the park will also provide a safe access point to the river for canoeists, kayakers and fishermen.

“It is also envisaged that the new riverside park will provide an excellent vantage point from which to view the city centre and up river as well,” he said.

The Clancy Strand refurbishment will include the reconstruction (including widening) of the footpaths in high quality limestone, the installation of new, decorative lamp posts and under-grounding of overhead electric and Telecom cables, a major enhancement of the area around the Treaty Stone in high quality materials.

“We will erect tourist signage and information boards providing the history of the Treaty Stone and King John’s Castle, improved pedestrian crossing points along the strand, soft landscaping and tree planting and greatly improved bus and coach stop facilities.”

A contract for two million euro has been awarded to the civil engineering contractors, John Craddock Limited

City Council has also confirmed that when completed, refurbishment of O’Callaghan’s Strand will commence, as will repair and repainting of the Shannon Bridge railings.

Mr Murray disclosed that after some consideration it was agreed that the bridge railings will be painted green.

Colonge Mike, give me a call next time you’re in Limerick and I’ll take you for a drive to rush hour traffic outside the Bishop’s House. There is no way the NCR in it’s current state can support major building at that point. As it stands there’s 5 schools feeding on that road, not to mention the residental and throughway traffic.

@demolition man wrote:

Looking at these pics, I cant but wonder how better off both Patrick St and Thomas St would be by getting rid of those red nazi like munster banners.I am all for Limerick promoting it’s connection with Munster rugby but this is like a Nuremberg rally.Removing some of the modern street lights in favour of more trees would help ellivate a cluttered look.

Limerick should look to Patrick St in Cork as an example of excellent street design that enhances the architecture surrounding it.In my opinion it’s the most attractive street in the country and is a credit to the city council for pushing through on its bold and controversial design.

This may be a long shot,but wouldn’t it be boss if pennys were to sell up, leaving the old cannocks site to be bought and refurbished to it’s orriginal state by the city council.It could be financed by pulling the plug on this whole city munster rugby landmark crap.Sorry, at this point I feel I must proclaim my allegiance to munster rugby and indeed Limerick.:) The new streetscape would also help massively to promote it as a landmark site of its own.

Surely the flags would be changed depending on the game/event on? For example, after yesterday’s win they would have Garryowen flags up, or when the championship comes around have Limerick GAA flags up? Obviously, they’d be useful promoting events like Springfest, Riverfest etc.

On the Munster rugby thing, we should be very proud of our tradition, of the 17 winners of the AIL, 12 have come from Limerick, not too shabby at all.

@Paris Jack wrote:

Well, I have to say guys, reading your posts has reminded me of a project I was kinda involved with about twelve months ago. I was working in Dubai with my uncle on several projects when he showed me these drawings of this HUGE development that he and some of his colleagues and associates were discussing putting together in Limerick City. It was obviously very serious at the time because as I remember they had lots of drawings made up and my uncle’s associates from France, Germany and Holland were very frequent visitors to our home (in Dubai) to discuss the fine details of this project. They appeared to me to be very excited about moving things along and they had talked in great lenghts about various locations in Limerick City that would be suitable for a development of this size. Here you had a french, german and dutch consortium looking for an area big enough to land a 747! I had a good look at these drawings for about twenty to twenty-five minutes and I must say I was extremely impressed. And it takes a lot to impress me folks let me tell ya! Basically, to get to the point, they spoke about those same wetlands you guys mentioned and that general area for their project. I can clearly remember that the drawings showed a 63-storey tower, a 43-storey tower and a 23-storey tower in a perfect triangle. In between these glass towers was a huge plaza with a huge revolving globe of the world in bronze. There were several water fountains and monuments also. I must say that those buildings did look so beautiful. There were also plans drawn up for a fifty thousand-seater concert/events arena as well within walking distance of the towers. I vividly remember that they refered to this project as “a city within a city”. I haven’t heard anything for ages about this from my uncle as we’re both very busy on other projects, but I will definitely have a word with him soon when he returns here to Paris sometime in July.

Personally, I think if this project ever gets the green light and the ground is literally cleared and prepared for it it would put Limerick City waaaaaay ahead of everything and anything in Ireland! It looks FUCKING AWESOME!!!!! Massive!!!!!! Truly world class!!!!!

Hmm, invest in Dubai or Limerick, plausable story alright. 63 stories! Couldn’t you have picked a more believable figure?

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.