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And don’t forget the “exceptional circumstances” as I’m sure the Citywest Hotel is probably struggling in today’s uncertain times.
An Bord Pleanala have in the space of one short week turned themselves into a joke.
We’re now back at a stage where developers will just go ahead and start building and then hope for planning permission later on in the process, citing the possibility that they’ll go bust.There’s so little traffic in it that one lane would probably suffice 🙂
I would think the bigger problem would be the safety issues – but if tram tracks were laid so that cars could also drive on them, then maybe that wouldn’t be an issue.
Perhaps, it should be built as well as the Metro as an underground tram serving Fairview, Marino, East Drumcondra and Beaumont (hospital also).
On a separate note, interesting picture in the Evening Herald of what the Drumcondra stop will look like, apologies if this has been posted before:
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/residents-get-a-look-at-the-future-of-metro-1435302.htmlThe split stories present no problems for trollies. Have been in a couple of supermarkets overseas where you just roll the trolley on to a special escalator, which carries it up and down … you wouldn’t want to load it to high, mind. Is slightly worrying how shabby Westmoreland Street has become but don’t necessarily see this as an extension of that. I doubt they’ll want to make the place tatty a la Parnell Street and reckon what we might be in line for is a fancified version of the store like the Dunnes on Georges Street.
Plus most of the advertisements in them are currently for a water conservation project by Dublin City Council. Please God they’re not paying for them.
They’re everywhere … strangely enough, the streets are so cluttered already that it’s difficult to say they actually make things worse. Where are the bikes though?
An utterly ridiculous proposition. How anybody could stand over constructing this on O’Connell Street – of all places – just defies belief. You could make some argument for this proposal to be built on a greenfield site or in the Docklands but it is a hare-brained gimmick, plain and simple, and most probably a Trojan horse. Like all of these developments, the plan is probably to get the less contentious parts through, then drop the “big” idea.
Why do people still have fate in the imagination of these developers when every single piece of good architecture built in this State during the boom came from State bodies? The owners of these lands have allowed this part of O’Connell St go to seed through sheer greed and now, in a panic, come up with this. Hopefully, it will be treated with the contempt it deserves by Dublin City Council, and if not them, An Bord Pleanala.The railing is a health and safety measure. They had three or four compensation cases relating to tumbles from the beautifully wide staircase and found it very hard to defend them. Unfortunate but another inevitability in our litigious society.
Would have been equally magnificent.
What’s the church in the left-hand portion of the picture? Seems too close to be the tourist office??Re. Proposed addition to the Record of Protected Structures of Twin ESB Chimneys at Poolbeg Generating Station, Pigeon House Road, Ringsend, Dublin 4.
Introduction
Following a request from the South East Area Committee a report was prepared to assess the significance of the Twin ESB Chimneys at Poobeg and whether the structures should be added to the Record of Protected Structures. A survey, history and full assessment was carried out. This concluded that while the Poolbeg chimneys are considered to be of a certain level of architectural, social and historical significance, they are not considered to be of sufficient value within the meaning of Part IV of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and therefore should not be added to the Record of Protected Structures (See photo in folders).Request for Addition
Councillor Dermot Lacey proposed a motion to the South East Area Committee to ‘take all steps necessary to protect the Twin ESB Chimneys at Poolbeg as part of our industrial heritage and to initiate steps to have them included on the list of protected structures’.Dublin City Development Plan 2005 – 2011
Zone 7 – To provide for the protection and creation of industrial uses, and facilitate opportunities for employment creation.Planning History
2809/06: Alterations to previously approved extension (3155/05) at Poolbeg 220kv GIS Station.
3144/05: Alterations and extension to Poolbeg 220kv GIS station.
1088/05: Development of a prefabricated garage shed 2.8m tall.
2309/99: The construction of housing to enclose ion exchange plant at Poolbeg Generating Station.
3043/97: Erection of two water storage tanks and an associated pump house.
0588/97: Modifications to the previously approved Poolbeg Generating Station Extension (2674/91).
0374/94: Modify the Berthing Jetty on the site
0290/94: Construction of a chlorine monitor building.
1929/93: Replace the existing site security fence with new palisade fencing.
1152/93: Erect new entrance/reception building.
2674/91: Erect and operate additional generating plant as an extension to the existing Poolbeg Generating Station.Site Location
The chimneys are located on the northern side of the ESB Poolbeg Generating Station overlooking the River Liffey.
Summary Description of Structure
The two chimneys form one component of a complex of late 20th century industrial structures relating to the production of electricity. The twin red and white chimneystacks measure 680ft/207m in height and were constructed in two phases between 1969 and 1977.Assessment of Special Interest Under the Planning & Development Act 2000
Architectural: The chimneys are functional industrial structures similar to other industrial chimneys of this era. They are not exemplars of a building style or type. They are considered to be of some architectural interest as structures, which due to their height and location have become prominent landmarks in Dublin Bay. The chimneys are located in a highly industrial area of Dublin Bay but their height means that they have become part of the Dublin skyline visible from many parts of the city and also the Wicklow Mountains. However its present prominence will be diminished by upcoming developments in the docklands area.
Social: The chimneys are of social interest as they have over the past 30 years become a focus of sentiment to the local community around Dublin Bay. Its landmark status means that it is visible to residents of Dublin Bay across the city and has become synonymous with Dublin and Dublin Bay.
Historical: The chimneys are of historical interest tracing the continued production of electricity on the site from the late 20th century to today, beginning with the nearby Pigeon House (1903), the Poolbeg generating station (1969-1978) and the more recent gas turbine station (1999). However their significance is part of a grouping/setting of associated industrial buildings rather than in isolation.Recommendation
The Poolbeg chimneys are considered to be of a certain level of architectural, social and historical significance. However in isolation they are not considered to be of sufficient value within the meaning of Part IV of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and therefore should not be added to the Record of Protected Structures.It is recommended that the whole complex be reassessed on the cessation of electricity generation at the present Poolbeg station in order to carry out an overall assessment of the station.
Patricia Hyde
Senior PlannerSuch a gorgeous building, no real surprises though.
Can only begin to imagine how much more pleasant Westmoreland Street is going to be at 3am in the morning.
In the space of the 200 metres from Westmoreland Street to O’Connell Street (Abbey St junction), we now have McDonalds x 1, Burger King x 1, Supermacs x 2, Eddie Rockets x 1, Carrolls x 1, Spar x 2. What a wonderful city we live in. Small wonder the papers are saying this morning that it is one of the most heavily littered in the world.
I disagree Alek, this and the airport metro projects will go ahead no matter how bad the fiscal situation becomes. An FF-led government will not continue to accept two unlinked Luas lines because in their minds, they actually believe it’s going to help ease congestion in the city centre. They’ve set their stall on it and won’t be for turning.
The Airport Metro again has also become a cause celebre and these two projects won’t be dropped. Think you’re right that some projects, Metro West etc could very much slip off the radar in the coming years.It is rather strange that there isn’t a statue of St Patrick, considering Dublin isn’t exactly short on statuary.
I’m sure there must be one somewhere.Wouldn’t be against the idea per se though I do think it’s slightly gimmicky.
You could also make a strong argument that it’s already been done in both Geneva and Saudi Arabia. It’s a bit like the Eiffel Tower replicas that dot the globe, in Prague etc – everything always plays second fiddle to the original.It shows how bad the modern developments are in Dublin that this one is getting a sort of thumbs-up. As ye said, it isn’t too bad … compared to the Jury’s on Parnell Street or the Comfort Inn on Dorset Street.
Hospital has reduced in size enormously over the years as pyschiatric practices have changed. The numbers of patients there are now down to a little more than 100 so it will be moved to a much smaller site – I’m nearly sure it’s on the North Circular Road. Health Board own a lot of land in the area so there’ll be no shortage of sites for them.
Only brings Guinness to mind. I wonder is it an example of subliminal advertising in action cos Iarnrod Eireann couldn’t afford to forego all the advertising money.
The temporary signage on the Spar shop on O’Connell Street should also be retained. After all, it has been there an awfully long time and is indicative/commemorative of a time (still ongoing and unlikely to disappear) when many commercial interests in the city had bugger all interest in the built environment.
Great stuff lads, keep it coming. A part of Dublin history that’s rarely remarked upon except of course in Ruth McManus’ great book ‘Shaping the Suburbs’.
Dave, I’m curious what you mean about Ballyfermot being shaped like a sword. But sort of see what you mean about Cabra: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=dublin&ie=UTF8&ll=53.364408,-6.281948&spn=0.010397,0.028839&z=15&om=1
There are some wonderful houses in this part of Cabra and in general they are in far better repair than those in Crumlin. There’s also a lovely red-brick church, which when I finally get a decent camera will take some pictures of.Ten miles north of Bremore is hardly an issue. Presumably you would link in the possible port on the motorway, which should take all of around nine/ten minutes to traverse.
Building it running in to Bremore will lead to exactly the same problem we have with the M50 whereby it is to close to the city and becomes a distributor road instead of a ring road.
Also, I don’t believe the road will be anywhere near Drogheda for exactly the same reasons. The likely location would be somewhere halfway between Drogs and Balbriggan.
The investment in trains issue is a complete red herring. Nobody is suggesting that money shouldn’t go into rail but why not attempt to have a First World motorway network as well.
Even from the point of view of safety, the benefits are huge. Since construction on the M1 finished, fatalities on the main Dublin to Belfast road have more than halved. That has been the same situation across the country where very poor roads have been replaced by dual carriageways/motorways.
