lexington
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@satanta99 wrote:
I’ve been out of the country for the last two months but I keep up to date with forum almost religously. What I am most excited about in the Cork Area is the Ballincollig Town Centre development. The shopping centre is due to come on stream in October, yet there has been very little information forthcoming about it. This would lead me to believe that maybe there is some trouble in filling all the 34 units. This is just my assumption but what does anyone else think? Can Ballincollig become a higher order retail centre?
80% of the units (SC units) were reserved as of June 2005. Including tenants Dunnes Stores, Easons, New Look, Hallmark et al. More info will be made available concerning the SC in the next few weeks. The SC is a ‘healthy’ mix of UK and Irish tenants, with one or two international names for good measure. Undoubtedly other remaining units will fill up over time. The opening date for the Shopping Centre is set for October 16th 2005.
I can see BTC SC falling into a category somewhere between Blackpool S.C. (unfortunate news that Mexx at Blackpool S.C. are seeking to wind-up operations at the centre with a potential relocation – according to staff – Mexx is a good name but would perhaps trade better in a location like Academy Street) & Wilton S.C. – with relatively good names, serving a predominant area interest, perhaps with some effective ‘pull’ names. The centre falls short of Mahon Point by some 70,000sq ft + (on that note, I was visiting MP today and was taken aback by just how much trade seems to have picked up at the centre, the word ‘jointed’ sprung to mind – this should be taken as a postive sign for OFC) at just touching on 170,000sq ft, hosting 34 units and 3 anchor stores.
OFC seem to have been careful to go for big, but not too big – the centre can fit into the niche nicely of town centre shopping facility – as well as a draw from further afield. The mix of tenants seems fine, but nothing exceptional thus far – the announcement of Dunnes Stores as main anchor tenant was a bit of a let down, but it should serve the area interest well and the other tenants should boost the attractiveness. Pity about the SC logo however – either way, I hope the centre will prove a success for OFC and have no doubt it will be.
The overall 500m euro BTC project will take until 2008 to complete, with over 130,000sq ft office space, 200,000sq ft retail, over 800 new houses, parks, walks, multi-storeys and so on. 4 design teams were involved in the project’s conception including The Building Design Partnership, Reddy O’Riordan Staehli, Hogan Associates and Wilson Architecture – the idea was to allow for varying styles and influxes of ideas to allow for a genuine town centre feel.
@A-ha wrote:
What would be the most likely thing to be put there if the area is redeveloped, apartments? On a scale of such size in a prime location of the city, money is to be made. But I can’t see developers rushing to the opportunity, it’s on a very big scale, who would be willing to take it on?
Manor Park Homes are redeveloping just under 17-acres with CIE along Horgan’s Quay. 2 other major developers (1 has had considerable speculation, with good cause, airing about it in recent times) will be tackling large scale sites in the southern docklands – and Howard Holdings have drawn up a masterplan and presented it to CCC regarding the south docklands, with the company in discussion to take on a considerable development opportunity estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros.
At 11-acres, the Ford site is not the biggest single docklands holding. Tedcastles have designed plans for their sizeable riverside holding – although among their masterplans (their favoured scheme) is predominantly residential – up to 550 units along with commercial and educational elements (however, other plans are being assessed as well and Tedcastles may even decide to develop the site themselves given their development track record in places like the USA). The problem with residential development in the southern docklands spine is that the for any major exercise to be demonstrated, a rezoning may be needed to do so. Therefore, predominantly (but not strictly) commercial, institutional, leisure/commercial, retail etc developments are encouraged. I don’t see this as being a long-term rule – flexibility will likely be demonstrated on individual presentations, depending. That is to say, development according to each consultation and each individual proposal, may be acceptable for residential elements within a broader context. Developmentally, it makes viability more acceptable.
A number of developers are more than capable of taking on the site – in fact, it offers a very valuable holding. In any event, the prospect of its development – or lot-by-lot sale – will prove very attractive. These sites, especially of such ripe development quality, do not come on the market every day.
A list of local & national developers could adequately acquire the site. Adjoining sites are currently being assessed with notice on those sites expected to be issued by the year end. The preferential usage on the Ford site has been ‘educational/institutional’ but any proposal will be subject to consultation and is not strictly limited to this effect. UCC and CIT have expressed preference for further development in plentiful lands nearing Curraheen – that’s not to say they would rule out the Ford location, but does make it unlikely (lest I be proved wrong). Besides the usual suspects – groups like O’Brien & O’Flynn Limited have more than adequate ability to redevelop such a site to a high standard, it will be interesting to see if they would be willing to take a departure from their predominantly residential base and embark on a significant mixed-use proposal. Whatever way this site proceeds, a high standard of design is vital to ensure Cork’s docklands continue to promote the high standards already being set and do not fall into the lazy profit-driven, ill-considered schemes on display at other cities’ dockland developments. ‘Landmarks’, in the true sense of the word, incorporating strong, innovative design bring their own rewards beyond but including immediate returns – they can generate longer-term revenues.
@ewankennedy wrote:
The Ford site is 11 acres according to your last post on it. Clearly a site that big and in such a prominent location will require big imagination and big pockets. What developer do ya think could be up for taking such a project on????
I’d say the big want will be waterfront sites but Fords site seems pretty exciting too.
There are a number of possibilities – both locally and nationally who may be interested and well capable of a landmark redevelopment of what is some very ‘developable’ land.
Apparently, I’m told (with a little salt) that there are at least 4 bids on the site which comes in a just over 11 acres and which is guiding at approx. €20m. I personally wouldn’t particularly value the site at anything grossly in excess of the guide – but, given the potential scale of development with which the site may afford, that’ll be the decision of the successful bidder(s) to determine.
@pier39 wrote:
come to cyberville MORE often??? god thats a scary thought! he seems to practically have a tent set up on his modem. no disrespek bruv! peace out! but seriously tis a mighty good thing, i come here more often than i read the paper (cos usually and no offence to the good people at the irish times, indo and stuff) this is more fun!
….at least she told me her name was rodney!!!!
I’m actually awaiting planning permission on a dormer dwelling – the tent wore out fast. :p
And it’s okay pier39, we’ve all been there – waking up with a ‘Rodney’, at least you’ve an excuse, I don’t drink!….hmmm, I should probably delete that! 😀
Trying to get my form back with the thread – have been genuinely run ragged these past few weeks. Slowly getting there I hope.
I suppose, as for myself, I’m looking forward to the outcomes of Water Street, Ladyswell and Eglinton Street by ABP. Whether Paul Kenny comes out trumps with The Treasury and the OPW. And CCC decisions on CentrePoint (Clontarf Street), the Capitol and Deane Street. In terms of lodgements, a few big ones, Manor Park’s plans for Horgan’s Quay (hopefully September/October), Academy Street, Albert Quay, Reliance Building and perhaps a site further down the docklands ( 😉 ). It’ll be really interesting to see how the Ford site outcomes and whether Omnistone decide to leap with Marina Commercial Park, or make intentions known. Also the plan for CHQ will be an exciting one. Really looking forward to seeing work on the Kino get a move on.
😀 The largest single office development ever proposed for Cork has been given the go-ahead by CCC. With 17 Conditions, planner Michael Lynch has approved Paul Kenny’s The Treasury development destined to home the new offices of the Revenue Commissioners who are seeking to relocated for their current accommodation at Government Buildings on Sullivan’s Quay. The huge development (with media reports tagging it at €100m and other independent sources putting it closer at between €50m – €60m) was designed by Paud O’Mahony, Glen Barry et al of Wilson Architecture will include 12686sq m of office accommodation in 2 linked 6-storey buildings with a unique quay frontage at St. Patrick’s Quay and extending north to the Lower Glanmire Road, over 1398m sq of retail space with 216 undergound car-parking spaces (resulting from F.I. submit – however the report states the 150 spaces should be seen as adequate enough given current CCC policy) on double deck levels. Ship Street provides the eastern border with Brian Boru Street lining the western elevation – the site includes Mr. Kenny’s Citi Car-Parks site as well as premises formerly owned by Pendrix Display and Stephen Kirwan. If Mr. Kenny’s tailor-made development is selected in September 2005 (appeal aside) – the project is scheduled to under-go construction almost immediately.
Among the conditions imposed, the 5th floor of the service lift and stairwell located on the western elevation and the fifth floor of the open plan offices and their associated terrace, toilets and stairwells will be omitted.
The project would make a fine addition to the Cork architectural landscape and seeks to retain the important PS facades at St. Patrick’s Quay whilst making a vital contemporary architectural statement. A good day for Cork’s development and hopefully we will see it in the flesh in the future. It is not known yet whether Bell Scott Engineering or The McLaughlin Family intend to appeal the decision as they were the only 2 parties to submit objections to the project following Further Information.
🙂 The HSE will soon be applying to Cork County Council (CorkCoCo) for the development of a 2-storey, 24-hour medical services/health centre in the Glanmire-region of Cork. Located near the Crestfield Centre in Riverstown, the project will comprise of 928sq m of treatment, staff, clerical and assessment space – design is by SDA O’Flynn. The news should come as a positive boost for the rapidly expanding north-eastern suburbs of the city.
🙂 Work on the €10m redevelopment of the Oriel House Hotel in Ballincollig is nearing completion, with a target set for mid-to-late October 2005. The redeveloped hotel will be operated by Ambassador Hotel Management (of Military Hill in the city centre) headed by William & Angela Savage. The historic old hotel has seen Hudson Associates appointed to handle design elements of the project – which, when completed will house 78 bedrooms, 250 parking spaces, restaurant, conference and banqueting facilities (up to 300 delegates), a leisure centre including 25m swimming pool, gym & treatment rooms. The hotel is currently seeking staff – and interestingly, lies within a very close proximity to one of the hotel sites earmarked by O’Flynn Construction as part of it’s Ballincollig Town Centre (BTC) project. It’ll be interesting to see how the hotels fair against one another.
I would indeed agree with much of what you say –
most especially the issue of city boundaries. It seems ridiculous (and as plain as the nose on anyone’s face) that a boundary extension is needed for the city limits. Areas such as Douglas, Rochestown, Little Island, Ballyvolane, Curraheen and even, dare I say it, Ballincollig (to some extent) – should all be lined up for consideration. I won’t express any personal beliefs on the reasons why this hasn’t been the case so far. But all I will say is that the decision not to extend the boundaries in the aforementioned areas (with the possible exception of the last mention) is not constructive to the development of Cork as region, let alone city or county. It reminds of a scene in a movie I only recently saw called ‘Finding Nemo’ (don’t ask!) were a bunch of seagulls are standing over food prospects and the only mutter each creature can afford is “Mine! Mine! Mine!”
I hope a positive assessment and conclusion can be reached by both involved parties – both of whom can and often do work so well together. Perhaps, among the best of any authorities in any county in some cases – when the will is there.
However, should an extension be accommodated in the future – I would stress CCC to maintain and value their greenspace.
@securityman wrote:
Thanks for the good replies lads and I suppose your right on a lot of the issues. As for the Wilton SC Lex did I hear a while back that BT 2 wanted to move in there? A good move for them would be to remove the supervalue as I think Tesco want to happen and make a bigger roches stores or BT 2 like Patrick St. As it is I think Wiltin has a lot of good shops and other services within the centre to make it top of the pile.
Anyone know if Tesco has received planning permission for a new store in Kanturk yet?
First, re: Tesco in Kanturk, F.I. was only received on the application on the 28th July 2005, a due date isn’t scheduled until 11th September 2005.
BT had originally considered a BT2 move to compliment their existing A-Wear store at Wilton (this would have made sense given the affluent consumer base in the area). The move was subsequently ruled out for a number of reasons – among these, the unit size and apparently another deal(?). An upgrade had been scheduled for the original A-Wear store in the centre, but instead was moved to the new unit and intentions for BT2’s first expansion out of the Dublin-area were stalled. The information I received regarding the above at the time, came from a lady with company and I think was a little dated when it was received. The ‘other deal’ info makes me wonder however, did the company spy Academy Street and think it more attractive??? We’ll have to wait and see. It would seem like an interesting idea.
securityman, Wilton S.C. is now co-owned by Howard Holdings and Joe O’Donovan – Roches Stores/SuperValu (SuperValu had operated the grocery element of Roches’ under agreement – but this has now by acquired by the McCarthy Group – along with the city centre grocery element in Merchants Quay) is now the centre’s largest single tenant as the Tesco extension was not part of the €126m euro deal to purchase the centre last year. The location itself is one of the best in the city – and the expansion possibilities are enormous. However, anything major extension would have a significant impact on retail activities in the city. Rumours had been adrift long-ago that NMA had been approached to consider an enhancement of the Roches Stores department store at the centre – but nothing, involving NMA (to my knowledge at least) has since been heard. However that does not mean the centre may gain something in the future. Howard Holdings & Joe O’Donovan have maintained that their purchase was merely for investment purposes only. 😮
dowlingm – I don’t think PP is any reason to rule out such an idea. But I’ll do my best to look about. 🙂@securityman wrote:
On a final point does anybody else here ever wonder how they are going to fill these offices and retail units that are being proposed. At the moment you have a lot of buildings Idle look at patrick st, the roundy on cornmarket st, bachelors on the quay and the places next door next to the GATE cinema, the new building on georges quay Trinity House, the office building in Angelsea St where Anglo Irish Bank is, Owen O’Callaghans new building on Lavitts Quay, The numerous places on the new Mallow road and on the watercourse road, Wilton shopping centre has a few spots, the old tsb in wilton and many more I just worry that there is going to be a lot of derelict places around our city before were finished.
Fleming Construction’s Trinity House scheme has a commercial unit on the ground-floor up for sale/lease through Cohlan Downing & Associates. The scheme is only after completion and the unit had been awaiting some amendments via a further planning application. This was only recently granted. Considering the unit is just on the market, I think the location is actually good for a decent sized convenience store or the like given the recent number of developments in the area, the College of Commerce across the bridge and lack of such facilities in the immediate vicinity. One also must remember that many of these schemes are subject to planning policy set by CCC which calls for ground floor commercial units in an attempt to keep lively street-level/ground floor activity among other things. I’m sure in many cases developers don’t mind sacrificing such a unit in the advent of a larger development being granted.
Howard Holdings’ Anglesea Street office development (Copley Hall), has let a good deal of its space already with tenants including Scott Tallon Walker, C.S.R. Planning Consultants and Anglo Irish Bank. Further spaces are under negotiation.
21 Lavitts Quay, is occupied at the upper floors by OCP itself – while a semi-state body is set to take offices in other floors of the building. The commercial units are currently on the market – but I know that talks are on-going. Like ‘Bachelor’s on the Quay’ at Bachelor’s Quay (amazingly!) – these developments were constructed in-line with policy, but these locations face away for the core commercial area of the city centre and are generally by-passed by pedestrians who are set on the city centre]must[/U] be seen and establish itself to be seen as a top, desirable location to set up, expand or establish a business, institute, R&D etc.
*UPDATES*😎 The Shipton Group (Blackpool Developments) have been granted a change use from their permitted office building (Block D) of their Blackpool Park development, currently under Phase 2 construction, to ‘general’ office usage – which essentially broadens their permit of the building’s usage in an office context. However, the grant has come with a hefty development contribution levy. Hmmm.
😮 Meanwhile, Omniplex have been granted an additional McCabe Design pencilled signage to the southern elevation of Mahon Point S.C. facing the South Ring Dual-Carriageway. An original concept had been refused based on it’s ‘distracting’ nature to passing motorists.
🙂 Also. Cork Univerity Hospital (CUH) have been permitted to realign its internal road network to cater for an extended 200 parking spaces – helping meet existing demand among other things. The permission will now also allow better filteration of traffic volumes and allow for management of such volumes and parking in light of the construction of the hospital’s new €80m euro Renal/Cardiac Unit – which extends west from the existing main hospital entrance toward the current main CUH car-parking facility. The new Renal/Cardiac facility is designed by Watkins Gray International.
Unfortunately – over the past few weeks I have been pretty tied up with a great many things and haven’t been able to put the same consistency into the thread as previous. I hope I can address this when the manic perplexities calm down – so apologises for any slippage. Hope to bring the thread back up to speed, accuracy, insights etc. Improvement will come.
🙂 Paul Kingston (Douglas) has lodged plans for the development of a full-service 96-berth marina at Castlepark in Kinsale. The plan seeks to build on the town’s nautical heritage and lifestyle – allowing for an increased capacity for private vessel berthings. The €4m euro project will also include car-parking, landscaping and quayside alterations, as well as administration and caretaker accommodation.
🙂 As mentioned in a previous post, St. Patrick’s Hospital at Marymount have lodged their plans for a new Hospice and Convent at the lands formerly controlled by Jeremiah Lynch & Family. A deal was closed through auctioneers Irish & European for a undisclosed figure, estimated at approx. €11m. The 75 bedroom hospital and 44 bed hospice will be joined by a 1,000sq m convent over 2 and 3-storey buildings – with the 6 acre site availing of full landscaping. St. Patrick’s Hospital have formally withdrawn from a scheme lodged with Rosridge Properties and Enable Ireland on lands near the Bandon Road Roundabout. The new proposal is estimated at apprx. €50m.– also, you may remember many months ago I indicated that a new private medical development for the city centre was under review. I hope to bring you formal details of the €55m project within weeks.
🙁 I know this is a little old, but the plans by Frinailla for Springmount, Glanmire have been stalled with an appeal brought against the 65 unit development of 25 apartments and 40 duplexes. The development had been greenlit by Cork County Council for the high-density zoned, 4-acre, steeply sloping site – which had been sold through auctioneers Global Properties. The Kiosk-designed scheme is being appealed by the Ballincrossig Resident’s Association (among them former C.I.F. buzzman Joe O’Brien).
:confused: It would seem O’Flynn Construction (OFC) are looking to iron-out issues with the grant for their Eglinton Street scheme – as predicted – the project has been lodged with ABP on a 1st-party basis. I’ll return with details tomorrow. 😮 🙁
😎 Mark Kelleher’s intentions for the controversial project at Westend, designed by Frank Ennis & Associates, have seen the appeal withdrawn. The project has been one of the most talked about proposals in the area and was the subject of much debate.Sorry for not getting to this sooner – but life is hectic at the moment –
😎 Aldi Stores Developments Limited have had Further Information requested of their plans for a new residential and retail development at the Heiton Buckley site on the Tory Top Road, Ballyphehane. The details of the project are mentioned in a previous post above. A decision had been due for yesterday.
🙂 Frinailla will be shortly lodging their plans for their Dennehy’s Cross sites – which they have gathered over acquisitions, most notably that purchased from Dennehy’s Garage (which will now be relocating to a new premises) for a price-tage estimated in the 20m euro region. O’Mahony Pike Architects have designed the new residential and commercial scheme – more details will follow soon.@ooshi wrote:
Anyone have any images of Paul Kenny’s Treasury Office Development? Or the Dairygold complex for Mallow? Thanks 🙂
Images are posted of The Treasury earlier in this thread and in the Look at de state of Cork, like! thread also. As for the Alchemy Properties development in Mallow, I’ll try and have some images up by Friday for you.
As for public transport in Cork –the ideal in my view would be to pedestrianise the city centre almost entirely. The city centre island is novel in that it is relatively compact and easily covered by foot. Even the concept being applied to St. Patrick’s Street, Grand Parade, Oliver Plunkett Street and Cornmarket Street is positive in my view – that is were traffic lanes are reduced or sidelined and pedestrian areas are given priority. The thing is, cars in their current form aren’t the way to go in the long run. Maybe new fuel-cell eco-efficient alternatives will be the hopeful next step. I think the streets of the city centre need to be given back to the people and less subserviant to the vehicle. Streets like Patrick’s Street and Cornmarket Street I believe should also be given hours exclusive to pedestrians – i.e. 9am to 9pm Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and 9am to 6pm Mondays to Wednesdays etc. I agree light-rail is not suited for the existing city centre – but in an extended city centre, to include docklands regions – I think there is room for scope – especially along Kennedy Quay, passed Pairc Ui Chaoimh and linking up with the old Blackrock line out to Mahon Point and Rochestown. Also the South City Link could be utilised to travel via Black Ash P&R and out to Bishopstown and Ballincollig. People forget that Cork was once latticed in trams and rail. Even its bridges are testimony to that history – and to be honest, I think we’ll have to look to an efficient service returning in the future. Especially along the southern docklands. With cars still around, underground parking facilities may be provided at locations in the suburbs connected by main traffic routes and transfer services into the city centre. I gasp at the thought of all those unsightly overhead powerlines – just look at Vancouver, San Francisco and Frankfurt!
Luckily the wheels are very very slowly in motion on some of these concepts.
Coffey Construction are putting the final touches to their €20m Copley Street development designed by PRC Architects. The project includes 85 (incl. student extension) basement car-parking spaces, 60,000sq ft of Third Generation office space and 38 mixed apartments in 2 linked 5-storey buildings over commercial facilities to include a gym and restuarant. The developers are also proceeding with an adjoining development on Stable Lane of 8 student apartments over extended basement and retail unit. The Copley Street site was purchased in 2001 by Corbett Bros’ Michael & Kevin from Irish Interational Trading Corp. for €5m – they also purchased a further site from the company on the South City Link nearby for €2m where plans for a 266 room student development were turned down, a new application will be sought for that site in the prospective future.
The developers also have activity (in conjunction with Monagahan-based Pitwood Ltd) at Beasely Street/Parnell Place for a new 121-bedroom hotel (which recently saw Further Info submitted) and may seek a new scheme at their Henry Street site. A further large-scale city development is currently under review.
I know I posted these scans a few months ago – that’s sort of why I didn’t bring the subject back up around the time of the ‘official’ launch – but here they are anyway. I have more (better quality) and will post them here at some stage. Grand Parade is, in my view, one of Cork’s most important streets. Not least its width and important link-role, nor the fact it possesses many fine buildings and an interesting perspective on its surrounds – but because it is central to the day-to-day activity of the city centre, and offers a true grand city centre street in any urban area’s books. It’s redevelopment is essential to the continued growth and aesthetics of the city centre as a core area of commercial and social activity. I would agree that the Beth Gali proposal is actually pretty pleasant – but then again, everyone has their own views on elements of Studio Gali’s plans (i.e. the controversial lights!). At least 4 (2 in pre, 1 in planning, 1 with planning) major proposals on Grand Parade will be interacting with this news street-scape and its important that they jointly work to maintain the history and future of this street in a quality foundation.
Just throwing back to the talk above on Debenhams and Mahon Point etc – I was talking with a well-up individual today about the centre, and according to him at least, recent figures are encouraging. Now I expected he would say that, so I pressed him further on certain issues such as Debenhams – and he said not to get caught up in “flim-flam”, Mahon Point was performing as expected. The initial surge in activity was an inevitable response to the opening of such a major new centre. However, as with most such projects anywhere, the centre suffered an initial ‘association saturation’ – i.e. people became over-familiar and opted for alternatives. However now the centre was finding itself into a particular ‘niche’ – with customers adopting the centre into the regular patterns as a place of convenience and a genuine alternative. The launch projection for annual movements was 10m pax p.a. – this has been revised down slightly since, with early weekdays proving expectedly slower, but mid-week to weekend activity progressive and steadily improving. Certain retaillers like Bershka, Gasoline, Easons and Omniplex have reported above satisfactory levels of trading. Nothing was said of Debenhams other than that trading levels were on par with the chain’s Jervis Centre store and that the store was there for the ”long-haul”.Indeed, my recent excursions to Mahon Point, did seem to signal the centre had picked up traffic volumes. Perhaps ventures such as the Thursday morning ‘Market’ and now a Circus I believe( 😮 ) are paying off.
I also asked about whether talk of an extension to the centre, earmarked possibly for 2009, was still on the cards, and the reply was “the centre has been designed for such an accommodation. The northern car-park area has plenty of room for scope, however I am not aware of anything being set in stone. Our concern is focused on the job at hand and we’ll deal with any such further developments when the time comes.”
(by the way the quote is the jist of what was said – not word for word perfect).
So that’s what was said, make of it what you will, and I’ll leave it at that.
🙁 Oh, and the building on Copley Street is actually 2 (linked) 5-storey blocks, one housing 60.000sq ft of office space, the other 38 apartments. The scheme is being developed by Corbett Bros., constructed by Coffey Construction & was designed by PRC Architects. I agree – it’s not great. The original plan seemed much nicer with a far higher quality material finish but subsequent of a further planning application regarding a change in elevational treatment, the cladding seems to have been replaced with a sort of cheap zinc panel coating and lemon-yellow paint. I have images of the block under construction but will try and get a more up-to-date image for the thread’s consideration.
There was something brutish about the original Dundalk S.C. – and when Long Walk opened, that was a family day out!!!
For any redevelopment opportunity, it’s location affords it astonishing potential – but will it be used to effect? The spate of recent retail development in this region as a whole – by extension, including Drogheda (i.e. Scotch Hall) – seems to be a little overwhelming. Now I understand the issues of Dublin’s catchment proximity and commuter values – but is it sustainable? I can’t remember the name of the new planned S.C. for Dundalk, but it seems pretty extensive. Is viability a truth when other S.C.’s in the town end up closing in part response? Sure timelines dictate the alternating pattern of S.C. sustainaibility – but was Dundalk S.C. and LongWalk’s time nigh or simply speed up by these impending developments?
S.C. in any community provide interesting socio-economic instruments and their development is usually a reflection of a society/community’s development (e.g. economic boom in Cork = Mahon Point S.C., Academy Street, Cornmarket Street, Ballincollig S.C. and a number of other big ones under plan) – but with Dundalk it seems the creation of one, at the expense of another???
What are planners actually thinking?
That’s actually interesting Paul, it would seem the old way of Irish planning/thinking was to rip up the rail-line and put down a road – in retrospect, the rail-line could provide a valuable asset (plus some adjustments) to the S.C. as a development site given the disaster that is Irish traffic. As a site, the railway line could play an important turnaround for the area and utilise Dundalk’s history and existing railway infastructure to breathe new life into the old system and town. Does anyone have the foresight? Either way, I’ll always remember that line as the one that brought those poor pigs to their finally squealing place (by the way, is that still there???) 😉Sean Dunne (Mountbrook Homes) has openly declared his intent for 500 or so apartments on the site, among other things. He hopes the 32-storey tower will entail a great number of 4,000sq ft apartments guiding near the 1m euro mark. Mr. Dunne himself is a resident of the Ballsbridge area – so clearly he doesn’t seem to have a problem with this height of building in his backyard. I hear he’s scouting for an ‘internationally’ renowned architect to aid with the design.
Not much shocks me, but I’d be lying if I said the 260m euro winning bid on the 4.83acres was a jaw-dropper for me. I just think its crazy – but clearly, if Mr. Dunne values the site at that, I hope sincerely it works out for him. For that price tag you could have purchased 5x the land elsewhere and developed an entire new ‘community’ which could have become a new niche address and provided all the same intentions that Mountbrook have planned for Ballsbridge. Hmmm.
Thanks Graham,
I really really have to make it my business to go up and visit the place again soon. The surrounds of the town are worth noting too – I used to love trips up to Carlingford and the adventure of crossing the border for cheaper petrol! 🙂
The last time I was up there, Aldi’s were still building their first store in the town out by the graveyard. Hmmm.
I really appreciate the updates! 😉
:p City Properties Limited, who have recently completed what has become a very successful little venue hosting restaurants Wagamama and Captain America’s along South Main Street – are now in the final stages of completing a new bar and nightclub at the former Classic Bar premises (right next-door to Wagamama). Ridge Developments are working on the project and City Properties have launched a new website entitled “Name The Club”. The idea is that Cork’s citizens (or anyone at all) are invited to submit ideas for the new nightclub name – could be interesting, care to have your idea immortalised in Cork’s nightlife? 😮 The design of the Wagamama/Captain America’s facility seems to have been very well received – and it seems the design behind the new nightclub and bar is equally interesting. The upper level of facility is now home to a new bar called ‘Suas’. The 3rd storey bar (above Captain America’s) overlooks South Main Street with an amply spaced balcony facility. The unique timber feature which scales the building’s South Main Street facade begins at this location tipping downwards at the balcony edge. The interior design work seems to be minimalist focused (not unlike the interior of Wagamama) – with Dan Mulvihill & Co. involved in the blueprints.
Notice how the logo design mimics the timber-scale feature on the building facade.Here are 2 images of the interior design work of the new bar.
Also, if you’re interested -> Name The Club – it may pass away a boring minute or two in the office. :p
