lexington

:rolleyes: With the long-overdue advent of Kent Station being redeveloped – as announced by CIE Chairman John Lynch – further pressure has been put on the State-owned company to make a committed proposal for the remainder of Horgan’s Quay, inclusive of a development schedule.

I’ve posted a number of reports on the development situations regarding Horgan’s Quay – incl. outlines of certain proposals. I have also incl. a CG Image of one masterplan proposal commissioned by certain parties, among which was CCC, by Wilson Architecture. CIE had originally commissioned architects O’Mahony Pike to draw up their masterplan for the site – but no information has been ever clearly made public regarding this plan. However, some bits and pieces did filter out, incl. that which was interpreted as a recommendation toward high-rise structures on the site to accomodate the high-density accommodations required to fulfill Development Plan guidelines, maximising the return on the site and its investment etc etc On the back of that, other development companies attached to the project in conjunction with CIE commissioned their own design-proposals based on the OMP Masterplan and apparently one other report. In these proposals, a number of alteratives were devised – incl. one I mentioned regarding 3 residential towers. The position on that proposal is unclear – however, other derivations also incl. high-rise.

Pressure really needs to be pushed to get a firm commitment and schedule on a high-quality development programme for the quay. If Joe Gavin is still oodling the idea of a ‘Point-venue’ here, which is suggested (in the media at least) to be a cause of a stalemate between CCC and CIE – though it’s a nice idea – he should really leave it rest and he should know that. The reality of such a facility being built will be focussed elsewhere. It’s time to get this show on the road.

Feel free to scream! Hehe.

😮 I approach this with cautious optimism, but CIE Chairman John Lynch has confirmed that work will begin this year on the 25m euro redevelopment of Cork’s Kent Station. Local T.D. Deputy Noel O’Flynn has also confirmed this announcement, citing work is scheduled to be complete at the station for 2007.

The redevelopment will see the terminal and it’s platforms now face onto the waterfront along Horgan’s Quay, with new access roads for departure and arrivals. The platforms themselves will be completely refurbished and the extended terminal facilities will incorporate a variety of updated and new services. The plan, I am told, is to make Kent Station a vibrant centre that will remain consistently active throughout each day providing services not only to passengers, but nearby businesses and residents. New landscaping and groundwork will be provided along the new quay frontage and a large multi-storey car-park is proposed on the site of the existing terminal parking area. A new freight terminal will form part of the redevelopment as well as updated and improved maintenance facilities. The existing terminal will be completely refurbished inside and out, with a new roof covering supposedly proposed for the ‘dome-like’ canopy running along overhead of the main platforms.

However, despite this positive news (and I sincerely hope this doesn’t turn into another Bus Station scenario thanks to CIE), no indictaion has been given by CIE regarding their intentions for the larger redevelopment of the Horgan’s Quay site.

*UPDATES*

🙂 Although at this point and time I can’t comment on the finer details, I’ll just let you know (and trust me, it’s well before anyone else) that a MAJOR healthcare development is currently being planned for Cork city centre. The development is being co-ordinated with a local healthcare institution and is estimated to be worth in and around the 50m+ euro mark. The site for the development has already been acquired and is a location of excellent waterfront prominence. The backers of the development are well established with such development and not local (with the exception of the healthcare institution). I must inform you that this project is in pre-planning and that a formal announcement may not be due until late this year – but you heard it hear first. I’ll let you know more when and if I can.

This project is in addition to proposals for a 500m euro medical campus, which funnily enough contravenes with Cork County Council’s development plan, proposed by the Beacon Court Group at the Bandon Road Roundabout (along N25 – South Ring), on the outskirts of the city (near the Bishopstown Court SC Dunnes Stores).

I was having a brief talk with a gentleman earlier about a number of things, one of which involved the Cornmarket Street development by Rockfell Investments. Habitat have issued a Declaration of Intent to the development company regarding the Cornmarket Street development and have been thus allocated a sizeable unit. I was also given a list of other tenants/possible tenants but was asked kindly not to distribute these until later on in the year when a public announcement is more likely. The list I received comprises of those in talks and those agreed – it was not specified other than Habitat, who has and has not committed, but Habitat will not be the only ‘anchor’ store. It is stressed that all units are considered ‘anchor’ given their considerable size. The Habitat store will be Ireland’s 4th store after Galway – units already exist in Dublin and Belfast (an additional store in Dublin may open before completion of the Cornmarket Street development in Cork).

🙁 Although I have a lot of respect for the work Howard Holdings has and continues (even more so these past few months) to achieve in Cork – after a close inspection of their plans for a 7-storey, 125-bedroom hotel and retail and office development at Lavitts Quay – I have to issue a sigh of disappointment. Reddy O’Riordan Staehli have produced what is quite an awful awful building. Height is not an issue – and I have to say, the internal layout and basement parking provisions are thoughtful – but the general design is among thee most hideous to arrive at Naviagtion House.

Howard Holdings acquired the 16 Lavitts Quay lands in a deal with Thomas Crosbie Holdings – the land went in part payment for 30,000sq ft of new Irish Examiner and Evening Echo office space at Howard Holdings’ City Quarter development on Lapps Quay. TCH had previously attained planning for a 7-storey office building (which was initially to provide the new Irish Examiner HQ before the move to City Quarter) designed by O’Riordan Staehli for 16 Lavitts Quay – it wasn’t pretty, but it wasn’t ugly either. Just a little lazy. Though I had been aware of the Howard Holdings/TCH deal since early last year, and learned of Howard Holdings plans for Lavitts Quay – I never actually got around to viewing the early drawings of their hotel development. O’Riordan Staehli had been retained by HH from their deal with TCH.

What the hotel design effectively amounts to is this: similar to the Irish Examiner HQ, the building fronts onto Lavitts Quay at numbers 17 & 18 (16 is retained and incorporated) with a contemporary element of the building 3-storeys high. Basement parking is provided off Lavitts Quay at this point – and in fairness the frontage along the quay isn’t actually all that bad. Trouble starts as the buidling steps back to a plain white wall seven storeys high. At the 5th and 6th storeys a square teak box with seemingly the only 4 windows on the frontage, projects approx. 3-feet out, retracting to allow the 7th storey provide more plain white wall. It squares off like a huge brick. R. Arthur (Electricians/former Balloon Surprise premises) who refused to sell his property to TCH originally, has forced the buidling to cut an angular edge in it’s structure before fronting to the east on Half Moon Street – this elevation is pretty acceptable also. However, the jutted angle has no more than 6 box windows and is essentially a continuance of the plain white 7-storey frontage. Just 2 boxes, no design. If this is contemporary architecture – its very bad contemporary architecture. If it’s meant to be cutting edge, the edge is bleeding to death. The building looks utterly out of place with 16 Lavitts Quay (which is being retained) and even O’Callaghan Properties far more elegant and thoughtfully designed 21 Lavitts Quay (Patrick Cashman & Associates). The building may perhaps be acceptable were it to have an actually deisgn – or even if the Lavitts Quay frontage on the first 3 floors continued upward, incorporating more windows to take advanage of the beautiful water-frontage, and were the 7th floor now simply a square box, but perhaps a copper roof rounded back at it’s summit. The only other building that almost suits being alongside this disaster is the North Wall of the Opera House (before Murray O’Laoire updated it). On viewing the HH hotel development for Lavitts Quay, I only wish I had availed to view it earlier when asked – as the VIS passed before sight-line recently, I can only describe my facial reaction as the following -> 😮

Just thought I’d mention a project that is rarely brought to attention – Fleming Construction’s 50m euro Market Square development in Mallow – effectively a town-centre redevelopment. Fleming Construction, who generally stick to residential development, are embarking on this, their first REAL commercial development project in Mallow – a town which has become an increasingly vibrant commuter and feeder town to Cork city and one embracing the results of pitching itself as such a town successfully.

Below are a few images of the Market Square development. In the end, the project will comprise of a new multiplex, shopping centre, residential units, offices and 456 underground parking spaces which will span beneath the entire development

😉 Werdna Ltd. through Murray O’Laoire Architects are expected to submit their revised application for Water Street in the next few weeks, assuming all goes according to plan. The new application will retain the central landmark tower, although it has now been reduced by 2-floors to 17-storeys (so I’m told, I haven’t actually seen the drawings yet so I can’t confirm that for absolute sure but the tower will remain). The tower height will not actually be altered much, I was so told, as the ground commercial units will now have a raised ceiling height. Minor elevational and layout changes have been made to the project plus a reduction in units numbers from an original figure of 400 to in and around 300. The boardwalk, business centre, underground car-parking and waterfront commercial units are all expected to be retained. But like I said, that’s what I got from a brief 2-minute conversation. I’ll get a hold of the drawings soon and confirm the definite spec. for you then. It’s a great project and I sincerely hope it gets the full-steam-ahead – as I do Eglinton Street.

Today is the day the official reign kicks off – Cork as European Capital of Culture 2005.

At 2pm – a spectacular carnival will proceed from South Mall through to MacCurtain Street (via Grand Parade and St. Patrick’s Street) – dozens of floats, street performers, acrobats, light spectacles and revellers will proceed through the streets in a party never before seen on Irish soil.

The city quays will open to ticket-holers only for the multi-million euro Awakenings Ceremony at 3pm, due to start at sunset 5pm. Spraoi will be co-ordinating the spectacle of light, fireworks, river-floats, music, dance, acrobatics and a 70-ft serpent which will weave under and over the city’s famous bridges along the Northern Channel of the Lee. The all-over-water based spectacle will be the largest of its kind in Europe this year and one of the largest ever full-stop. I’m really glad Cork 2005 have embraced the prime water frontage of Cork (with its strong merchant and naval history – the once proclaimed, ‘Venice of the North’ – a title now held by Stockholm) in this event.

Whatever about the rest of the Cork 2005 reign, Awakenings looks set to be something pretty damn awe-inspiring. There is such a good vibe around the city right now – and cold as it is, thank God the weather has cleared up overnight for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

People, get down to Cork for 2005!

@theblimp wrote:

Lex, generally speaking I would welcome that Eglinton Street development. However I have to say that it looks just a little isolated. I would have thought that one or two other buildings in that development not of the same height but of a more complmentary nature to the feature building would have been more appropriate.

Plans are in tow for the Careys Tool Hire site across Albert Road and at the IAWS R&H Hall site that will also consist of ‘high-rise’ developments – though I do acknowledge the Eglinton Street Tower ‘stands out’, thankfully the design isn’t all that bad and it should look better in the light of these other new developments, as well as future developments down along the docklands in the years to come. I think it’s important to remember this development is only representative of the so-called ‘first step’ and it has to be perceived with a view to the entirety of the docklands regeneration process. Were this a stand alone development, I would probably have to agree with you.

lex and others

re the georges mills development, clydagh developments are doing it but Murray O’ Laoire are the architects. Any chance of getting a photo / artists impression of what it will look like when finished? Due for completion of work in Sep 05.

Tom McCarthy, of the Kingsley Hotel among other developments, is developing George’s Mill – according to Joe Gavin, scafforlding was due on site before Christmas, but I am told this won’t happen until at least mid-Jan. I’ll look into getting more images of the development for you soon.

St Finbarr’s Hospital

St Finbarr’s Hospital is housed on a huge, underused site. With the loss of its maternity department to CUH and the neighbouring development on the Nemo Rangers grounds, are there any plans to sell off/develop any of its lands?

The SHB have plans for the hospital down along the road, but it will remain primarily hospital and associated medical usage. Some lands may be sold off for private development.

:rolleyes: The IRFU are to see off a parcel of ‘excess’ land at their Musgrave Park grounds for apartment development (circa. 50 units) and some commercial uses – to be developed by Bowen Construction (on behalf……). I was keeping this ‘dun suas’ – but John Bowen and the Irish Examiner were talking so I said I might as well let the forum know also. theblimp?

The 5m euro Awakenings Ceremony – see http://www.cork2005.ie – looks set to be pretty spectacular, especially the River display. It will be shown live on RTE between 5pm and 6:30pm this Saturday 8th of Jan. The problem with the event, and the subject of much criticism is that only 26,000 tickets were made available for a city (greater) with a 325,000 population. It’s a bit of a farse really – 4 tickets were allowed per person and some outlets only issued 100 tickets, meaning, only the first 25 people at a particular outlet received tickets. The Irish Examiner is providing relative coverage of the proceedings leading up to that main event. Ticket issues aside – the opening ceremony is gearing up to be an eye-catcher – the amount of work taking place by Cork 2005, Spraoi and many others on the river is pretty substantial. Though I’m sceptical on the year of Culture as a whole – there are a lot of good ideas and proposals lined up for the reign and I really would like to see everyone get behind it and help postively enforce the title-ship.

I see Cork 2005 as an ‘all of Ireland’ event – but it’s nice to see Cork get a little limelight for a change too. 😉