lexington

Those Cork Airport pictures I promised -> it’s pretty impressive. Designed by HOK in conjunction with JACOBS.

26,500 sq m, 4 air-bridges, 5 luggage belts, 32-check-in desks, shops, restaurants, private lounges, amenity areas, 1200 space multi-storey car-park with a further 600 spaces on the ground, two dual-carriageways, new cargo-bay (x2 larger than current cargo area), new taxiways – the works. Capable of catering 3-million a year comfortably – with provision for 5-million p.a. (which is probably going to be need a lot sooner than first thought).

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Originally posted by mickeydocs
Did Frinilla get planning permission for their proposed development for Watercourse Road?

Have Howard Holdings released any info of their proposed Albert Quay development?

No, Frinailla are still in appeal with ABP. I too have a feeling that their plans for the Watercourse Road – a 70-million euro, 7 -> 9 storey residential, educational, medical and commerical development spanning almost half the length of the road – will face it tough on ABP’s decision. Although you never know with ABP sometimes. It would be good for this area of Blackpool undoubtedly, even residents have agreed with this, I think the reason for the refusal by CCC was the height of the development. I also feel there have been more inspired designs. Sometime like the other Frinailla project, the Grand Parade Plaza would have been welcomed easier I think.

Also, Howard Holdings are preparing an application for permission with CCC under an undisclosed wholly-owned company name to develop a 5-storey over basement office building, incorporating Albert House (the current CCC Parking Fines Centre – shudder!!!) on Albert Quay. The site, facing out onto the quay, has been donated by CCC and was formally used as a rail-cargo storage facility, and more recently car-repair facilities and the like. The building is specifically designed to nurture upstart businesses and/or cater for new IT agencies and so on. Already, a vast quantity of foreign interest has been displayed for such a facility in Cork.

O’Flynn Construction plan a major development to the rear of the Howard Holdings project on the former An Post Sorting Office – purchased for 10m euro in Feb.

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Although preliminnary work on the Cork School of Music has begun – the demolition of the existing building and construction of the new college building (which incorporates space provided by clearance of old building and adjacent car-parking area) has yet to go ahead. Jarvis Plc (who’s 1st PPP project outside the UK is the CSM) have stressed that the Cork project will be unaffected by its recent fiscal problems. CEO, Michael Hyde has pointed out that Jarvis is actively pursuing all its outstanding dues and has begun selling off certain assets it no longer views as core to its operations.

“This is an extremely challenging time for the group and we are taking the necessary decisions and implementing them. We are collecting outstanding payments and have more to do. We are also taking very significant overhead cost out of the business. Considerable progress has been made, and further action is planned to ensure a leaner, sustainable core business for the future,” said Michael Hyde (02/07/2004)

Hopefully these assurances will stand – but as Frinailla Developments learned with their An Caislean development in Ballincollig, despite the strongest assurances of the contractors, sometimes financal circumstances over-rule the strongest of commitments. Though Jarvis is in a seriously tricky corner – I think the CSM should be unaffected. I’ll keep an eye on this one – and let you know if the situation alters. Fingers crossed!
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Patrick’s Street is almost complete – bar a small section between River Island and 26 Patrick’s Street (AIB Redevelopment). This is scheduled to be complete by late next week.

Meanwhile work on Oliver Plunkett Street is at an advanced stage (despite some whiney traders) – and work has begun on Grand Parade (from Daunt Square to the Capitol Cineplex).

Yep – here is a CG picture of the soon to be refurbished Cork Bus Station. After months and years of negotiation, the build-up, the excitement, the possibilities – sigh…how very CIE.

Well bins aside – the street looks incalcuably better. I actually feel proud strolling down the street in comparison to a few years ago. Grand Parade and Oliver Plunkett Street should follow suit.

*UPDATES*

-> The redevelopment of the notorious Blackpool flats by Murnane & O’Shea is taking on a remarkable shape alongside the Blackpool By-Pass, the development is striking in its scale (with 2 cranes [1 tower] on-site) and style. Across the road, construction of the new Glen Hall Luxury Apt Complex by John Paul Construction is at an advanced stage and already looks of a very high standard.

-> Coleman Bros. Developments have erected crane over their new duplex development on the Commons Road – the project has taken a chunk out of the hillside and the development is flying up fast.

-> Frank Sheehan’s office building between the Blackpool By-Pass and Assumption Road, designed by Jack Coughlan and Assoc. is taking up shape in an eye-catching form. 2 PJ Hegarty tower cranes gape over the circular shaped, red-brick office development.

-> Also, PJ Hegarty Construction have erected another crane over the new 100m-euro Blackpool Retail Park and Multiplex development adjacent to the Blackpool SC (both developed by Blackpool Developments Ltd [Shipton Group owned by Clayton Love]) The developers were just this week granted permission to add an additional level to the multi-storey car-park to the rear of the main Retail Park building – but refused 2 amendments to warehousing units A and B.

-> Still on the PJ Hegarty line – they are the main contractors behind the redevelopment of the AIB at 11 Patrick Street. I was surprised today when I saw the extent of the redevlopment – I had been unaware at how large scale it is. The entire AIB building except the facade has been demolished, along with adjoining buildings and properties bought up by AIB as part of the redevelopment. The branch is one of the banking groups most profitable and is in line to have the entire premises on Patrick Street the whole back to the new Penneys extension and across to Wintrhop Street redeveloped in a project estimated at 7m euros.
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-> Frinailla Developments have erected a huge banner across the facade of the old Grand Parade Hotel announcing the real estate launch of the new Grand Parade Plaza apartment and retail centre. The rear grounds of the hotel and former nightclub have been completely demolished – Rainey Architects of Kinsale are responsible for design of the 30m euro, 7-storey project to include 50 apartments and a higher-order retail centre. John Paul Construction are the main contractors.

-> Corbett Bros. Developments have been GRANTED permission for their office/residential/commercial development at Parnell Place. Originally a 5-storey over basement car-park development – a CCC condition for planning requires a reduction in one floor of apartments, reducing the original # of 18 to 15. The original facades on Parnell Place are to be refurbished and incorporated into the new development.

-> Also, Corbett Bros. project at Copley Street is making rapid headway. Their new office/apartment and leisure building, 2 linked 5-storey blocks, is being constructed by Coffey Construction. Major drilling and excavation has commenced to cater for the 90-car space underground parking facility with lightning speed.

-> Cumnor Construction’s 7-storey apt. building was due to be decided upon yesterday, but CCC has requested Further Info. Personally, I think Cumnor has made rapid growth of late – from small residential projects, the Blarney based company is now taking on huge developments such as that at Knapps Sq. for Hanranka Ltd. – but I think their energies would be better focused in a location more within the city centre than in Sundays Well. A 7-storey apt building there just doesn’t seem right. And I love large scale development – but even my developers conscience (and we do actually have them) is all Jimny Crickett on this one.

*UPDATES*

A new Lidl discount foodstore for Churchfield, Cork has been refused planning permission on the grounds that it would be out of place in an area zone for Light Industrial Use – and also that it would affect the business of a nearby Centra.

….wait a second, whatever happened to competition??? Isn’t that what drives consumer quality and better pricing???

That’s like the MW Health-Board objecting to a McDonald’s Restaurant in Ennis because it would adversely affect children’s healthy eating. WTF??? Has the whole world gone mad???

-> Also, meeting An Taisce Corcaigh tomorrow. DENDENDUN!!!

Had a free hand rendering of the Grand Parade/Washington Street junction retail development (on Capitol Cinema site) I under-handedly encountered in developers office and drew myself, but it is SO bad I have to delete it. Will endeavour to get a proper architect designed rendering or CGI if possible.

Otherwise, ignore this post!

Originally posted by mickeydocs
thanks for all the info lexington.

which proposal do you find the most exciting in terms of putting Cork on the map?

Hey mickey! I think there are a lot of exciting projects in Cork city at the moment – many of which rival and even surpass that of anything in Dublin, or Europe for that matter – it’s a nice change. But I do think, and I will stress this relentlessly, the project for Water Street represents probably the single most important proposal for Cork in many many years.

Anyone who knows me will tell you, I don’t have a great affliction for apartment developments, but Water Street is far more significant than just another apartment development – it not only represents a landmark project (the tallest building in Ireland – a title Cork has always held), not only does it represent the confidence investors have placed in the Cork city market, not only does it represent whether or not the city planners have the foresight they seem to have traditionally lack til that of recent years, but it represents the future for Cork city and the Cork Docklands. A refusal of permission will throw future investment (in the Cork Docklands), market confidence and further Docklands proposals into turmoil – this will offset the willigness of further projects, no indefinitely, but certain for a period of time. That’s not an exaggeration, trust me, I know – its a belief widely held throughout the Cork Business Community.

Sean Kearns, architect with MOLA for Water Street, has informed me that he is almost certain now that CCC will request further info. He says they are prepared for that and also says that he understands and accepts concerns expressed by Lower Glanmore Road residents will relation to the project – saying that the project can be adjusted just enough to accomodate them, but says the big fear is that An Taisce will bring the project to ABP on appeal. However, he also says that MOLA are prepared for such an unfair and unwarranted possibility.

-> that aside, some plans for the Docklands (if they go ahead) are very exciting eg. Treasury Holdings National Convention Centre on Horgan’s Quay.

Also exciting -> O’Flynn Construction’s Retail/Residential development on Eglinton Street. O’C Properties Conference Centre at Mahon Point, 21 Lavitts Quay (one of my favourites), City Quarter and Teschem (Howard Holdings) new office building for Albert’s Quay and nreaby IT/Business Centre. Also John Mannix’s development is brilliant for Washington Street.

Plus there are rumours that one of Cork’s major pharma giants w/ a plant at Cork Harbour, is looking into the possibility of constructing it’s European and Middle-Eastern HQ at a brand new, purpose built 90,000 sq ft office building in the Kennedy Quay region. However, I personally view this as unlikely, as most of these pharma companies have invested millions in office facilities at the current plant locations recently as it is, and have most other admin. work performed elsewhere. Nonetheless, it’s a nice idea.