mickeydocs

Hey Anto, CCC are currently working on a river/quayside walk that will link the city centre to the lee fields.

There are also plans in progress to develop cycle paths all along the quays.

@anto wrote:

Maybe when the Main drainage scheme is finished (when?) the Lee will become more attractive, it won’t be the open sewer it was heretofore. No wonder Cork turned its back on the river!

It’s true that money needs to be spent on the Quays, look at the Campshire in Dublin for example. There was some plan for a wallk to link the quays to Fitzgerald park at one stage. Unfortunately some of the heavisest traffic goes along the Quays, probably worse since some was taken off Patricks street. I wonder has the amount of traffic coming into the city fallen since the tunnel was built, as was promised and no doubt those pushing the new orbital route are promising the same. Some how i doubt it. Probaly more suburbanites driving in.

Cork needs to spend more upgrading the quays and putting in more cycle lanes. There wasn’t many of these when i lived there (2000)a ny more since? But does it have the money?

@Torquemada wrote:

It would have been even nicer in my opinion if they could have continued that canopy effect on the front of the building (the new arrivals area) to the rear of the bus station from where buses are departing from at the moment.

that is the plan… there is a scanned image somewhere in this thread

what’s the building in front of the fire station?

@lexington wrote:

Here are just some better images, long overdue I know, of the proposed Cork City Hall extension – designed by ABK, currently under First Phase preliminary construction by Cleary Doyle. The new 32m euro 4-storey extension will provide over 90,000sq ft of office space – to cater for the majority of CCC departments – in excess of 300 parking spaces underground and at roof level, and incorporate the latest environmentally friendly capabilities. To be honest with you, the external structure does little to inspire – but I have to say, the internal pedestrian walkway and office areas look closer to the money.

@lostcarpark wrote:

That will go some way, yes, but IE have projections showing a 4-fold increase in commuter traffic between now and 2016. The Dublin rail plan will provide a fast, regular service on the four main lines into the city, One element of the is upgrading the signaling to allow trains to run closer together.

Here’s some anecdotal evidence of why people will continue to use cars. Earlier this year, three work colleagues of mine all started using commuter rail to get to work. They were encouraged by a company initiative and by tax deductions which are available on monthly and annual tickets. One colleague lasted a month. The other two lasted less than three months. The reason to resume commuting by car was a strange one, in that they were all sick of arriving late for work.

How will you convince more and more people to use the trains, when most of my friends and colleagues become frustrated with Irish Rail in a few months and resume travelling by car?

Are Hegartys originally from Cork?

@lexington wrote:

In 1944 Ben Dunne Sr, a Cork resident (though born in the North), set up the first Dunnes Stores on Patrick’s Street near Bowling Green Street after working with a number of other retaillers here and abroad The store is still in operation today, though expanded substantially. It is in line for a 35m euro redevelopment and expansion in the near future, If you have ever shopped in Dunnes and purchased one of their brown ‘bag for life’ shopping bags – an image of the original Cork store (Dunnes first) is printed on it. A number of other stores were later opened around Cork – subsequent to that, the business opened its first store in Dublin, where later Ben Dunne Sr. moved his family and a new HQ was established.

”Home and/or birthplace to some of Ireland’s most prominent indigenous businesses ” <- is actually how I phrased it more accurately. Don't believe me, check out the history on their website. http://www.dunnesstores.com/history_opening.ds

See for Roches as well! http://www.roches-stores.ie/corpwww/history.html

CSO projections for 2004 indicate that in dispersal of economic activity generation throughout the island of Ireland, 72bn of the 190bn euro economy can be attributed to activities in or associated with Cork – considering export values from the pharma sector estb’d in Cork Harbour region and city based IT. Indigeneous business activity. Tax receipts. Tourist value (incl. Cork/Kerry Region) – Cork city alone = 441m euro p.a. (based on static fig. carried over from year ended 2003 w/ 341,000 city visits – see CCC, Southwest (Cork/Kerry)Tourist Board and CSO). Development and Investment – (a better example of this is considering [in terms of development] that between the 3 largest Cork-based development companies (O’Flynn Construction, O’Callaghan Properties and Clayton Love – Howard Holdings to a lesser extent w/ offices only in Cork and official base in Dublin) – current development expenditure for Cork City = 500m BTC, 500m MP, 30m Lavitts Quay, 20m Boreenmanna Rd, 100m Blackpool Park, 100m City Quarter, 60m Douglas Village SC, 100m Eglinton Street, 150m Academy Street, 160m Jurys, 300m Dunkettle = 2bn (excess) alone) excl. projects by Treasury, OSB, Corbett, Hanranka, SHUL, Frinailla, Rockfell, Mannix, Victoria Hall, Rathmelton. etc etc and small investors).

If you’re interested in a clearer breakdown of figures, just ask! I’ve about 12 books full of statistics and would be happy to forward you the appropriate addresses where you can attain such briefs for yourself. They on average cost 20euros each except one from CCC (the Development Plan 2004) for which a paperback copy costs 50euros.

Thanks for your interest PaulC.

(P.S. If you want more Cork originated or based company histories – there’s plenty more where that came from. I’d be more than happy to oblige).

You make some excellent points Lex, and these are your best to date 🙂

@lexington wrote:

As a continuation of my previous post –

It strikes me, that too often developers and planners hear from retaillers that space in Cork city centre for retail development is far too limited – especially along Patrick’s Street. The backlog of retaillers vying for space is substantial – and quite often, when space does become available along the thoroughfare, it’s a blink or you’ll miss situation. Although I back developments like that proposed by O’Callaghan Properties for Academy Street, Rockfell on Cornmarket Street and Frinailla along Grand Parade – much needed projects – I still believe that retail space is not really in short supply as such, its just not being used efficiently.

Patrick’s Street is lined with beautiful old department stores like Grants, Burtons, Munster Arcade, Roches Stores and Brown Thomas. Though BT, Roches and Munster Arcade (Penneys) may be excluded from this discussion – places like Grants and Burtons are often used at ground floor for retail and see their remaining floors for mere storage or run-down offices.

I for one, believe that a substantial area of retail space may be allowed for in the refurbishment of these old department stores and reorganisation of internal layouts. By expanding upward, creating – for example – an open area centre surrounded by upper level balconies to cater for increased retail space – many of those retaillers who complain about the lack of space, may be afforded such gold-dust. Existing tenants stand to lose little if they simply adapt to reorganised layouts which will improve the visual and practical environments for businesses and consumers alike. One only has to look at the unflattering signage adorned on the former Burtons Department Store by Oasis for one to see how existing layouts are unsatisfactory. Grants Dept Store stands to benefit immensely from such redevelopment. Cork now has a world-class pedestrian friendly shopping street in that of Patrick’s Street – can we not afford to make simple alterations to our historical and eye-catching former department store buildings to boost this reputation further? Aesthetics improve, businesses benefit, consumers benefit – what’s there to lose?

I think such redevelopment will compliment further the blend of old and new as Cork city is reborn in the wave of new investment and development.

What’s happening on Kennedy quay?

Blind objections = extreme conservatism.

Originally posted by theblimp
Diaspora, with the greatest of respect, simply because a building has a history should not exclusively mean that it must be retained. The grain silos in Cork were built for a purpose – one which they achieved very well. Under a scenario of a redeveloped docklands this purpose is removed. Yes, they possibly could be re-developed, but you must also open your mind to the possibility that something more aesthetically pleasing could replace them. There are many buildings in Cork that could be sustained, but the fact that they were cheap unsightly solutions at their outset deems them unattractive to retain. By proposing that you will object to any proposal for the demolition of the Cork silos (be it on your own ‘headed paper’ or not) without considering a possibly more attractive (and suitable) alternative lacks foresight and an appreciation of the mechanics involved in regenerating this region of the city.

Any news on Howard Holdings proposal for Albert Quay?
What timescales have the ccc put on the O’Flynn planning process?

Donovan’s stretched themselves by opening up an unsuccessful butchers in the blackpool shopping centre. They are also far more expensive than their English market neighbours and are finally losing the battle.

The plans for the xmas lights are posted somewhere on this post.

Originally posted by theblimp
…speaking of Christmas lights – I recall that we were promised an amazing new display for this year. That message was put out over a year ago and I have heard nothing since. Anyone know if there are indeed plans for something new?