Radioactiveman

Ralph Riegel reports in todays Irish Independent that:
PROPOSALS for a multi-million-euro hotel are to come before An Bord Pleanala after the developer confirmed he will challenge the refusal of a town council to sanction the project.

The €50m-plus hotel and luxury housing project, proposed by the Lawton family, for Fermoy in north Cork has been hailed by its supporters as “an economic godsend” for the town.
However, Fermoy Town Council rejected the project after a concerted campaign of local opposition to it.
Opponents claimed the scale of the project and the density of luxury homes involved in its residential element were too great for the proposed location adjacent to Fermoy’s riverside town park. Their main complaints centred on the height of the hotel complex, the inclusion of 73 luxury town houses beside the complex, the visual impact on the area and the possibility of traffic congestion.
The venture – by Lawton Developments – included a four-storey hotel with a 100-bedroom plus capacity coupled with 73 luxury town houses in an adjacent five acre site.
Now, the developers confirmed they are to appeal the rejection – warning that they were “very, very disappointed” by the council’s decision.
Fermoy Enterprise Board (FEB) Chairman, Cllr Michael Hanley, admitted he felt the project’s rejection was like “a body-blow for the town”.

Ralph Riegel- Irish Independent

I notice (with a little bit of sadness) that Fota Island is slowly but surely being eaten up by private development. The island should have been kept as a public amenity, incorporating Fota House and Gardens, Fota Arboretum, Fota Wildlife Park and open recreational spaces for the City and East Cork.

However, this is not the case and Fleming are on site building a 125 rooom luxury Hotel with Penthouse suites, a raft of ‘lodges’ (aka houses for the obscenely wealthy), an extensive marina and a second – yes, a second 18-hole Golf Course. Why an island that small requires a second course we’ll never know.
Couldn’t an alternative use been found for this space? Scenic walkways, picnic spots? isn’t one Golf course enough to fill the hotel?

Below is an arial view of the proposed work on the island, which actually serves (I think) to minimise the deleterious effect it will have on this gem in the harbour. (Remember the Old Head anyone?)

I’m dying to get an image of that outreach building lex. You able to lay your hands on some?

– having had a look at the report, I see that this project was reccomended for refusal of planning permission by the planner involved. Obviously this was over-ruled. Any details?
I’ve said it before, this sort of carry on does little to increase my faith in the planning process!

After the recent architectural competion, those anybody know whether there are any REAL plans for Kyrls Quay?

The first is the new IT building planned fior the old Greyhound Track on Western Road:

It got planning in July 2002 and includes a riverside walk with a bridge link to the new Medical building at Brookfield House. The completed building will house Computer Science and Microelectronic engineering Depts. Designed by Scott Tallon Walker, the project is on hold due to funding shortfalls.

Next is that medical campus at Brookfield:

Its built around an 1800’s residence which had been vacant for many years. The design team have created a new complex which accommodates the academic needs while conserving the original house. The house although not particularly attractive was identified through the campus Conservation Plan as a regionally significant building. Its significance arises from the uniqueness of the house which was built using techniques more commonly found in industrial building of the time. The previous occupants, the Jennings family had fear of flooding, fire and break in. The house is of very robust construction (steel doors, safes etc.), has large brick-lined tanks at attic level and had an area for a boat at roof level. (Source: UCC, Buildings and Estates).

Designed by RKD McCarthy Lynch, its under construction and due for completion very shortly.

Finally for now, some views of the new Postgraduate research Library to be built adjacent to the existing Boole Library. Designed by SBRA and Wilson Associates, prelimanary work has begun with work to be completed by May 2007.

Some model images:

Here’s a picture of this building prior to recent renovation. I believe from late 2003.

I think lex may have exagerated the condition it was in previously:
“For years this building has been smothered in a series of unflattering and dogish paint coats. From Mustard Yellow to Tangerine.”

Also, here’s some more images of the GPO on Oliver Plunkett Street.

And while i’m at it, an image of more bow-fronted buildings. This time on the Grand Parade end of Oliver Plunkett Street (No’s 76 and 77)..

Finally, a fabulous building further down the street. A remnant of an industrial past.

Unfortunately, it would seem that Cok City Council does not have the balls to prosecute anybody for the criminal act of demolishing an historic church associated with famous temperance campaigner Fr Mathew. The church located at Blackmore Lane (off Sullivans Quay) was approximately 200 years old.
The demolition took place for “safety reasons” after the applicant was told by CCC to incorporate the Church into his Section 50 Apartment Complex at the site.
An application is now lodged to demolish what remains of the church and rebuild with modern materials!!
Shame on CCC and shame on T & C Partnership.

Remaining in the same part of the city, Frank McDonald (Environment Editor of the Irish Times) wrote on friday that the Lapps Quay development below is “in my view one of the worst new buildings in Cork “.
At least, I presume that’s the development he refers to. It’s No.6 Lapps Quay designed by Coughlan DeKeyser for O’Flynn Construction.
I was in the area recently (as noted above) and I must say I like it. Like it a lot!

The journalist also brings up the important point that Cork has been without a City Architect since the legendary Neil Hegarty retired two years ago. A city developing at this rate without a city Architect- surely a mistake!

@bunch wrote:

i think the space outside the clarion at lapp’s quay is public – also the port may still have some legally established rights of way at the quay walls.

i too have heard rumours about one of mp’s tenants – i doubt they are true as it would be suprising if a pull-out would be considered after a few months – their investment would surely merit a year’s trading before they would even assess their perfomance – however – perhaps they are unhappy because they have not succeeded in emptying the city centre, which, despite some short-term vacancies on pana, is busier than ever – the store u are talking about should take a long look at their store and their products – which are very poor – despite all of the marketing of the store – i wonder are we talking about the same tenant – english based non-food?

Yes, English based, non-food. Nice enough stuff but hideously over-priced, even for this country!
As you say, probably just rumour, but there’s no smoke without fire.

I can honestly say (as a city dweller) I have visited Mahon Pont once and felt absolutely no compulsion to return. There’s nothing to draw me down there, simple as that.

@d_d_dallas wrote:

What does it look like when viewed from Patrick St at Academy St junction? The OCP development has had a large impact on the view down that street.

Good point.

Ok, here’s my plan- one huge air conditioning unit over Cork City Centre (tastefully designed of course) for horrible sticky days like today. We could have some apartments on top, like. 🙂

Look at all these lovely people:

they’re tellig us that the Mardyke pedestrian bridge was officially opened today.

In an article in today’s examiner by Ray Ryan, George Jeffery chairman of the Munster Agricultural Society (MAS) points out that an announcement is due soon on the future development of its Showgrounds at Ballintemple.
The aim apparently being to make Cork Showgrounds a “premier facility for Cork” and a “Resource Centre”.
The announcement itself was pretty vague but given the size of the site and its position in the Docklands, I’d be expecting something big quite soon.