Radioactiveman
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A decision is due tomorrow from CCC on Frinailla ltd.’s proposals for a large retail/residential development on a significant site at Watercourse Road, Blackpool.
I think Emmet place is being overlooked in this discussion. There are a number of buildings I would not like to see changed on this side of the development. eg AA building. Even the front portion of the Examiner Office is an excellent example of 19th Century architecture and should be maintained, I hope we don’t see a blanket demolition job here.
Recently saw the plan for the new AIB development on Watercourse Road. Its a significant improvement on whats currently there. It’s a sleek, modern design of two storeys. The building will extend out to the same extent as the adjacent pub which will mean a severe loss of foothpath and green area at the front, but I think the impressive design makes up for that.
Meanwhile, across the road a site at 7-11 Watercourse road is being cleared for the construction of 17 no. apartments, comprising of 3 no. linked blocks of 3,4 and 5 storeys with covered ground floor parking, retail space and ancillary accommodation. The developer is Sidney McElhinney.
A subsequent application sought “the provision of a new northern facade with electronic signage “. Now I’ve only flicked through the current Cork City Development Plan, but It clearly states that no new advertising hoardings of any type will be permitted in the Blackpool area. Of course the application for the ‘electronic signage’ was refused. In fact, the developers were told that in its place thay had to put a piece of contemporary public art- How i laughed, HAHAHA 😀
This all begs the question, do developers actually read the Development Plans? I wonder did the above developers think they could slip that through unnoticed. All’s well that ends well I suppose!Speaking about that side of the city, does anybody know the current state of play with the Good Shepherd’s Convent up in Sunday’s Well? Is there a development planned there? Is the church, which was ‘accidentally’ burned down going to be reinstated?
🙂 Good news on Albert House.
Wagamama looks great on South Main Street. Also, Mahers on Maylor Street is looking good these days.I find it amusing that the An Taisce member would be looking for a water feature on the quayside. Is the river not big enough?
Ok, thats a fair point. However, with a building, for example, there are ways to establish its suitability for an area- height, use, density, parking, etc.
With an art work like this, isn’t it a bit rich of AnTaisce to try to influence what sort of inspiration the artist has- suggesting that a nautical/marine theme would have been better?
Prospective benefactors must look at this and say- is it really worth the bother.?
In order to try to calm nerves here I’ll say this. Much of the objections brought by An Taisce are reasonable and of course deserve to be taken into account when making planning decisions. Some however, including this one I believe, are entirely unreasonable. I guess ABP will ultimately decide on the validity of any objections raised. We’ll wait and see.Diaspora, I stand by my above comments 100%. To bring an appeal against a piece of public art because the appeallant has a different artistic vision than the artist or the benefactor is entirely frivalous.
By making such an objection, the An Taisce member in question made this appeal very personal in nature. This appeal is made because of personal taste in art rather than any planning legislations/guidlines or development plans.
This is not what ABP is designed forThe ‘eejit’ from an taisce has really sunk to a desperate new low. Objecting to a GIFT from Howard Holdings to the people of Cork City just because he thinks some vague nautical notion would be slightly better than the excellent design currently proposed is just very very sad.
I think this person would not be happy unless all planning applications were ‘run’ passed him before they even got to Navigation House. It makes me sick and further tarnishes An taisce- which, in theory is a good idea.
This person surely knows he hasnt a snowballs chance of winning an appeal to ABP. Why is he doing it? So, he gets his name in the paper by delaying a public amenity… well, if thats how he gets his kicks 🙁I think it would benefit the city as a whole (in more ways than one) if Government Offices on Sullivan’s Quay subsided into the River and floated out the harbour. Its a fabulous site and would act as a great bookend to ‘Sraid an Capaill Bui’ if it was developed into retail/entertainment/residential use.
Lex, can you give us a hint as to where OPW plan to move? 😉On the subject of Grand Parade, I know City Library are running a design competition for a new city Library. Are there any real concrete plans to use any of those designs? Surely they’d never get away with knocking any of the current building.
With the movement of City Archives to Blackpool, Christ Church on South Main Street will be available to add to this ‘cultural quarter’ – including City Library, Bisop Lucey Park. What are CCC’s plans (if any) for Christ Church?
Have a look at this site I found. I think it captures the utter contempt CIE have for their customers, in this case it’s Cork customers. We give out about ‘Dublin’ keeping all the money for itself and not providing for refurbishment of the Train Station etc., but if this is what we’re going to do to it when its renovated, do we really deserve it?
We often praise Cork CIE staff for bravely ‘battling on’ in the face of Government pennypinching and inaction but really, How much is a mop and bucket? The laziness of these people must be a new low. Shame on them. Shame on us!!
http://www.kellstransportmuseum.com/DirtAug04.htmlPerhaps a new thread: Shamefully neglected architecture of Ireland?
Haven’t a clue about that research centre. The Photonics lab is located in the recently rebuilt portion of the Lee Maltings (protected building). I’ve no information on the lighting – they are nice though.
The image above is much darker than the brick actually being used. One major problem i have with brick is the white deposit which seems to form on it as if the mortar is leaking all over it.
As people might know, CCC are currently “upgrading the public realm” (i.e. fixing the footpaths) along Watercourse Road in Blackpool. There is an interesting little piece of street furniture outside AIB on the street in the form of an old stone horse trough. Or there was up to a few days ago!! 😡
As far as I can tell the construction company removed it on Saturday and I’ve been unable to find out where it is or whether it is going to be returned (or even if its still in one piece).
The trough is identical to that located near Flor Griffins on Parnell Place. I think these were the only two left in the city- although i could be corrected on that.
Anybody got an ideas on how i can locate this item?Thanks Lex,
One more thing, a few months back you mentioned something about a beam of light (or something like that anyway) which had previously been planned for the Gate Cinema. Anymore details/images? Or maybe it was all a dream i had 🙂Just a few questions for everyone which have been bugging me for a while….
Q What kind of progress (if any) has been made on the redevelopment of the riverside of the Everyman Theatre?
Q Have the Revenue Commisioners decided where they are moving to yet? Will that eyesore on Sullivan’s Quay finally be demolished?
Q Any news on the IAWS/ R&H Hall development plans?Radioactiveman
The ‘castle’ isn’t that old. Its an old Mansion rather than what you’d call a castle. Its a great spot. Had loads of fun running around the place as kids. It is very dangerous at this stage though. If you want a closer look at the castle it is featured in the ‘big battle’ scene in the Irish film “War of the Buttons”.
Have no idea what his plans are though. Good luck to him though, it needs someone to finance it.Lexington,
I believe for once you’re wrong (shocking I know 🙂 ). The two buildings which are for sale on Shandon Street are next to the two buildings for which the CPO has been issued.
Infairness, I could have the numbers wrong so will recheck them for you.UPDATE The two buildings for sale are no.’s 69 and 70. The two buildings with a CPO are no’s 67 and 68. UPDATE
I like most of the work going on around Christy Ring Bridge at the moment. The only thing that would bother me is the two very large developments opposite each other on Lower John Street. Balconies on both buildings, im sure if you tried hard enough you could jump across the street from balcony to balcony- cant be much privacy in that side of the developments.
Frinailla’s ‘plans’ for a library in their Lady’s Well development have been withdrawn, In further information they plan replace the ‘library’ with retail and gym. I’m confident that there was never serious plans for a library. Good PR for Frinailla though!CCC have applied a Compulsory Purchase Order to no.’s 67-68 Shandon Street. They’re the two buildings immediately to the right of O’Connors Bros. Funeral Home as you look from the Gate Cinema.
They’re a complete eyesore and have been virtually derelict for many years.
Rumour has it (although I wont name him here) that the buildings are owned by a controversial local politician and that it is a dispute with a leaseholder which is resulting in a lack of movement to refurbish the properties.
This brings us to the issue of derelict buildings… god knows Cork has it’s fair share. More CPO’s should be used. If you’re not gonna tidy up your property it should be done for you!!
As we’re on Shandon Street, next time you’re up there, take a look at the totally half-arsed job being done on the road surfaces/footpaths, etc. The company employed to do the job (again i dont think its fair to name them) must employ the worst stonemasons/builders in the city. The work is very very low grade. They’ve failed to reduce the number of manholes (i know thats a job for the service providers too); they’ve used very very cheap looking materials– look at the cheapo railings near Blarney st. The stone work is dreadful and the job has so many snags left to finish its embarasing.Radioactiveman!!
Yip, fraid so… i’m obsessed 🙂
Any idea what it looks like?That web address appears to be wrong – no such site
