Tuborg

Just a quick heads-up.

Fordmount Developments have presented further information to the city planners regarding their proposed redevelopment of the Limerick Boat Club site. A decision on the application is due by the middle of November!

@demolition man wrote:

Any progress on the parkway valley shoping centre?Surly the developers wont pull the plug at this stage.

I also saw a site notice of the development at Punches Cross.Will this go ahead any time soon?

Hows the post office site coming along?Last i saw the lift shaft for the new building was at an advanced stage.

There are no visible signs of life at the parkway valley site, not a single 1 of the 10 or so cranes on the site is currently in operation. Despite repeated guarantees from the developers that the project is going ahead, no significant construction has taken place over the past 2 months!

The Punches Cross development was suppposed to go to construction back in February, however the site has yet to be cleared and theres nothing to suggest that anything is going to happen for the foreseeable future!

The re-development of the GPO/ Hanging Gardens is continuing, much of the work is currently focused on the new office block backing on to Post Office Lane. The lift shafts are now in place and the buildings skeleton is beginning to take shape. The project is due to be finished in early 2010.

@Griff wrote:

Brown Thomas should be knocked (ideally) its a cheap nasty looking building in the centre of town.Sticking on fancy porches and a lick of paint is short term, you cant dress up dross…this should be a flagship department store fitting the centre of a major ( in Irish terms) city… as for penneys/dunnes/roches supermarket….they have destroyed Sarsfield st IMO… cheap and tacky.I dont think knocking the whole block is a good idea unless a seriously high quality development is put in its place – which , lets be fair is unlikley. Id be in favour of retaining the original Roches building – its not great but the best of the lot ,as well as the TSB bank and Martins pub. The chemists next to Dunnes also is not too bad. While Im on this rant, there are many fine buildings in the town – but so many need money spent to maintain them… in an ideal world a few million would be spent on Re replacing all the PVC crap that was put it and fitting new sash windows.. on all georgian buildings from Matthew Bridge to O Connel ave..including the major side strees…

The Roches Stores/Debenhams building is a relatively pleasing building, especially when you compare it with rubbish like Penneys and Brown Thomas. However, it looks as if the City Council have their minds set on the creation of a new public square at the junction of O Connell Street/Sarsfield Street, so if that is to become a reality the Debenhams building will have to go.

There are definitely a number of buildings within the boundary of this new development area that I would like to see preserved aswell. Martins Pub, Permanent TSB and the remaining couple of Georgians on Patrick Street are all worthy of retention. They have all been well maintained, are in good structural condition and the retention of these buildings would not pose any real problems to the overall redevelopment of the area!

@vkid wrote:

is the bank of ireland not due a facelift soon? Although thats probably on hold now with the credit crunch etc.,

Definitely the buildings across from the ‘beautiful’ Brown Thomas building need work..The old ACC bank is kind of cool if it was cleaned up though..

They’ve got their permission but theres no sign of any work starting. I wouldnt have thought that what is essentially a re-cladding job would put too much of a squeeze on Bank of Ireland’s finances but with all the recent uncertainty, projects like this could well be put on the back burner. Although having said that, Ulster Bank at the top of O Connell Street are currently in the process of refurbishing their premises!

As for Bedford Row, Im encouraged to hear that this wont be another retail orientated development. Its always important to strike a balance in the provision of retail and leisure facilities, the last thing we need is another Cruises Street that is deserted after 6 o clock every evening. After all, there are plenty of empty retail outlets dotted around the city centre, including the shiny new development on the site of the old Methodist chapel.

Hopefully Fordmount have managed to acquire the large site to the rear of nevada smiths etc, this would give them a frontage to Sarsfield Street and in doing so would give that street a much needed shot in the arm.

@CologneMike wrote:

Park Canal Restoration Project (Limerick City Council)

Council’s €300,000 Blunder ([url=”http://www.limerickpost.ie/dailynews.elive?id=9128&category=Daily-Thu%5DLimerick Post[/url])

A furious Mayor John Gilligan, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . informed by the Limerick Post. 😮 Embarrassing 😮

What a cock-up this is! I believe the dredging work was carried out by what the Council described as “an experienced contractor” about a fortnight ago. It really is a very simple matter, either the dredging contractor was given the wrong instructions by the City Council or else the contractor failed to carry out the work to the expected standard!

I know the Council have some very grand plans for both the canal and the area in the immediate vicinity (including a number of derelict sites) but the progress has been incredibly slow. The renewal of a very short section is all that has been achieved in the last 4 years, is it a funding issue thats holding things up? Are there any more EU or Government grants available?

I also like the comment at the end of the article stating that they will have ” to look at the overall project again and open it up to public consultation”. Yeah that will really get things moving!:rolleyes:

The final tunnel element (#5) was successfully immersed into the pre-dredged channel under the River Shannon this morning.

Below are some photos and details on the immersion of the first tunnel element back on the 8th of September. (DirectRoute Limerick Ltd)

The immersion activities started at 5:30am on Sunday when tunnel element “Liz” was floated out of the North float-out structure and connected onto two immersion pontoons via four lifting blocks suspended from overhead lifting gantries.

“Liz” was then winched across the Shannon using six winches to be docked with the South Cut & Cover tunnel and immersed into her final resting place. The immersion crew worked through the night and at 5:20am this morning (08 Sep 2008) confirmed that tunnel element “Liz” was docked with the South Cut & Cover tunnel thus allowing the survey team to enter the tunnel element to take the necessary accurate readings and measurements to confirm that all 20,000 tones of “Liz” was correctly positioned.

The immersion was carried out by Mergor/Strukton with assistance from the DirectRoute Construction Joint Venture partners Strabag, Roadbridge, Lagan and Sisk.

Liz, the first tunnel element to be immersed in the Shannon, will be bedded into the pre-dredged river channel using a sand flow process which is scheduled to start today and will take approximately two days to complete.

A view of tunnel element LIZ being winched across the river Shannon

Tunnel element Liz on the River

Tunnel Element Liz getting ready to dock with the South Cut and Cover Tunnel

Immersion Commander Peter Westendorp gives Liz the once over before sending her down

Commander Westendorp makes Liz take the plung

Liz in her final resting place beneath the calm waters of the Shannon

@shanekeane wrote:

I like the scale of the big plan for the city centre, but if the planners are reading this, here’s a suggestion:

Limerick this year didn’t have a summer, it rained every day. Same last year. When designing buildings for these streets, incorporate arcades in them, like you see in a lot of Italian cities. This will provide shelter from the rain where people can sit and enjoy their lunch while also smoking a cigarette if they want to. Since every eatery in the country is now putting flimsy tables and chairs in the street and even flimsier awnings over people in a vain attempt to keep them dry, why not incorporate this feature into these new city centre streets to account for a rather big change in the habits of Irish people in recent years. If there’s any place that needs arcades like this, it is Ireland.

@Dan Sullivan wrote:

Shane, oddly enough I was thinking the same thing myself about use of buildings to shelter pedestrians from the elements. It would be a great idea for new development around the Arthur’s quay area. One slight problem thought is providing line of sight for people when crossing the road.

According to the preliminary plans, a covered pedestrian street is being considered, if you look closely at the CGI attached, it shows an enclosed street extending from the new plaza at the O Connell/Sarsfield Street junction.

The Limerick Leader article states that under the proposal the existing link between Henry St and Rutland St will be diverted underground. If this is the case, full pedestrianisation of the new quarter would be possible, although there were a couple of inaccuracies in the article so we’ll just have to wait for the official plans to be released.

This is a huge opportunity to create a vibrant new city quarter and they really should try and pull out all the stops here and that includes making it a car free zone.

The Limerick Leader is reporting that a planning application for the proposed redevelopment of the Arthurs Quay area will be lodged in the next few weeks!

I wasnt aware that things were this advanced, there were supposedly many issues to sort out before an application could be made. There is a blatent error in the article though, Sarsfield Street will not “cease to exist” as they are reporting, only one side of the street will be demolished!:rolleyes:

Massive new city retail plan all ready

Anne Sheridan

A multi million Euro development which is set to surpass the scale of the €350 million opera centre is to be lodged with Limerick City Council within the coming weeks.

Developer Michael Tiernan who was behind the development of Arthurs Quay, is now seeking to demolish the retail centre, along with a number of buildings in Sarsfield Street and O Connell Street.

The plans, which were first brought to the attention of Labour Cllr. Joe Leddin during his term as mayor, will soon be unveiled to the public.

Dunnes Stores, Penneys, Burger King, Martins pub, Permanent TSB, Sarsfield house and Debenhams are all due to be knocked for the development of a major mixed retail development on the same site.

Luxury apartments and penthouse suites overlooking the River Shannon, as well as four interlinked green spaces, would also form part of the development.

Sarsfield Street would also cease to exist, as it would be swallowed up in the proposed development, and traffic from Henry Street would be diverted underground to re-emerge at Bank Place.

The current site of Debenhams on the corner of O Connell Street and Sarsfield Street would also form a new pedestrianised street, stretching down towards the River Shannon.

Existing businesses are expected to be accommodated in the new enterprise, a 2,000 unit underground car park will be provided and Arthurs Quay Park will be remodelled and incorporated into the development.

Councillors say the development will work in harmony with the opera centre, with Fine Gael Cllr. Jim Long describing the plans “bold, courageous but definitely required.”

An architect’s impression of how the space could look was included in the Draft City Centre Strategy last year. Following the granting of planning permission for the revised opera centre, the Limerick Leader understands that city planners are now ready to move on to the final City Centre Strategy, which could be publicised within the coming weeks.

Cllr. Leddin said that if Mr Tiernans development is given the green light by City Hall, the project will give a much needed boost to the local construction industry and help reverse the “doughnut effect” whereby suburban shopping centres have succeeded in gaining trade from city retailers.

“What we’ve got to face up to as a modern city is that if we want to attract high fashion retailers we have got to provide the square footage for these retailers. Units in Cruises Street are quite small and retailers just couldn’t afford the rent given their turnover. Now we have Bedford Row providing much larger space for retailers,” said Cllr. Leddin. He said the plans are “extremely impressive and would be a win-win situation for the city.”

However, the project attracted criticism from one local architectural firm last October. O’Connor & Shanahan Architects of O Connell Street, presented a radical alternative to the proposal to the city planners last year and asked that it be considered.

Robert Shanahan pointed out that to the planners that this space was developed as part of a master plan for the area only 16 years ago. Independent Cllr. Kathleen Leddin has also put forward a motion for Arthurs Quay to be developed as a public park, which will be discussed at the City Council’s next strategic environmental meeting in October.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the opera centre said retailers who will be included in their development may be announced late next month. The company behind the project, Regeneration Developments, will also be exhibiting at the British Council of Shopping Centres conference in Liverpool in November to attract further international retailers.

© Limerick Leader

Just a few updates!

The Limerick Gaelic Grounds Development Committee have re-applied to install floodlighting at the Ennis Road stadium. Earlier this year the City Council shot down the original application over local residents fears of light spillage and the high level of illumination required, especially for hurling!

08358

Permission to erect 4 no. floodlighting masts, lighting to the external concourse area and carry out all associated site works.

Limerick Gaelic Grounds
Ennis Road
Limerick.

Plans have also been lodged for a mixed use development on the site of the former Brannigans pub.

07428

Demolition of the following structures: an existing dwelling house at no.5 Fairview Avenue, an existing workshop at Fairview Avenue, an existing retail unit at no. 7A Greenhill Road known as Pakies, an existing public house at Blackboy Road known as Brannigans and an existing take away restaurant at Blackboy Road known as Stuffins. Permission to construct the following: two retail units, a replacement public house and a replacement take away restaurant all to Blackboy Road. Basement parking with vehicular access to link road between Greenhill Road and Blackboy Road, and 53 apartments addressing Fairview Avenue, Blackboy and Greenhill roads comprising of 11 no. one bedroom apartments, 3 no. three bed apartments and 39 no. two bed apartments and the carrying out of all associated site works.

Fairview Avenue, Blackboy Road,
Greenhill Road
Limerick

McInerney homes have further plans for their existing residential development off the South Circular Road.

08365

Permission to construct a 5 storey mixed development consisting of creche, office accommodations, 25 no. student apartments together with car parking, landscaping and associated site works.

Ashbourne Avenue
Limerick.

The Hurlers Co-ownership have submitted revised plans for the old Esso station on the Dublin Road, an application for a larger development was turned down earlier in the year.

08/1970

Demolition of existing filling station/retail unit on the site and the construction of new building accommodating 1830sq. m. gross floor area and comprising 8 no. retail/commercial units (class 1 and class 2 use categories) at ground floor level, one floor of offices over, 53 no. surface parking spaces. The proposed development involves the carrying out of works adjoining the Hurlers public house(this is a protected structure) but no works to the structure itself. Permission is also sought for hard and soft landscaping, boundary treatment, signage and all associated site and development works.

The former Esso Garage & part of site adjoining Hurlers public house, Kilmurry, Castletroy

Even by Irish standards, the handling of whole opera centre project has been an absolute joke! It has lurched from shambles to shambles over the course of the last three years and theres definitely more to come!

Theres little chance that the Council have ordered the retention of the Ellen Street buildings so that means an appeal to ABP, which will add another year at least to this sorry saga! In fairness they’ll have no one to blame but themselves, how they would allow buildings of character to be sacrificed for this rubbish is just totally beyond me!

The developers have constantly moaned about the difficulties in retaining these buildings, whinging that they have to be pulled down due to their internal condition. This has already been shown to be absolute rubbish and anyway modern engineering techniques would take care of this no problem if needed! Looks like the planners have been made to have bend over yet again with worrying ease!:(

Im getting tired of saying it but these buildings have to be retained not only to protect the character of the street but also to minimise the effect of this mammoth new build on the area. We are already going to be left with a blank wall spanning Michael Street down as far as the granary! Allowing a similar situation on Ellen Street would be a catastrophic mistake!