Tuborg

The top image is the proposed entrance at the corner of Ellen Street/Michael Street, not very inspiring is it? Unfortunately the developers think its an appropriate replacement for the historic buildings on Ellen Street!:rolleyes: The corner feature will be accomodated anyway, regardless of whether the buildings are retained or not as the site is vacant between Quins pub and the street corner!

There are 18 conditions attached to the grant of permission, Dan have you recieved any information on these?

@J.P wrote:

Tuborg, you say that the cimema is to go ahead in the new phase of the Coonagh Cross Centre. Everyone on the northside of the city has been lamenting the fact that the cinema has been axed from the original plans. I agree with your point that the cinema is badly needed on this side of the city. Why it has taken so long beats me.

Hi J.P, as part of the original application, the developers (Mulcair Well Drilling) got permission for a 10 screen cinema but decided not to go ahead with it. If you were to look back at at the initial plans from around 2002/3, you will notice that the complex has been scaled back fairly significantly since both architecturally and in terms of size! I think the developers realise that now is the time to get cracking on the cinema in an attempt to boost business at the centre. Although whether they will be able to fill the planned new mall is another question!

The biggest problem with the number of suburban shopping centres in Limerick is that retailers looking to enter the Limerick market are unsure as to where is the most suitable location for them. Most of these retailers opt for safe options like the Crescent which is why we end up with the same old names in the other centres. Indeed the planned extension of the crescent (the refusal is being appealed) further highlights the continued popularity of that complex.

@Fairy wrote:

Has any one out there with enough nouce to realise that a City Centered Cinema is an absolute MUST for a City the size of Limerick, surely such an investment could not fail. Youmg and Old are crying out for such a venue. I hear this cry from all City dwellers. not to mention the daily visitors who ask absentmindly , “can your direct me to the local cinema!”!!!!!? I read the trend is nowdays, for older people wanting to move back to the city (as is happening all over the world) for all the obvious reasons. Come on ‘someone fill this necessary void. .confused:

I’ve lost count of the number of suburban cinema proposals that have fallen by the wayside in recent years. Multiscreen cinemas were planned for Parkway Valley and the Childers road retail park before being dropped. There were also plans to add 5 more screens to the storm in Castletroy but this hasnt happened either.

As you say, its absolutely shambolic that the city centre is without a cinema, its a pretty basic requirement really and Limerick must be unique in Ireland (and probably Europe) in not having one.

In my opinion, a cinema in the vicinity of the opera centre would be an option worth pursuing, considering the increased levels of footfall the centre will generate. There are plenty of under-utilised sites on Michael Street that would be suitable for such a development.

Alternatively, a cinema could be accomodated in the proposed redevelopment of the Aurthurs Quay area!

It turns out the dispute over the right of way on Bank Place may be more protracted than initially thought!

Fight over plaza could halt €350m shopping centre plan

A SMALL disputed plaza could jeopardise the future of a proposed €350m shopping centre development .

The Bank Place plaza, at the entrance to Trinity Rooms nightclub in Limerick, is the subject of a compulsory purchase order by Limerick City Council.

The order has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala by operators of the popular nightclub.

The complex is the largest development to be proposed for Limerick, and is 300,000sq ft in size.

The adjacent Arthur’s Quay shopping centre will be a third of the size of the planned development, where it is expected more than 1,000 people will be employed.

However, at a hearing in Limerick yesterday, Managing Director of Trinity Rooms, Pat Barry, said the proposed order will put the day-to-day running of his business at risk.

Access

Mr Barry contends that the plaza is the primary access area to the nightclub, is a fire exit and assembly point, and is a point of access for emergency services to the venue.

Trinity Rooms has operated at the site since 2003 and is extremely popular amongst third-level students and 18- to 21-year-olds. It recently received approval to increase its capacity to 1485 patrons.

Mr Barry said he would be in breach of licensing laws if the main access route for emergency services was taken from the business.

Mr Barry also contends that he has maintained the small plaza since Trinity Rooms opened for business. He claims to have installed tree and ground lights, repaired the broken pavement and cobble stones when required, erected two lion statues at the entrance to Bank Place and kept the area clean and tidy.

Solicitor for Mr Barry, Patrick Geraghty, said the purpose of the CPO is to facilitate the Opera Centre and to terminate access to an existing business.

“It will lead to the closure of this business. It is inappropriate, unlawful and will lead to a massive legal dispute with Limerick City Council and I can assure you that will happen,” Mr Geraghty told the hearing.

Developers of the Opera Centre, Regeneration Developments Limited are currently in control of the majority of the proposed site.

Senior Planner with Limerick City Council, Richard Tobin, said a requirement for planning was that the developer was in control of the entire site.

A decision from An Bord Pleanala is due later this month.

-Barry Duggan

© Irish Independent, Thursday September 04 2008

It really does seem to be a pretty farcical situation. For those of you not familiar with the setup, Trinity Rooms is housed in both the Granary building and the modern office block inside the courtyard ( the outside bars are in the Granary with the niteclub on the ground floor of the office building).

I cant really understand why the City Council are imposing this condition regarding control of the site. One of the 2 “landmark” entrances to the new centre will be on the site of the existing Cahill May Roberts building adjacent to the Granary on Bank Place, so I dont see why the aquisition of this small plot is so imperative, as its not going to adversely affect access to the shopping centre! Surely some sort of a compromise can be achieved?

I think its fair to say, this probably wont be the last time An Bord Pleanala are involved in this project either!:rolleyes:

After all the recent shenanigans at the crescent and parkway valley, an extension to the Coonagh cross centre is now planned. This development is already considerably behind schedule as initially the second phase of the complex was due to be in operation by this summer. Although it is good to see a cinema included in the plans, a badly needed amenity on this side of the city.

Still no word on the opera centre though, the planners are obviously still sifting through the finer points of the application!

08354

Permission for a 17,319sq.m extension to the current mall of the previously approved Coonagh Cross Shopping Centre (An Bord Pleanala reference PL13.210562 Limerick County Council Ref. 03/2050). The proposed development extension will consist of: malls, food outlets, line shops, comparison anchor, kiosks, relocation and reconfiguration of previously approved cinema, play area, realignment of lorry circulation road, 2 no. new loading yards, provision of 1,600 car parking spaces (increase from 1,500 spaces) with associated lighting, access roads, underground services and landscaping.

Address: Clondrinagh Clonconane Ennis Road.

@Dan Sullivan wrote:

There is a rumour that is trying to do the rounds that the Parkway Valley project is stalling as the developer couldn’t confirm an anchor tenant and the banks were some what unsettled by this.

It’s on the Limerick Blogger but it could just be a wind up what with so many off for the builders holidays.

Drove past the site today, seemed to be a limited amount of work going on, maybe 2 cranes in operation although it could of course be down to the builders holidays. Even if the project is going ahead, it may well struggle to pull in “big name” tenants especially if the decidedly second rate anchors are anything to go by.

Its not so long ago that the developers were promising ” 2 high profile international retailers” to anchor the centre, I dont think things have gone entirely to plan!:rolleyes:

Previous Post

Parkway Valley Development going ahead

Nick Rabbitts

One of the companies behind the new multimillion Euro Parkway Valley shopping centre on the Dublin Road has issued an emphatic denial that construction has halted on the site.

At the moment, just 60 builders are working on the Dublin Road site but Darren Peavoy, associate director at property consultants Bannon, told the Limerick Leader that a full quota of construction workers will return to the site “in the next few weeks.”

Asked whether there was any truth in speculation that a bank was withholding its support until it received confirmation of the anchor tenants, Mr Peavoy stressed: “As far as we are concerned, there is no truth in this.”

The scheme which will bring extra retail to the Dublin Road area is, alongside Bannon being managed by Dunloe Ewart with construction by Danningers and Grifdon Structures.

The facility, which was granted permission in 2005, promises “iconic surroundings” and “dynamic shopping” with more than 47,000 square metres of retail space. It was expected to draw shoppers from a wide catchment area in Limerick City and County as well as neighbouring towns and villages in Tipperary.

Mr Peavoy also confirmed the two anchor tenants on the site are clothes chain Penneys and giant food retailer Tesco Ireland, and added: “We would be hoping to make an official announcement very soon but these things take time.”

Meanwhile, Maria Kelly, CEO of Limerick Chamber of Commerce criticized rumours on the sites future which have appeared in a local website. “I have been listening to rumours and speculation about various businesses since the start of the year, and a lot of them are unfounded. It’s a frenzy and its having an effect on consumer confidence, which is a key factor in bringing down an economy,” she said.

A spokesman for Tesco Ireland said “they would not comment on speculation.” Neither Penneys nor Dunloe Ewart were available for comment.

One of the conditions on which the Parkway Valley project was granted permission was the widening of Childers Road. The site is expected to welcome its first customers within the next year.

© Limerick Leader

@Dan Sullivan wrote:

My suspicion (but I read The Prince too often) is that they are looking to draw a foul with the Ellen st changes as we’d say in GAA circles so as to delay the start of the project (while having an reasonable excuse for their banks) until they think they can get the best value for their construction Euro and be hitting completion just as the economy picks up.

Well they might have another “excuse” now if this story drags on. Limerick City Council, the developers and Trinity Rooms have been at each others throats quite a bit lately, Trinity Rooms are already worried about the impact on their business during the construction of the opera centre.

Land dispute could delay Opera Centre

The area outside the Trinity Rooms which is subject to a planning oral hearing

By David Hurley

A ROW over a tiny plot of land, which will be the subject of a contentious public hearing next month, could further delay the construction of the multi-million euro Opera Shopping Centre.
Management at one of Limerick’s most popular nightclubs are seeking to halt proceedings initiated by Limerick City Council to acquire a footpath at Bank Place near the Granary, which they argue, is located outside one of the main entrances to the complex.

An Bord Pleanala has confirmed a full oral hearing, which will cost thousands of euro, will be held at the Castletroy Park Hotel on September 3 next after the Trinity Rooms formally objected to the CPO proceedings.

The tiny piece of land, which is less than 100 square metres in size has no registered owner but according to a spokesperson for Limerick City Council it is in “the charge” of the local authority.

A number of other plots of land and properties at adjacent streets have already been acquired by Limerick City Council in order to pave the way for the construction of the Opera Centre, which could cost up to €250 million.

In a detailed submission to an Bord Pleanala Managing Director of the Trinity Rooms, Pat Barry, states: “The proposed CPO will put the day to day running of my business and its 103 employees at risk and cause hardship to my employees, suppliers and customers as the main access point via Bank Place will no longer have a public right of way.”

Limerick Leader

@vkid wrote:

Speaking of the Opera Centre, did i see somewhere a decision on the new plans is due this month??

A decision is due by next Thursday, provided the planning department don’t look for further clarification on the plans. Although the word is that they are now satisfied with the information they received a few weeks back.

Unfortunately we don’t know what that information is. It would be great if the developers came around to the idea of retaining the buildings on Ellen Street, although that’s probably being optimistic. Either way we should know the score next week.

Incidentally I came across a large group of Italian tourists yesterday, making their way from the Hunt Museum towards O Connell Street. As they passed the forlorn, boarded up buildings on Rutland/Patrick St, many of them starting gesturing and pointing at them, the group then stopped to take some photos. They seemed to be particularly interested in the building with the tree growing out of it:eek:; I don’t think they could quite believe what they were seeing! Its certainly makes for an impressive sight, literally on the doorstep of one of the city’s main tourist attractions. What an embarrassment!:o

@Dreamstate wrote:

It still amazes me that Arthurs Quay Park ( which is more popular than ever since the railings came down ) is to be built upon without any public backlash. This forum seems to be resigned to the fact.

Buildings PREVIOUSLY within the Architectural Conservation Area to be demolished to make room for the Opera Centre …..

‘ Any development is good development ‘ seems to be Limerick City Councils motto

Understandably there has been a lot of opposition to the proposed removal of this city centre park but you have to look at the bigger picture here. This part of the city is dying and badly needs to be brought back to life. Penneys and Debenhams gave up the ghost here years ago, just take a look at the yard behind Penneys in the attached aerial shot , its being used partly as a loading area and partly as a surface car park!:rolleyes:

Aurthurs Quay park was a decent proposal back in the early 90s but it just hasnt worked and its now time for a change. Under the plan, the redeveloped area would be a primarily pedestrian zone with a new public square at the junction of O Connell St and William/Sarsfield St. A promenade would be developed along the waterfront linking Sarsfield Bridge to another public space behind the Hunt museum. This in turn would be linked by a new pedestrian bridge to another public plaza at the potato market.

Obviously we will need more detailed information to make a proper judgement on the project but overall I think the proposals are positive enough!

Proposed Aurthurs Quay Redevelopment

@KeepAnEyeOnBob wrote:

Seems they’ve done fairly well at Pery Square, but one wonders why the new building is a modern design at all – it’s so plain and boring and a bit ugly. With it being brick, it’d surely have been better off copying the style of the adjacent Georgian buildings?

I had concerns about how this was going to turn out, I suppose it was almost asking too much for an acceptable design solution to be found. I dont really think Georgian pastiche is the answer here, it would just end up looking silly, especially sitting next to the impressive Tontine terrace.

The height and scale of the new build was always going to be a hugely important issue here and unfortunately that ugly white box on the roof does it no favours. Theres also too many windows on the Barrington Street elevation which I think detracts from the buildings either side. In my opinion anyway (the rest of ye might disagree), a blank facade would be a better solution here as an infill frontage between two Georgian houses.

@Griff wrote:

Also , drove up Sarsfield st yesterday… admittedly it was raining , but this street as a gateway into a city – is a sad sight to behold !..

You’re spot on there. That makes two prominent gateways into the city centre (Rutland St/Patrick St being the other) that are in an exceptionally sorry state. It just highlights the need for urgency in finding a solution to the opera centre impasse and also that we need to push on quickly with the proposed rejuvenation plan for the Aurthurs Quay area.

Just a quick update on the opera centre.

August 28th has now been set as the provisional deadline for a decision on the application after Regeneration Developments submitted the requested further information last week.

08173

Planning permission for the development of a new multi storey shopping centre with street mall, retail, underground car parking and food hall to provide 38,541 sq m of new mixed use retail/services accommodation comprising of 2 retail anchors and 38 no. ancillary retail/service units in Limerick City Centre at this site within the sector defined by Bank Place to the north, Rutland Street/Patrick Street to the west, Ellen Street to the south and Michael Street to the east, incorporating the old Town Hall and the Granary, both protected structures.

The proposed development will provide retail accommodation at basement levels, ground floor, first floor and two upper levels. The emphasis in the retail provision will be upon higher order comparison retail facilities and services including café and restaurant and food court facilities at second floor mezzanine.

The development will include:

• Refurbishment and modification of no.4 Patrick Street (also known as the Catherine Hayes building) which will remain independent from the mall of the new scheme to be used as a museum/ civic amenity.
• Modification of no.5 Rutland Street and façade retention with new building shell at no.4 Rutland Street, both will remain independent from the mall of the new scheme.
• Modification of the Town Hall (protected structure) including demolition of modern building extensions and integration into the new scheme.
• Modification of the Granary (protected structure) including demolition of modern building and integration into new scheme.
• Modifications at ground level with upper façade retention of no’s 8 and 9 Rutland Street and 1,2,3 & 5 Patrick Street.
• Demolition of no’s 6 and 7 Rutland Street, no’s 6 & 8 Patrick Street, no’s 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 & 9b Ellen Street, Euro surf buildings on Ellen Street, Workspace building on Michael Street and Cahill May Roberts factory buildings on Bank Place.
• Incorporation of basement car parking facilities and servicing, eliminating the permitted high-level bridge.
• Within the site, Ellen Street will be rebuilt with a 2m setback (northwards) from the existing building line to facilitate widened pedestrian areas and traffic circulation on the Inner Orbital Route.
• All associated site development works and provision of services.