urbanisto

I find nothing more iritating than users of the site who seem unable to SEARCH for information on their topic or in many cases simply read a few pages back. Instead lets open a new thread (containing absolutely no contribution to the debate!) lambasting everyone else for not constantly supplyling the lazy with images and uptotheminute information.

(Guess who got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning!) 🙂

Ah! Guilty as charged already. I cycled across it last night as the fountains were being taken down. It was nice to look down towards the bridge this morning from Matt Talbot and see people walking across. Its a much more attractive crossing than Matt Talbot. My initial gripes about the galvanised steel structure (HATE galvanised steel) have been address with a lick of silver paint but I can see this getting particularly grubby as the sea air and traffic take their toll. I still think the bridge design is a little ungainly though.

Now lets have Macken Street!

Yes Molly – complements on the new gallery. Its a very interesting addition to the streetscape here.

God lighten up! And libel against who? Its the internet…libel is all part fo the fun.

Is it a planned or model village. Attached to a landed estate. That would probably explain the style

Agree about the changing nature of the street. Its definately a strong point. IMO the main killer of this street is Irish Life and most certainly Dublin Bus. The fact that the Talbot to Abbey section is a buspark would turn any business off. Also Dublin Bus own a redbrick pile here that could do with the chop. The dreadful office building next door on Sackville Place is also a candidate for demolition. Perhaps an enhanced Clerys can do something with this area. Irish Life too are doing nobody any favours with their dead street frontage, Even the section in front of the Abbey Theatre is disappointing seeing as it fronts a national institution.

Some hope is in the air…as well as the pawnbrokers mentioned above. The large pub on Marl St is being renovated (although Im not sure to what standard) Also plans are underway for all three corner buildings on Abbey Street axis. however until such basics as removing the buses and improving the general environment are undertaken I think its set to remain a dissatisfyingly under used street.

The rubbish that lines the quays has alweays been a pet hate of mine. I got a glimpse of these additions in front of the Civic Offices. It seems the Quays are being treated to a repro refit. Any thoughts?

Theobald Matthew is white! Its quite a remarkable transformation.

This is an interesting appraisal of success of the redevelopment to date. I would also question why on earth it is taking so long to complete. Things are only finally beginning to happen on Upper OC St . I heard Dick Gleeson remarking that the works to date had all been completed without the promised funding from DOEHLG. Dick Roche can talk the talk but not wlak the walk it seems.

I think most elements of the street have been very successful and the widened pavemnets alone are an excellent innovation for the street. The trees will mature in a few years and the street will begin to really take shape. What will be passed on (hopefully) is a legacy the same way the widened Sackville Street was a legacy from its time. Its also very hard to make a judgement on the street until its all completed. I was just thinking how different again the Spire will look once the paving and tree planting on the other side is completed.

Its also worth remembering that most of the buildings are in private hands and that the CC is depending on owners to fuind their renovation.

What I do think is terrible is the timescale this is being played out over. Side streets like Malborough (the worst in the city?) Sackvill Place, Cathedral Street and, as I said earlier, Abbey Street all remain to have even a sniff of the IAP. Works here would be reletavely minor. Improved paving (doesnt have to be expensive granite) , street resurfacing for Malb. (much needed), some trees planting and a unified lighting scheme could be put in place within a few months, A targeted incentive programme for derelict sites would do wonders in a city taht will soon be crying out for development sites.

The substation will be camouflaged by being incorporated into a kiosk planned for this location. Two more kiosks are meant to go in this summer outside Easons and Permanet TSB.

I think the bicycle parking issue on the street needs to be dealt with. Its getting out of hand. Leaving aside the fact that the original thinking behind the plan was to remove all ‘services’ on the street the median thereby leaving the side pavements free for people, the fact that so many biks stands are provided and allowed is as someone mentioned the worst form of visual clutter.

I was thinking of what a lost opportunity the Luas works on Abbey St were to reinvent the street. It now looks so windswept and bare – not even enough traffic! A move pedestrain centred scheme here, with lots of planting could also have incorportated bike stands that would lessen the demand on OC st.

Im sure I remember there being 4 lamps here in the 1980s. Maybe I am wrong. Agreed Grattan (and Moore) need some TLC and perhaps they are next on the list. Im not sure what is going on with the Davitt monument as work started, then stopped even though the OPW announced it would be completed by spring.

There is so much cluter in this area. They very least that can be done is a reduction (elimination) of the street signage and the installation of some new lighting. Im not entirely tured off by the trees but if they go it should be in the context of the whole Green being pedestrianised. I would hate to see the area devoid of greenery though….. it being a Green and all.