urbanisto
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A good news story from O’Connell St….
I noticed a recent planning application to expand the Centra at 16 O’Connell St. This is the mid-terrace shop just after Clery’s. The proposal involved knocking through into No. 15 and erecting new signage etc. It would have looked awful and completely ruined the fact that these are two seperately designed buildings. The fact that there are already a zillion other convenience stores in the area added to my poor opionion of this development.
I was considering an objection and went to the Planning Office only to find the proposal had been refused by DCC on the ground that it would ruin the exsiting terrace and be contrary to the provisons of the new Architectural Conservation Area for O’C St. It also noted that no more permissions for fastfood outlets or convenience stores would be granted along O’Connell St.
A quiet victory of sorts and a promising development for the street.
Regarding the new lighting. There does seem to be an awful lots of lighting in the cental median. You can now see the fixtures that will be used. I have seem them used a lot in London. I am looking forward to the new lighting scheme being switched on… any idea when?
Thats because its a DCC flagship project. part of Living Over the Shop. The CC renovated the buildings so I guess their idea of what a good shop front should look like would be part of that. Its just a pity that their planning dept didnt see any inconsistency in allowing the monstrosity across the road to be built (corner Capel St and St Marys Abbey Luas line)
Theyre looking for money from me now. I suppose with good conscience I can’t refuse. I joined to see what all the fuss was about but I havent heard a dickiebird from them since, which is a great pity. It does make you think it is one of these organisations for the few (like the Student union!) and thats a shame. SOMEBODY has to do their job! Its is an undeniable fact. But who. Councillors in Clare who want them delisted to make the planning process ‘more democratic’. Councillors in Kerry who push through Section 140s like they were going out of fashion while the planners despair and head off to more sensible climes. Duchas? Ooops too late its had the chop. Maybe Martin Cullen would like the job…. never was their such a fairminded minister with a balanced view of development vs environment.
It may be unpopular. It may be doing it all wrong but it is definately necessary for individuals to take some action to preserve what we have.
This is a good observation. Poor Gardiner St had to be one of the finest streets in Dublin when it was designed. A square at the top and a stunning vista down to the Custom House. It is a scandal how it all fell apart, but look at Eccles St, Dominick St etc. All the northside street had the unfortuate luck to be far enough from the ‘Georgian core’ of Merrion and Fitzwilliam to be ignored when tougher planning was required.
I agree most of the stuff built is terrible..even if they were on another street. I hate the old Corpo flats – they are so dated and ugly and do nothing to respect the orignal building line. The new developments are no better. I remember whren Cutsom Hall was built at the start of the apartment boom it was seen as faithful repros of the original Georgians.
I guess what really annoys me though is the condition that the remaining intact stretches of the street is in. All those grotty bedsits and B&Bs.
THis is strange considering that DCC are in a process of consultation on proposed environmental changes to Pearse St as part of a QBC development. It would be unthinkable to demolish these buildings (or at least destroy the facades and building line) to create open space! It smacks of the worst excessess of the 1960s
THe DCC plans are available to view in Pearse Library if interested.
Brian – with regard to the ‘chokepoint’ at the Olympia Theatre. The theatre have just got planning permission for a redevlopment and upgrade of the theatre one element of which ius a widening of the footpath in front of the theatre with renovation of its delightful canopy. I agree with you alot about Dame St. its just not been given the attention it deserves. Looking at it the other night that central island with the Davis statue looked very gloomy and dark. A new lighting scheme for the whole street is required getting rid of the massive floodlights around Trinity and bringing some uniformity to the street from the City Hall down to College Green. I would love to see College Green and the lower portion of Grafton Street pedestrianised.
Does anyone know why work came to a standstill on the bookmarket on Grattan Bridge. The ‘fridges’ have been left in an unfinished state for weeks now.
With regard to the quays as a whole, those of you who read the new Draft Development Plan might have seen a proposal by the CC to draw up an area strategy for the quays in light of the opportunities that the Port Tunnel should (hopefully) offer when it opend next year.
The Walden garage site is being converted into 6 apartment blocks. There are also plans to restore a vacant lot on Parnell Sq with a replica Georgian facade. I know waht is said about pastiche but in this case a Georgian facade is called for to restore the original terrace. A bit of a clean up of the buildings along this side if the square would be most welcome
What did you thin of the new facade for the Royal Dublin. I think it look great. Very different and modern. My god the difference between now and then will be so dramatic.
The Indo also had details of a new retail development at the EBS building on Westmoreland St. The piece was suggesting that the building would be demolished apart from the centre section (which is protected) and a new facade consiting of multi coloured lit panels replace it. It looked great as well. There is also plans for a pedestrian link to Temple Bar via Fleet St, although it wasn’t clear what this entailed.
What did you thin of the new facade for the Royal Dublin. I think it look great. Very different and modern. My god the difference between now and then will be so dramatic.
The Indo also had details of a new retail development at the EBS building on Westmoreland St. The piece was suggesting that the building would be demolished apart from the centre section (which is protected) and a new facade consiting of multi coloured lit panels replace it. It looked great as well. There is also plans for a pedestrian link to Temple Bar via Fleet St, although it wasn’t clear what this entailed.
The large bollards are there and being set into paving but the areas set aside for the small ones have been paved over. Maybe they are being resited.
I was thinking that uplighters between the pillars of the GPO would have been very effective.
On the subject of Trinity… has anybody seen inside the newly acquired Gas building in D’Olier St. Its being refurbished at the moment and I though the interior looked nteresting. Is it Art Deco?
Work just seems to have dried up on the bookstalls. Anyone know why.
Also the Boardwalk extension works continue. How long did the original take to construct? Will this section be finsihed for summer. Then a good clean up of the whole stretch please!
Like the new flags!
They look great dont they. This section of the street is really starting to take shape. I did notice that the street-level bollards in front of the GPO have been taken away. The paving here is complete so it doesn’t look as if they will be reinstated. Its a small thing but as they are heritage items it would be a great shame if they were permanently lost.
Another thing… so far we have Harvey Nicks in O’Connell St… the old Bank of Ireland College Green and the new Gaiety Centre on South Kings Street!!
Im not sure why we cant have our cake and eat it on O’Connell St. There is plenty of space for a new Abbey AND a shopping mall. Simply turf the Fingal crowd out an redevelop the old County Council Offices in addition to the Carlton site (if ever there was a building identifiable with so many bad things its this one).
Curoius this new Super Valu store. Just how many convenience stores can a city centre support. There is a new Spar opening at Chapter House on Abbey St and Musgrave’s new flagship store is opening soon in the old Virgin building (nice elabotrate windows here by the way).
I supose to dedpends on the type of development but its a bit depressing that this seems to be the only type of shop the street can attract.
Had an interesting presentation from the Project Manager of the IAP last week. The CC have no powers to compel traders to lerave the street (fast food, amusement arcades etc) but can only hope that through the imporvements (which are to continue for another 3 years!!!) more high calibre names will want to move to teh street and the undesiriables will sell up and move on. A bit tame eh!
It will be a job in itself cleaning the crap out from the rails to facilitate the trams. It must be an exciting time to be working on the project seeing all that hard work come to fruition.
Progress on completing the network continues. They were planting trees on St Stephens Green at the weekend so I presume they will be replicating the recent improvements on the other three sides of the Green. It will make the stop there much more attractive and it should be a great welcome point into the city.
On the north side the shell of stops are being installed from Heuston to Capel Street. They are in galvinised steel…like everything else in this city. Paint was obviously sooo last millennium. My biggest gripe though are the streetlamps. While the pylons and lines are quite okay and reasonably unobtrustive, the ugly street lamps they put on top are terrible. They could at least have made an effort. A style similar to that on Jervis St maybe? Im dissapointed. This is just not the standard we should be expecting for our 21st century city (Draft Development Plan!). One particular mess is The stretch from Heuston to Museum… the whole area is now a mishmash of lamposts and styles.
Poor old George went the way of many of his relatives then. King Billy met a similar fate on College Green while Victoria was sent packing to the penal colony of New South Wales. She now graces the entrance to the QVC Shopping Mall in Sydney.
In fact of all our royal statues only Prince Albert remains in his spot on Leinster Carpark… I mean Lawn.
Its interesting that none of our Republican leaders (at least as far as I am aware) have been immoralised in bronze on the streets of the capital or any other city/town. By leaders I mean presidents or taoisigh rather than the 1916 variety.
