urbanisto
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How on earth can it cost €1 billion, as reported in todays Irish Times, to build an underground connection between Heuston and Connolly!
What an absolutely ridiculously high sum.And if Metro costs are spiralling out of control (which they see to be – even before a sod has been turned) why not opt for a LUAS line from Broadstone to Swords. At least LUAS costs seem more realistic.
I am in favour of Metro but I just don’t understand where these crazy costings are coming from.
dallas… its like this everywhere, in every country. People in capital cities always have this sense of being superior to the rest of their country and to the second city in particular. It just one of the quirks of the human condition.
I hope that the Capital of Culture moniker proves to be the boost to Cork that it was to Dublin (together with the 1988 Millennium). Its a great opportunity and I hope the CC make as much out of it as they can. They are fortunate that it takes place at a time when there is more moeny and more optimism about than there was in 1988 and 1991.
Thats good!
GregF surely Mountjoy Square is the place for a Gardiner memorial. And I agrre one is needed…it would help towards dispelling the myth that Georgian Dublin was soley British creation rather than something as much undertaken by Irish people as anyone.
Perhaps the Irish Georgian Society would be interested.
It needs a purpose doesn’t it…. I think thats is its problem. Dublin has its status as capital, Galway has made a good stab at bieng a culture centre, but Cork seems to have languished around without any direction for a long time. It needs a proper defined role.
I agree Ciaran. I was there last year for the first time in years and I was amazed at how little they seem to have been touched by the property boom of the last few years.
Yesterday the mayor ruled out raising the charge for another 10 years – which seems like a hostage to fortune. He suggested that the scheme was proving more sucessful than expected. However, this is the same mayor who was asking for the scheme to be judged only after 6 months so it might be wise if he takes his own advice and leaves such decisions until then.
Which brings us back to whether the charge would be any good for Dublin. The Northside people had a piece on it with most people reacting positively.
There are the usual commenst about overpriced, overinsured, overtaxed cars being made to pay yet more. The same voices complain about the QBCs taking up a disproportionate amount of road space. But my view is that the die hard road lobby (as opposed to the average driver) just refuses to see any of the logic behind OBCs and improved access for public transport. They will complains that public transport just isn’t good enough to entice them from their cars. But the fact is public transport can’t improve without dedicated road space and that means QBCs and removing one-user cars from the road through restrictions (like O’Connell St) and congestion charging.
Of course, I also accept the arguement that public transport must dramatically improve if it is given priority over cars on roads. And that means CIE gettings its finger out and using some imagination and forward thinking.
I found this in the Southside People
DUBLIN City Council (DCC) plans to demolish and rebuild York Street flats have come under fire from local residents.
The council’s initial plans to re-develop the 19th century buildings in co-operation with the nearby Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI), were shelved recently when tenants objected to the proposal.
Now the council has voted in favour of a plan to demolish the building and sell a portion of the land to a private developer.
This sale is to fund the rebuilding of a new set of social housing units on the remaining original site.
It is thought that a public-private partnership deal had been decided on by DCC, which would see a private investor housing the tenants in a newly developed site.
But this plan was rejected by residents who wished to remain tenants of the city.
In the new plan, tenants will be temporarily housed in social housing units around the city while the re-development is under way.
The building is the last remaining structure of a once-fine Georgian street, and several of its features are listed as protected.
If DCC current plans are approved by the council, these listings could be overturned.
Residents objecting to the new plan claim that the building is habitable, and could easily be refurbished.
According to an independent architect’s report the building is in substandard condition and not fit to house tenants.
…. it goes on to list tenant grievances. Thing is its big money around this are at the mo. DCC are probably anxious for the revenue of a land sale.
Well, it was baited breath yesterday as the school half term came to an end and normal rates of traffic returned. however, once again traffic in London was down by 25% and the streets looked unnaturally empty. It’s truly amazing the difference the congestion charge is making. In fact there is even talk of Transport for London or TfL (the body overseeing the charge) being worried that not enough people will choose to pay the charge and that they will loose money! TfL however are responding that (a) it will be 6 months before they can truly make a judgement on the charge and (b) its all about decreasing congestion and air pollution rather than making money anyhow.
Its the North South thing. ‘Twas ever so.
Its like all those lovely stone-cut walls all those Blackrock residents got when they built the Stillorgan dual carriageway. Funny how they never made it up into the wilds of Fingal when the M50 north section was put in place.
And of course you’ll notice the marked difference in the standard of DART stations south of the Liffey.
Although a friend of mine from B’rock has a theory. All those Dun Laoghaire resuidents pay more in tax and therefore expect and demand a higher quality of workmanship. Quite….What about Greenes bookshop on Clare St – that looks like the type of shop to have what you’re looking for?
I have noticed this block before. It looks like a reconstrcution of what was probably an original Georgian terrace hence the protected doorways. The brickwork doent look very old. Incidentally there is a plaque on the wall announcing that the block had been renovated as part of the 1988 Millennium celebrations…take a look, you’d never guess!
I wonder what they are planning. The buildings aren’t that awful..just very poorly maintained.
This is one of my favourite gripes… social housing, paid for by the taxpayer being let go into ruin. Personally, I dont think its all the responsibilty of the CC. The people who live there need to get stuck in as well. What the average PAYE worker wouldnt do for a paid for city centre flat with no transport hassles and St Stephens Green on your doorstep!
I see what you mean emf. From todays Irish Times:
The State is likely to spend up to €300 million buying land for the last 10-km stretch of ring road in south Dublin which will complete the M50 motorway, it has emerged, writes Arthur Beesley, Political Reporter
A snip I would have though!
That shop on the quays up near Capel Street would be a good bet. There is also a stall in the George St Arcade.
The thing is..isnt the government supposed to tender for mojor projects through the EU journal. Surely that should act as a break to inefficient spending
They had the same article on the Indo. I cant recall the figures but they showed Copenhagen as the nearest comparison t the Dublin proposal, ie a surface rail to the city edge and then an underground section. It was a fraction of the cost and that was with more stations. Barcelona was cheaper again and if any of you have been there you’d see what a spectacular system it is.
It also said dat Seamus was flying out to Copenhagen soon to see just how they did it…
Perhaps a lack corrupt landowners and developers had something to do with it….. oooh shame on you!They’re a bit silly really aren’t they…. is there some marketing gunf about them like ‘…they represent the cranes of progress…’ I’d love to read it…
