urbanisto
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Paul – 21,000 hits to one site…surely something to put down on your business case to potential advertisers.
What does he mean he was hoping to be asked? He’s the bloody Lord Mayor for godsake….shouldn’t he be a bit more clued up about any unveiling ceremony than this!
Get rid of this Lord Mayor/ City Manager and give me a democratically elected Mayor who at least knows what’s going on at the DCC!
That true enough Greg but I think the main problem there is the amount of landowners the National Theatre would have to negotiate with to purchase the river facing block. I think its about 15-20. I am sure most of them will drive hard bargins.
I still think that was the DCCs preferred option. Weren’t they planning a pedestrian river crossing between Malborough and Hawkins bus garage…I mean streets and the pedestrianisation of the area in front of the Abbey as is.
Still prefer a move to O’Connell St.
I would imagine so… The way forward for the eastern city seem to be for higher density building making maximum use of land and with more extensive public transport (DART, LUAS buses). So many areas in the east are ripe for re-development. I am sure in 10 years time we will be debating the largescale redevelopment of Ringsend and East Wall, I can’t see how they can stay as they are – turn of the century low-rise..in some case cottages. The city centre will continue to expand and as the sea is a natural buffer the only way will be upward.
West of the city on the otherhand, there is no shortage of County Councils willing to sanction suburban sprawl to attract wealth and development. I reckon you will start to see townships like Blanchardstown and Lucan/Leixslip and Tallaght becoming cities on themselves. Because of their proximity to Dublin we will end up with one vast conurbation with plenty of land to the west for it to grow….Thats odd because the DCC have always previously maintained (at least officially) that they are opposed to moving the Abbey from its current site. Apparently it was this opinion that swayed Sile De Valera when she opted to redevelop the current site.
Personally, it is so blindingly obvious to move the Abbey to O’Connell St and such a rare opportunity to avail of an important site that I think the DCC would be mad not to take it.
As for what to do with the current site…. how about develop it as a ‘National Society for the Arts’ if you will. Perhaps hold on to the Peacock and redevelop the building over it as a theatre school or academy. That way you still hold on to the tradition of the Abbey (which after all was set up to promote Irish theatre) while giving the site a more suitable purpose.
Or else just demolish it and build a car park…
I agree Paul. Its that general attitude that pervails in the DCC that the Council runs the city for the people but that the people should have no envolvement in its running – apart from the local elections every 4 years when their local TD, MEP and CC in one comes around to ask them if they need any social welfare entitlements…I mean for their vote.
If the DCC were really people orientated then they would have had a site on their (very poor) website dedicated to the Spire rather than the a few posted press releases.
There may have been many fine additions to the city over the past few year but the DCC hasn’t made much effort to make citizens proud of them or appreciative of them….hence the litter, the broken lights on the 2 year old Millennium Bridge, the graffitti on the Boardwalk.
That is the Spike isnt it!?
Do you think it will fall victim to a Sinn Fein inspired plan to fly a wee tricolor from the top with some tasteful Bobby Sands posters adorning the base…. Tiocaidh ar la?
The whole thing seems to have run out of steam. I havent heard anything about the ILAC centre for some time.
I agree with the question: What happens now? Will the CC hand the whole site over to a new developer for a similar type development? Or will it break the site into parcels again? Or will they revive the Abbey Theatre move idea?
There are an increasing number of vacant sites emerging in this area contrary to the purpose fo the IAP.. this is the most obvious but also the Independent offices, the old AIB branch on O’Connell Street. The IAP needs a bit of a heavey handed push from DCC to get things moving again.
Also what about the idea of making developers like Carlton Group pay for unacceptable delays in developing prime or flagship sites in IAP areas? Immsure they will get a more than fair price for the land under a CPO….what about compensating the city for the time they have wasted.
I suppose it their job. Besides the whole point of public art is to stimulate debate and discourse.
I cant help but agreeing with the comments about the Michael Ross article… so its all Garret Fitzgerald’s fault eh! All the sordid and less than wholesome features of Irish life since the 70s…. poor auld Garret. No Temple Bar or Docklands or revamped Dublin Castle or Government Buildings for him….Originally posted by Paul Clerkin
Been down there this morning, the SIAC guys say they may try tonight. When asked why they didnt do it yesterday:“Ahh I cannot tell you that”
“But it was very calm, of course you can tell me, I’m just a member of the public”
“Members of the public have a habit of whipping out a notebook”
“Ah go on, I don’t even own a notebook”
“Lets just say that it was a design matter”Which goes to prove his point Paul!
I think Stephens Green is looking smashing. It will be interesting to see what the west side looks like when the Luas lines have been laid. The outer perimeter is the Councils responsibility so I hope they make an effort and match the OPWs good work
