Opera Centre

rebs23

Does anyone have any idea what is happening with the proposed Opera Centre? There doesn't seem to be any movement on the project.

Poxyshamrock

Construction is said to begin in July 06!

1huge1

None in the slightest, to much opposition from people about victorian/georgian buildings (not sure which) being knocked etc.
Had to change a lot of plans.

Im more looking forward to the parkway valley to be honest though it will be a real traffic gridlock once it opens.

Karmafaerie

They had to revise the plans (yet again!!!), and buy more buildings.
It's about to go through it's final checks before proper construction starts, but they have done some of the preperation work.
The're saying now thattheir'll be full scale construction by Spring.

Amazotheamazing

Some of the preparation work has been done, as KF says. Think they've cleared up the yards in the centre and blocked of the site.

1huge1

Im guessing even if this starts in spring (tomorrow + my 18th birthday) we still wont be seeing comp;etion till at least 2010

Poxyshamrock

Does anyone know what the story is with "The Opera Centre"?

One minute it looks doubtful then apparently work is imminent and then it all dies down again?

Kess73

Well all the "To Let" and "For Sale" signs on the buildings touted to be knocked in the building have been all changed to "Sold" signs in the last week. So that might suggest there is some movement, although at the pace that the city planners etc move, it could be another decade before fingers get pulled out.

Poxyshamrock

Sorry to bump this thread but there's a class new website just launched with plans of the shopping centre including the proposed floor plans.

www.operacentre.ie

DarkJager

Wow, that looks pretty impressive! A roof garden as well? Could be nice in the summer months.

talkingclock

DarkJager wrote: »

A roof garden as well? Could be nice in the summer months.

On completion global warming will cause a 365 day summer...

Aidric

Hope it gets going as soon as possible, Patrick St is a kip at the moment.

Mc Love

Looks very good, nice find OP

Karmafaerie

Nice find.

One small gripe though.
How old is that aerial photo?!

The old Savoy building is still there!!!

sceptre

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

Sorry to bump this thread but there's a class new website just launched with plans of the shopping centre including the proposed floor plans.

www.operacentre.ie

Is the class new website down? All I see is a big "website undergoing redesign" notice and a link to two brochures that have been doing the rounds for a while (see attached).

Limerick Dude

This better get the go ahead. The future of the city depends on it!

Karmafaerie

Planning approval is due in /march (this time!!!).

Itsdacraic

I really hope it goes ahead.

talkingclock

Is there anyone out there who seriously believes that this will be open in near future??? I give "near future" a generously five to six years!

Ardscoil Ris

talkingclock wrote: »

Is there anyone out there who seriously believes that this will be open in near future??? I give "near future" a generously five to six years!

Tenner bet it goes over budget and becomes a massive eye sore.

Itsdacraic

Ardscoil Ris wrote: »

Tenner bet it goes over budget and becomes a massive eye sore.

A bigger eye sore than the area is at the minute?

Ardscoil Ris

Should fit right in so. The council can't lose.

Limerick Dude

I thought the planning permission date was in Febuary?

Paddico

Just resurrecting an old thread

Considering the size of the project, is there any dedicated thread to this?

Cookiemunster

Just this one it seems. Most talk about it is in the Limerick Improvements thread.

SISK are currently digging out the basement for the entire site and will then construct the 5 storey office block on the corner of Ellen St and Michael St.

Tenders are out for the construction of the new library and attached office block and for the 14 storey tower and Granary refurbishment.

davo2001

Lads, it's only been 15 years, you can't expect them to rush it!

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120908650#Comment_120908650

15 years since what? That was a completely different project. The council only acquired the site out of NAMA in late 2011 during the recession. Yes they were slow in coming up with a design and getting it to ABP, but planning was only granted in Feb 2020. You may remember what else happened around then. It shut down the construction industry for months on two separate occasions.

They've demolished a lot of buildings and made others safe and cleared the site of debris and hazardous materials. They are now piling and digging out the basement.

davo2001

Ok, sorry so, it's only been 12 years since the council acquired it.

They're making great progress 🤨

Cookiemunster

Now that it's underway, they are actually making great progress.

Jose Maria

is Quinns pub part of the plans in any shape or form?

Cookiemunster

Yes. All of the buildings on that side of Ellen St between Patrick St and Michael St are part of the project.

McSween

Dare I ask if Marks and Spencer will be coming 😀?

Cookiemunster

Nah, they're going across the road into the redeveloped Arthurs Quay!

Glenomra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120974264#Comment_120974264

All the plans/models are up on the limerick 2030 site. Very impressive.

Jose Maria

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121007890#Comment_121007890

Ya thanks I've seen the plans, just didn't see anything about Quinns reopening as a pub

Glenomra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121044579#Comment_121044579

I was at an open evening and I was told by one of the officials that the plans are to develop Quinns as a pub/restaurant space. Presumably dependent on expressions of interest in same. Hopefully!!!!

Cookiemunster

A tower crane was erected on site today, so the construction of the office block on Michael St and Ellen St is about to start.

Glenomra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121144695#Comment_121144695

I thought that construction wasn't due to commence until 2024, that this year and much of next year was to be given over to underground work etc. I didn't hear that any contracts had been signed for the office block development. Very much hope that you are correct, as you normally are with news on construction projects.

Cookiemunster

Sisk won the contract to build the basement for the whole site and first office block. The other office blocks and the library are currently out to tender.

Glenomra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146370#Comment_121146370

Thanks. Great news. People need to see actual construction work on this site. It might convince many of the doubters that the development will actually be built and would change some of the negative commentary about the future of Limerick City Centre.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146395#Comment_121146395

Honestly I'll believe it when I see it built

Cookiemunster

It's literally under construction. 🙄

Red Silurian

Parkway Valley/Horizon Mall was literally under construction in recent history as well

Cookiemunster

A private developer was building Parkway Valley when the crash happened 15 years ago. They went bust. The Horizon Mall idea never even went to construction as the developer was a shyster.

A private developer is not building Opera Square. It is being built by Limerick 2030, a public body under control of the council, and it has been fully funded. It is under construction and will be built.

The two are not in anyway comparable.

Cookiemunster

The first concrete pour happened yesterday. Hopefully we'll see the office block rise above the hoarding early in 2024.

https://twitter.com/limerick_2030/status/1717452845455135108

Cookiemunster

@Glenomra replying to your post from the Limerick Improvement Projects thread.

I am not a construction expert but I've been told that there were 2 significant concrete pours at the Opera site, 400 square metres and over 700 square metres. Presumably that means that foundation work is progressing well and that relatively soon we might some construction work on one of principal buildings. That would a red letter day imo.

Plenty going on behind the scenes.

Glenomra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121363571#Comment_121363571

repetitive I know but that's transformative and might convince a few of the naysayers that progress is being made.

Paddico

Great to see plenty going on there

Cookiemunster

From FB.

Glenomra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121452402#Comment_121452402

Thanks. Magnificent photo. A transformative development, I hope!!!!. incidentally when can we expect construction on the old Workspace site begin to rise over the level of the hoardings. Also, is there any contract signed for any other development on the site, other than the Workspace site.... if you know same.

Vanquished

There's significant risk with 'One Opera Square' Six floors of office space with capacity for 1,000 workers at a time when demand for office accommodation is plummeting and most companies are operating a hybrid model. We can only hope they'll do a better job of marketing it to potential suitors than they did with the 750 desk capacity 'Gardens International' which still has two entirely empty floors and barely 200 of a headcount working in there.

It'll take a new FDI tenant to bring any significant level of occupancy to One Opera Square you'd imagine. It'll be interesting to see what Savills and Cushman & Wakefield can attract to 1BQ which should be finished by the middle of next year. That'll be a litmus test for the Limerick commercial market.