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Vacant land in Douglas (Between Cinema and McD's)

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  • 23-09-2010 7:15pm
    #1
    Hogzy
    Registered Users Posts: 7,544 ✭✭✭


    The Piece of land between Macdonals (Douglas) and CineWorld.

    What is up with this piece of land. Is has remained vacant for donkey's years and even survived the Celtic tiger. I can only imagine how much it was worth in the boom years.

    Does anyone know why it was never developed? It is so central i can only think of a million uses for it :rolleyes:


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    #2
    babo9
    Registered Users Posts: 605 ✭✭✭babo9


    Hogzy wrote: »
    The Piece of land between Macdonals (Douglas) and CineWorld.

    What is up with this piece of land. Is has remained vacant for donkey's years and even survived the Celtic tiger. I can only imagine how much it was worth in the boom years.

    Does anyone know why it was never developed? It is so central i can only think of a million uses for it :rolleyes:

    I think I remember cutting across that not so long ago and there was an awful stink, maybe sewage pipes close to the service, guess working around or changing that system mite be a lot of hassle. But ya other than that seems a grand spot for some kind of business!


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    #3
    zeusnero
    Closed Accounts Posts: 334 ✭✭zeusnero


    No idea why it way never developed but would be very curious to find out. Would have been worth a fortune back in the 'old days' :)


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    #4
    The_Banker
    Registered Users Posts: 320 ✭✭The_Banker


    AFAIK this land is owned by Clayton Love Jr and has been for a very long time. He also owns Douglas Court and The Douglas Shopping Centre.
    Also he owns a lot of the property in between including the land mentioned, and the land the cinema sits on.
    Adjoining those two sites he owns the former TSB Bank (which was used temporarily by BOI while Douglas Shopping Centre was being redeveloped) and that has a fair bit of land behind it.

    I think his over all plan was to develop the whole area and build a massive hotel complex and underground carpark but he was turned down for planning. With the arrival of the recession those plans may not even prove profitable if planning was given so I am unsure what will happen now. But it explains why the Douglas Cinema has suffered from a lack of investment in the last few years. The carpark resembles the moons surface!

    I dont think he owns the petrol station as he tried to buy it a few years back without success.

    That plot of land could continue to lie vacant as the recession continues.


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    #5
    SeaFields
    Registered Users Posts: 6,551 ✭✭✭SeaFields


    I think some lads got so involved in the property bubble that they never sold their land hoping that the price would keep climbing. As we know, everything crashed so there is some land around the place that was never developed. I'm not saying this is what happened here but it is a possibility.


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    #6
    center15
    Registered Users Posts: 786 ✭✭✭center15


    SeaFields wrote: »
    I think some lads got so involved in the property bubble that they never sold their land hoping that the price would keep climbing. As we know, everything crashed so there is some land around the place that was never developed. I'm not saying this is what happened here but it is a possibility.

    No, the poster above is correct.


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    #7
    SeaFields
    Registered Users Posts: 6,551 ✭✭✭SeaFields


    The_Banker wrote: »
    I think his over all plan was to develop the whole area and build a massive hotel complex and underground carpark but he was turned down for planning.

    Its strange he was refused yet the new Douglas shopping centre got the green light.


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    #8
    rebel.ranter
    Registered Users Posts: 3,570 ✭✭✭rebel.ranter


    I heard that the cinema is closing some time this year. That whole tract of Love land seems like an awful waste.


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    #9
    babo9
    Registered Users Posts: 605 ✭✭✭babo9


    rebel.ranter wrote: »
    I heard that the cinema is closing some time this year. That whole tract of Love land seems like an awful waste.

    I've been hearing it's closing down for the last 5 years :)

    Mustn't me making much of a profit though, tis dated and it's just as easy to go to MP, not that far from each other. Only plus is the food is cheaper in douglas!


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    #10
    center15
    Registered Users Posts: 786 ✭✭✭center15


    With Marks & Spencer opening in 8 weeks it'll drive massive foot traffic to Douglas.


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    #11
    rebel.ranter
    Registered Users Posts: 3,570 ✭✭✭rebel.ranter


    center15 wrote: »
    With Marks & Spencer opening in 8 weeks it'll drive massive foot traffic to Douglas.

    And car traffic!

    The staff at the cinema were told a few months back it was closing, I knew about the rumours.


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    #12
    J2D2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 224 ✭✭J2D2


    There's supposed to be Aldi going in place of the cinema as far as I know.


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    #13
    Hogzy
    Registered Users Posts: 7,544 ✭✭✭Hogzy


    J2D2 wrote: »
    There's supposed to be Aldi going in place of the cinema as far as I know.

    Id say it would be lidl rather than aldi. There is an Aldi in Grange and an Aldi in Mahon. Defo no space for another Aldi.


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    #14
    dory
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 4,497 Mod ✭✭✭✭dory


    Aw no I'm moving to Douglas next year and was very excited to be within walking distance of a cinema. I don't have a car to get to MP. An Aldi or a Lidl would look ugly there.


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    #15
    Oafley Jones
    Registered Users Posts: 6,495 ✭✭✭Oafley Jones


    dory wrote: »
    Aw no I'm moving to Douglas next year and was very excited to be within walking distance of a cinema. I don't have a car to get to MP. An Aldi or a Lidl would look ugly there.

    Have you not seen the monstrosity across the road then?


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    #16
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Oafley Jones wrote: »
    Have you not seen the monstrosity across the road then?

    + 1, it's an unbelievable eyesore.


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    #17
    Bill-e
    Registered Users Posts: 986 ✭✭✭Bill-e


    When I worked in the cinema many many years ago they used to say that the land it's built on was a bog and that the building itself would sink an inch every year for a maximum lifespan of 10 years...
    Obviously it lasted a lot longer than that but maybe that's why nobody bothered to do anything with the place behind it?
    Douglas cinema is such a shame to look at these days. Crippling mismanagement has ruined what was a great amenity in Douglas. :(


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    #18
    Hogzy
    Registered Users Posts: 7,544 ✭✭✭Hogzy


    Bill-e wrote: »
    When I worked in the cinema many many years ago they used to say that the land it's built on was a bog and that the building itself would sink an inch every year for a maximum lifespan of 10 years...

    All of Cork is built on a Marsh, Half of Douglas is built on the worst part of it. Never heard of any over the top subsidence claims though.


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    #19
    murphym7
    Registered Users Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭murphym7


    When you build on marsh or soft ground you lash down a few piles - no more problem. This would not be a reason not to build on that land.

    The cinema going down hill is a shame - as a lot of people have said here. You could walk to McDonalds have a munch, go to the cinema, stroll over for a few pints after and walk home. Mahon point just doesn't have that - plus Douglas cinema had/has hot nuts, Mahon does not!! poor form.


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    #20
    Hogzy
    Registered Users Posts: 7,544 ✭✭✭Hogzy


    All the Cinema needs is a bit of investment. I would pick douglas any day over mahon if the cinema was as good. Good seating and sound quality is what makes mahon and its the reason everywhere else is failing.


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    #21
    BrianHal
    Registered Users Posts: 194 ✭✭BrianHal


    Apparently today's echo says planning has been granted for a discount retail outlet in the cinema grounds.


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    #22
    Hogzy
    Registered Users Posts: 7,544 ✭✭✭Hogzy


    BrianHal wrote: »
    Apparently today's echo says planning has been granted for a discount retail outlet in the cinema grounds.

    Oh jesus, i hope to god that isnt true.


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    #23
    hoodwinked
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,175 ✭✭✭hoodwinked


    BrianHal wrote: »
    Apparently today's echo says planning has been granted for a discount retail outlet in the cinema grounds.

    is that an aldi?

    because other than an aldi or lidl i cannot see people taking the hassle of having to drive a certain way to get in there just to go to a discount retail unit? :confused:


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    #24
    Hogzy
    Registered Users Posts: 7,544 ✭✭✭Hogzy


    hoodwinked wrote: »
    is that an aldi?

    because other than an aldi or lidl i cannot see people taking the hassle of having to drive a certain way to get in there just to go to a discount retail unit? :confused:

    It could be a Dealz store. Douglas is just going to turn into a giant supermarket. I wish they would just improve the cinema and make it a real contender to Mahon Point.


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    #25
    JohnK
    Registered Users Posts: 4,780 ✭✭✭JohnK


    So are they going to actually knock the cinema then? I had only heard in the last few days that it had been done up a bit or got some new screens; thought they had finally given up on some retail madness and decided to give the cinema a proper go again.


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    #26
    Golfer50
    Registered Users Posts: 153 ✭✭Golfer50


    No, not knock it, modify and change the entrance. The City Council initially approved but the permission was appealed to Bord Pleanala. Theyve now agreed to let it go ahead. Luckily, the existing entrance/exit will become entrance only with the main entrance being on the East Village Road. Yikes!

    http://www.pleanala.ie/casenum/239706.htm


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    #27
    two wheels good
    Registered Users Posts: 1,996 ✭✭✭two wheels good


    JohnK wrote: »
    So are they going to actually knock the cinema then? I had only heard in the last few days that it had been done up a bit or got some new screens; thought they had finally given up on some retail madness and decided to give the cinema a proper go again.

    As previously posted development of retail units has been approved.

    According to Thursday's EEcho:
    An Bord Pleanala has given permission to the owners of the Douglas cinema to redevelop it as a discount retail outlet (1 large & 3 smaller units). There are conditions attached and one of them is the closure of the relief road entrance (by Topaz), which the applicants are appealing. The application includes a new entrance from East Village side.


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    #28
    BrianHal
    Registered Users Posts: 194 ✭✭BrianHal


    Golfer50 wrote: »
    No, not knock it, modify and change the entrance. The City Council initially approved but the permission was appealed to Bord Pleanala. Theyve now agreed to let it go ahead. Luckily, the existing entrance/exit will become entrance only with the main entrance being on the East Village Road. Yikes!

    http://www.pleanala.ie/casenum/239706.htm

    Seems its the McDonalds road near the East Village pub is going to be the main entrance/exit. Douglas Ct roundabout is gonna get busy.


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    #29
    JohnK
    Registered Users Posts: 4,780 ✭✭✭JohnK


    Feck, having the entrance there would be complete pain in the arse. Theres enough traffic as it is with the queues for McDonald's and all the taxi's by the east village itself.


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    #30
    two wheels good
    Registered Users Posts: 1,996 ✭✭✭two wheels good


    Golfer50 wrote: »
    No, not knock it, modify and change the entrance. The City Council initially approved but the permission was appealed to Bord Pleanala. Theyve now agreed to let it go ahead. Luckily, the existing entrance/exit will become entrance only with the main entrance being on the East Village Road. Yikes!

    Note: This is Cork County Council territory - not city council

    The county council is also planning to install traffic lights at the Douglas Court\ McD roundabout during 2013. It's in the development plan but I don't have a link to hand.


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    #31
    BrianHal
    Registered Users Posts: 194 ✭✭BrianHal


    On the subject to town development plans... any chance they have plans to make the Barry's to Topaz stretch of road (by KCs) a pedestrian only area and then make the rest of Douglas village one way. E.g. traffic flow from Douglas Court past Cinema past Topaz and across to the back Douglas Rd by the multistorey car park, to JohnOs, across to Barry's, up to the Fingerpost and down to Douglas Ct.

    Just a suggestion, but a large one way system would remove the gridlock from Douglas village as you would never have cars trying to oppose each other at junctions.


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