Limerick City Councils good idea. Can Waterford CC copy?

Max Powers

The pilot Retail Incentive Scheme for vacant properties has been drawn up by the city council and will target key shopping streets.

Grants will be offered towards the fitting out of vacant shops in O’Connell Street, William Street, Shannon Street, Roches Street, Catherine Street, Little Catherine Street, Henry Street, Liddy Street, Honan’s Quay, Denmark Street, Cruises Street, Todd’s Row, Chapel Street, Bedford Row, Thomas Street, Sarsfield Street and the north-east half of Patrick Street and Rutland Street.

Furthermore, priority will be given to "higher order" retail outlets including fashion and lifestyle stores, flagship shops along with niche and specialist retailers such as home furnishings, beauty products, jewellery and books.

Psychedelic

Full details:
http://www.limerickcity.ie/Press/LCCAnnouncesNewPilotIncentiveScheme/

Limerick City Council also have another scheme to fill vacant units with art displays:
http://www.limerickcity.ie/Press/Pressreleasesarchive/2009/NewInitiativeLaunchedtoPromoteLimericksCreativeIndustryGraduates/

As far as I know, these sort of ideas have already been suggested to Waterford City Council. Unfortunately they were not interested. Their excuse was based on this being against EU competition law - something about giving preferential rates and grants to new businesses being unfair on existing businesses.

fricatus

Definitely a good idea. Objections seem to be more of the (intake of breath through teeth) "oh now I don't think that would work" type, rather than the "hey, good thinking" type.

What they urgently need to do now is get the Newgate Centre built. Was in McDonagh Junction in KK today and it's amazing how they've managed to fill it with good shops (some not in Waterford :mad:) in the midst of the worst recession ever in Ireland.

They've even opened a very nice little warehouse-style development with lots of little shops, called the Goods Yard. We could urgently do with something like that in Blaa-land.

dayshah

I'd charge double/triple rates to vacant commercial premises (and reduce them for occupied places).

This would make landlords afraid to have a vacant premises, and they would drop rents to a realistic level.

wmpdd3

I was in Limerick a few months ago, thought it loked really well. I went ot college there about 10 yrs ago and I thought it looked just as well as then.

Everyone in Limerick thinks the place is deserted, they have the Creasent, parkway and a few other developments taking serious shopping outside town and still it looks cery alive according to me.

I think the main difference between there and Waterford is the amount of British high St Solus stores there.

Most of the Arcadia brands are represented at street level as are a good Irish chain Boutiques.

Like everywhere its only comparable shopping in the city centre but the quality of shopping is way better than here.

Of course where you get a Topshop solus site you get loads of smaller shops locating close by.

dayshah

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I think the main difference between there and Waterford is the amount of British high St Solus stores there.

British clothes shops???

Let's do it properly and get some Italian clothes shops!!!!

wmpdd3

True but as size 42 (14) is nearly an outsize in Italian shops, I could be in trouble.