New Limerick City Centre

savagecabbages

Does the Opera centre have anything to do with Arthurs Quay SC, or is it just everything on the other side of the road?

If I ever get my hands on this city Arthurs Quay is one of the first things I'd knock down and put something more useful and pretty there instead.

Raiser

RonMexico wrote: »

Cinema cinema cinema! There is nothing to do after the shops close other than go to a bar.

Does anyone know if these is being/as been attempted?

- I know about the Coonagh one that was denied - but actually in the city centre?

Also as Simon has said above - More Gardaí - I am over 30 years in and out of Limerick City and it has never, ever, ever been anything close to adequately policed. Who is going to go and spend money somewhere they don't feel safe to visit with themselves and their Kids?

roast

Bowling Alley/Arcade etc. Amusements. Yeah yeah, I know, there's one out on the Ennis Road, but it's not practical for most (I don't mind the walk personally) and it's not the nicest spot ever.

Alternative shops. More music shops (Not the usual huge-brand retail chains like HMV and the like. Can't find half of the **** I want in town, and my music tastes are fairly broad to be honest)

Frontier X is gone, we need something to replace that, as a nice after-school activity for the teens.

Need more nice little hangout places, like Kaos Cafe and so on.

bazz26

Round up all the drunks and drug heads would be a nice start too. Place is infested with them and they seem to own O'Connell Street.

ZombieBride

I know there are lots of Art Studios dotted about the place, but they never look that enticing. Cinema, proper concert hall, a playzone thing, actual free events in Arthurs Quay park (that space has so much potential). Anything other than more crappy shops and pubs.
Zoning of where "street performers", chuggers and beggars can intinidate you for your money. There is nothing that annoys me more than a living statue, tables outside Eason/Tescos/that shop on William Street asking for donations, or anyone who thinks people should hand over their bank details to a stranger.

What do the city council actually do?

jc84

An IMAX perhaps...

phog

Raiser wrote: »

Does anyone know if these is being/as been attempted?

- I know about the Coonagh one that was denied - but actually in the city centre?

Also as Simon has said above - More Gardaí - I am over 30 years in and out of Limerick City and it has never, ever, ever been anything close to adequately policed. Who is going to go and spend money somewhere they don't feel safe to visit with themselves and their Kids?

More cops - yes.

Unsafe:

Obviously there are dangers and you need to be aware of your surroundings but I have never felt unsafe in the city during normal shopping times maybe with the exception of late on St Patricks Day when the majority feel the only way to celebrate our National Day is to get get pissed out of their minds.

I've two adult (early 20s) children now but when they were teens they went to the city every Saturday and I never felt for their safety.

Ninthtym

I miss Javas

Kernunos

I lived in Limerick for most of my life but moved upto Dublin around 8 months ago. Never have I had the concern in limerick about safety that I have had up here. Its not bandit country by any means but walking around O'Connell St Dublin and Grafton Street you would definitely feel like keeping your hands in your pockets and on your phone/wallet. I work on Abbey Street and nearly everyday on the way tot he bus there are some altercation between junkies and the police or just with each other. Dont get me started on the begging and chuggers either.

In all my years in Limerick I have never once been mugged or had someone walk up to me begging for money. True we have packs of young fellas that can be intimidating but I rarely hear of anyone suffering more than intimidation. Saying that though, the guards in Dublin are far more visible, you see them patrolling in cars, on foot, bikes and horses. While it may be a bit more shady up here at least you know a guard is never that far away.

savagecabbages

Kernunos wrote: »

I lived in Limerick for most of my life but moved upto Dublin around 8 months ago. Never have I had the concern in limerick about safety that I have had up here. Its not bandit country by any means but walking around O'Connell St Dublin and Grafton Street you would definitely feel like keeping your hands in your pockets and on your phone/wallet. I work on Abbey Street and nearly everyday on the way tot he bus there are some altercation between junkies and the police or just with each other. Dont get me started on the begging and chuggers either.

In all my years in Limerick I have never once been mugged or had someone walk up to me begging for money. True we have packs of young fellas that can be intimidating but I rarely hear of anyone suffering more than intimidation. Saying that though, the guards in Dublin are far more visible, you see them patrolling in cars, on foot, bikes and horses. While it may be a bit more shady up here at least you know a guard is never that far away.

Thing is you don't have to be mugged to have a bad experience that puts you off the city centre. These packs of young fellas intimidating people are doing more than enough to deter people, even if they aren't physically causing any harm to people...

Berty

savagecabbages wrote: »

Thing is you don't have to be mugged to have a bad experience that puts you off the city centre. These packs of young fellas intimidating people are doing more than enough to deter people, even if they aren't physically causing any harm to people...

Yep the entire HMV area is the ground zero for intimidation by groups of "tracksuits tucked into socks" types with nothing better to do.

Newcastlewest CLLRs suggest that people should provide these folk with amenities and activities. I suggest they get jobs and/or go to school.

http://www.limerickpost.ie/index.php/navigation-mainmenu-30/local-news/3728-teenagers-not-welcome-at-county-playgrounds.html

People are suggesting things they would like in the city and also refer to parking.

We have no issue paying for parking in well run cities like Galway, Dublin and Cork but stop short in Limerick. At present I don't think there is a draw in the city on my own personal level.

People are suggesting quirky shops that appeal to their needs. Frankly I think we need more of the UK retailers in the city to appeal to the masses as opposed to the quirky shoppers. The people who tend to have money and happily spend it visit River Island, A-Wear and similar but we lack other in the city centre. Zara, Next, H&M, Topshop/Man/Kids, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Bershka etc etc etc

Shopping Centres tend to get these. If anybody wants a good suggestion of a shopping centre have a look at the Victoria Centre in Belfast. I was there at the weekend and it is amazing. Apple store and all. Kept me quiet for 20minutes.

They have a Cinema(ticks some peoples boxes) and restaurants such as Milano, McDonalds, TGI's, Frankie & Bennys, China Buffett(All you can eat), O'Briens, Wagammama and one or two others. It's also open air as well as such. It has no doors so kind of a mall from one part of the city to the other.

This is what the Opera Centre could be and should be because people DO have disposable income and want a shopping/day out experience. Yes, I know we are not Belfast but with potential comes opportunity.

irishleedsfan

The thing that appeals to me about the crescent over the city centre is everything is in a nice compact area and has everything that I need cinema, food and good (decent shops) etc.

I remember years ago coming to Limerick when William street and Cruises street were bustling areas but not anymore.

All the 2euro shops will not attract shoppers but if rates aren't sorted then i don't see the city centre taking off again for MANY years unfortunately.

I would love to see the Opera centre take off but it seems to me that the city council are dreaming.

Why not utilize the tons of empty space around at the moment.

And for gods sake open a KFC in town

munstergirl

Put some of the taxi's in multi story car park, let people park on streets for small fee, don't need so many taxi ranks. A few will do.

Ban chuggers.

Gardai on streets.

No rates for new business, which opens in empty shop. Lower rates for all business in city centre.

Lower rents.

Melion

Why are people asking for new music shops? HMV has the monopoly on that market and its dying a slow death. People dont buy music anymore(in shops anyway) and the likelihood of a little back alley shop opening and staying afloat are very slim.

More Gardai - Why? The ones that are on the street are seen as a joke anyway so why add to it? The scum of Limerick arent afraid of them and why should they be? Most of them look like a strong breeze would knock them over. They dont command respect and therefore arent shown any.

Cinema - Why and Where? There is nothing wrong with the Omniplex or Storm, both are a 5 minute drive from town. A cinema in town would just attract the scum like the Savoy used to.

TestTransmission

munstergirl wrote: »

Put some of the taxi's in multi story car park,

How would this work exactly?

Berty

TestTransmission wrote: »

How would this work exactly?

Basically they would block the roads, junctions, loading bays and now parking spaces in car parks.

munstergirl

Limerick is congested with taxis, too many taxis, just sitting there for hours and hours during the day. Not enough on street parking spaces for shoppers.

Let half the taxi ranks give way to parking spaces.
The taxis that don't fit can go to multi story car park or just stay at home.

At night when shops are closed they can have their all the taxi ranks back again.

If limerick wants a future for shoppers, it needs shops + shoppers who want on street parking.

TestTransmission

munstergirl wrote: »

The taxis that don't fit can go to multi story car park or just stay at home.

lol

kilburn

Let half the taxi ranks give way to parking spaces.
The taxis that don't fit can go to multi story car park or just stay at home.

i am sure all the self employed taxi drivers struggling to earn a living would agree with your idea to stay at home so you can park on the street :rolleyes:

tfitzgerald

Half the taxi ranks in Limerick are empty most of the time

source

tfitzgerald wrote: »

Half the taxi ranks in Limerick are empty most of the time

Yeah, because the taxi drivers "don't like them", meanwhile the other half are overflowing with illegally parked taxis.

Berty

tfitzgerald wrote: »

Half the taxi ranks in Limerick are empty most of the time

source wrote: »

Yeah, because the taxi drivers "don't like them", meanwhile the other half are overflowing with illegally parked taxis.

The rank down at Arthurs Quay is used by Taxi Drivers having their lunch, the rank on Sarsfield Street is not used either. They all pack themselves onto the rank across from Brown Thomas and outside Boots whilst the guys at the back block the junctions and pedestrian crossings.

Albeit I agree there are too many taxi drivers and it makes their job harder as there are less fares to go around, there is no excuse for being obnoxious.

Roadend

roast wrote: »

Bowling Alley/Arcade etc. Amusements. Yeah yeah, I know, there's one out on the Ennis Road, but it's not practical for most (I don't mind the walk personally) and it's not the nicest spot ever.

Bring back the Buzz? Well only if they fix the three kick buttons on super street fighter 2

savagecabbages

Taxi drivers working 9-5 when there is less demand for taxis does't help matters either...

Berty

savagecabbages wrote: »

Taxi drivers working 9-5 when there is less demand for taxis does't help matters either...

Taxi Drivers parking at the back of quieter ranks whilst they are off shopping is also a hinderance when the rank does actually get busy.

MAStanley

What about pedestrianising O'Connell St.?

I am intrigued in relation to the specialist shops - any ideas? Or is this just "high-falluting" talk?

tfitzgerald

MAStanley wrote: »

What about pedestrianising O'Connell St.?

I am intrigued in relation to the specialist shops - any ideas? Or is this just "high-falluting" talk?

Specialist shops? What a joke any shops in Limerick city centre at all would be a bonus

Cookiemunster

MAStanley wrote: »

What about pedestrianising O'Connell St.?

Thats going to be done next year between William St. and Roches St. It's not going to bring any new shops to the city centre though seeing as Jack n Jones is closing on the already pedistrianised Bedford Row.

hightower1

munstergirl wrote: »

Limerick is congested with taxis, too many taxis, just sitting there for hours and hours during the day. Not enough on street parking spaces for shoppers.

No there is the right amount of taxis BUT the problem is lazy ass taxi drivers that dont want to work at off peak times so what we are left with are taxi ranks full to the brim during "busy periods".

Every try and get a taxi monday morning @ 0830? Not a single one to be seen cause its too early for them to be getting up at. On the odd ocasion there is one the radio is all but dead on the drive so its not a case that they are all busy.

DarkJager

MAStanley wrote: »

What about pedestrianising O'Connell St.?

I am intrigued in relation to the specialist shops - any ideas? Or is this just "high-falluting" talk?

Pedestrianised streets don't bring shoppers in to the city, they deter them.