University of Limerick agrees to purchase vacant Dunnes Stores site in city centre

MarkR

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/374382/breaking-university-of-limerick-agrees-to-purchase-vacant-dunnes-stores-site-in-city-centre.html

At least we can stop talking about M&S. :-D

Cpt_Blackbeard

MarkR wrote: »

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/374382/breaking-university-of-limerick-agrees-to-purchase-vacant-dunnes-stores-site-in-city-centre.html

At least we can stop talking about M&S. :-D

I just posted the above in the Limerick improvements thread. The UL president just circulated an email to all staff with the same details and I see that the Limerick Leader has the story now too.

This has to be the best case scenario for the city. Although, I'm sure that the usual suspects will find a way to spin it as a negative.

MarkR

I also got that email. Good news for a friday evening. :-)

Berty

It's a popular thread on their Facebook post (LL) but so far only somebody has sarcastically mentioned the homeless comment in 3.2.1......

Somebody is bound to mention it.

This has actually made my day!

zulutango

It's huge news for Limerick City. It'll be interesting to see how the project develops.

Glenomra

Fantastic news for limerick city.

MarkR

Just waiting for UL Stores. ðŸ˜

Massive all right, and seems to be linking up with development around the opera centre. I presume it'll be knocked and built up.

The main campus is really well maintained, and used by all for walks etc. Hope the new place is as well kept.

Limerick74

Does this mean that UL won’t develop a campus in the Opera Centre as announced last December?

tototoe

Limerick74 wrote: »

Does this mean that UL won’t develop a campus in the Opera Centre as announced last December?

Would a campus for 2000 students fit in the Dunnes site, seems a bit small?

Unless they go up...

Vanquished

Limerick74 wrote: »

Does this mean that UL won’t develop a campus in the Opera Centre as announced last December?

The plans released two weeks ago for the large site along Rutland Street, Patrick Street contained no provision for accommodating UL. They clearly had their sights set on elsewhere.

Giggsy19

Finally that eye sore will be gone, great news.

However where do they plan to put all the parking to accommodate tis extra 2000?

Phileas Frog

Giggsy19 wrote: »

Finally that eye sore will be gone, great news.

However where do they plan to put all the parking to accommodate tis extra 2000?

They'll all be walking, with grass for shoes if zulutango has anything to do with it

boege

tototoe wrote: »

Would a campus for 2000 students fit in the Dunnes site, seems a bit small?

Unless they go up...

I think 2000 student is very unlikely in the short/medium term.

I understand the Opera site will be used to develop and deliver life long learning programmes. Many students on these programmes are part-time student and in existing employment. They are targeting employees in the city (law accounting, entrepreneurship). The UL presidents email mentions activities for the Dunnes site that are very similar to the Opera site, so this announcement is intriguing.

The site will be expensive to develop so going high makes financial sense. Planning is a different matter.

Cookiemunster

boege wrote: »

I think 2000 student is very unlikely in the short/medium term.

I understand the Opera site will be used to develop and deliver life long learning programmes. Many students on these programmes are part-time student and in existing employment. They are targeting employees in the city (law accounting, entrepreneurship). The UL presidents email mentions activities for the Dunnes site that are very similar to the Opera site, so this announcement is intriguing.

The site will be expensive to develop so going high makes financial sense. Planning is a different matter.

The council will bend over backwards to facilitate this. It will breeze though local planning. Expect an appeal to ABP from An Taisce though.

MarkR

Phileas Frog wrote: »

They'll all be walking, with grass for shoes if zulutango has anything to do with it

Speaking of taking a walk, Phileas will be taking a break from the Limerick forum.

zulutango

Giggsy19 wrote:

However where do they plan to put all the parking to accommodate tis extra 2000?

Students who live and study in the city are less likely to need cars. Where do Trinity, UCC and NUIG students park?

zulutango

Regarding the Opera plans, I'd imagine there will be quite a few submissions to ABP. And that's a good thing. You can thank An Taisce for the plans being as good as they are. The Council wanted to level the buildings on Rutland, Patrick Street and Ellen Street, and have a greater proportion of office space but thanks to An Taisce's efforts they were revised.

This thread is about the really great news that UL are developing a city centre campus on a prominent site which has been idle for more than a decade. Let's not derail it with petty bickering.

Mc Love

Maybe UL should take over and start running the council

Giggsy19

zulutango wrote: »

Students who live and study in the city are less likely to need cars. Where do Trinity, UCC and NUIG students park?

Fair point actually!

sioda

This is great news on so many levels for the city the eyesore gone and getting more students thus footfall into the city.
Water taxi to Ul yes I know pie in the sky but would be great addition.

This combined with the possible new student accom in Corbally are showing a bit more confidence in the city

Mc Love

sioda wrote: »

This is great news on so many levels for the city the eyesore gone and getting more students thus footfall into the city.
Water taxi to Ul yes I know pie in the sky but would be great addition.

This combined with the possible new student accom in Corbally are showing a bit more confidence in the city

That could actually be a thing though.

damowill

Cookiemunster wrote: »

The council will bend over backwards to facilitate this. It will breeze though local planning. Expect an appeal to ABP from An Taisce though.

I'd imagine they will just renovate, gut and fit out whats there, put in new windows and new facade...

PetKing

I'm now a bit confused. I thought the latest plans for Opera included nothing connected to UL. Which is it?

MarkR

Opera Centre would be opposite Arthur's Quay, so same general area, but not directly connected. Hopefully all positive developments.

Cookiemunster

damowill wrote: »

I'd imagine they will just renovate, gut and fit out whats there, put in new windows and new facade...

They're talking about a 2022 opening. It wouldn't take 3 years to do that. And you wouldn't fit many student into the current building without going up.

With the UL President saying “It is fitting that UL’s presence in the city will be on the water front mirroring our magnificent riverside campus just four kilometres away,” and the Mayor saying “the vacant Dunnes Stores shopping centre, which will now be replaced with a state of new riverside city centre campus for UL students.”, I'd expect it to be fully demolished and something with a face to the river (which the current building doesn't have) being built.

pebbletroy

Honestly best piece of news I’ve heard in a long time, I really thought it would be an eyesore forever.
Guess 8 million changes Margaret Hefferenans mind eventually
Money talks

The Specialist

Not great news in my eyes, from posts here I would have thought retail was the main target for the city - not education spaces using a prime retail space in the city centre. This doesn’t benefit Limerick in any way but the blame lies solely on Dunnes for being such hoarding pricks in the first place.

MarkR

The Specialist wrote: »

Not great news in my eyes, from posts here I would have thought retail was the main target for the city - not education spaces using a prime retail space in the city centre. This doesn’t benefit Limerick in any way but the blame lies solely on Dunnes for being such hoarding pricks in the first place.

What type of retail do you think would do better?

Cookiemunster

The Specialist wrote: »

Not great news in my eyes, from posts here I would have thought retail was the main target for the city - not education spaces using a prime retail space in the city centre. This doesn’t benefit Limerick in any way but the blame lies solely on Dunnes for being such hoarding pricks in the first place.

It gets a couple of thousand more people into the city every day. I fail so see how that's a bad thing. And more people working and studying in the city center, results in more footfall which will entice more retail.

tommy249

damowill wrote: »

I'd imagine they will just renovate, gut and fit out whats there, put in new windows and new facade...

You must never have seen the ambition UL have and the quality of their buildings on the main campus if u think UL would ever consider keeping that building with just a refurb!