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

Cookiemunster

tommy249 wrote: »

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

Actually that's a very good point. The odds are high that this will end up being the nicest building in the city centre.

martyc5674

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Actually that's a very good point. The odds are high that this will end up being the nicest building in the city centre.

Let’s hope so- UL have great vision with their buildings.
I think they will do something mind blowing with this site given the vista.
Much better result than the council getting it- you really couldn’t trust they’d have really done anything creative with it given their reputation. This will be up and occupied before they’ve turned a sod at the Opera site I reckon.

phog

I've no idea how they intend to use but I'm delighted to see them acquire it and even better it will not be a retail store though part of me would love to see UL lease it the M&S :pac: :pac:

Glenomra

martyc5674 wrote: »

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Actually that's a very good point. The odds are high that this will end up being the nicest building in the city centre.

Let’s hope so- UL have great vision with their buildings.
I think they will do something mind blowing with this site given the vista.
Much better result than the council getting it- you really couldn’t trust they’d have really done anything creative with it given their reputation. This will be up and occupied before they’ve turned a sod at the Opera site I reckon.

Well then they better get a move on then as the Opera Centre construction will commence at the latest by Autumn of next year. A truly enormous project that will transform limerick city far more than any other project, this one included. Fully funded with a planned fourteen storey central building, 25 million euro library, apart hotel, revamped Quinns pub and restaurant, plaza, retail, offices, some residential etc. A project that started life as a failed private sector venture and one that would never be realised only for the vision of limerick council with the 2030 plan. And incidentally, I know no one in the city council, don't even have a vote in limerick but credit where credit is due.

The Specialist

Cookiemunster wrote: »

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.

A couple of thousand people who have a limited selection of retailers to access every day, if at all considering they are students - 10 million to the local economy this is not. I don’t disagree with the principle of it but not that choice of building - it has potential for so much more than a city campus for a university. That’s Dunnes fault more than anyone.

MarkR

The Specialist wrote: »

A couple of thousand people who have a limited selection of retailers to access every day, if at all considering they are students - 10 million to the local economy this is not. I don’t disagree with the principle of it but not that choice of building - it has potential for so much more than a city campus for a university. That’s Dunnes fault more than anyone.

OK, but what would you suggest as an alternative?

The Specialist

MarkR wrote: »

OK, but what would you suggest as an alternative?

I don’t know man and that’s the honest answer, but there are so many other options for a site and location such as that building. It’s as central as you can get including some great views around the riverside facing side of it. Just feel it’s wasted with this current plan but as I said that’s purely Dunnes fault - they left it vacant for an obscene amount of time.

Vanquished

Glenomra wrote: »

Well then they better get a move on then as the Opera Centre construction will commence at the latest by Autumn of next year. A truly enormous project that will transform limerick city far more than any other project, this one included. Fully funded with a planned fourteen storey central building, 25 million euro library, apart hotel, revamped Quinns pub and restaurant, plaza, retail, offices, some residential etc. A project that started life as a failed private sector venture and one that would never be realised only for the vision of limerick council with the 2030 plan. And incidentally, I know no one in the city council, don't even have a vote in limerick but credit where credit is due.

And sure it only took them 8 years to lodge a valid planning application. It's a 10 year permission that's being sought as well so for a finish it will have taken the Council the bones of 20 years to develop the site!!

It has to be said also that elements of the proposed scheme are of extremely dubious design quality. I really hope An Bord Pleanala will instruct them to revise elevations such as the Patrick Street/Ellen Street corner (which is so incredibly bland and featureless) and the infill beside the old Town Hall, which is extremely jarring. The quality of design here needs to be significantly improved.

yermanoffthetv

The Specialist wrote: »

A couple of thousand people who have a limited selection of retailers to access every day, if at all considering they are students - 10 million to the local economy this is not. I don’t disagree with the principle of it but not that choice of building - it has potential for so much more than a city campus for a university. That’s Dunnes fault more than anyone.

Its a campus for the law and business Dept's. I'm sure law and business students aren't short of a few bob. Its also supposed to include an enterprise hub which most certainly will benefit the local economy. I think this is a fantastic development.

martyc5674

The Specialist wrote: »

I don’t know man and that’s the honest answer, but there are so many other options for a site and location such as that building. It’s as central as you can get including some great views around the riverside facing side of it. Just feel it’s wasted with this current plan but as I said that’s purely Dunnes fault - they left it vacant for an obscene amount of time.

I fail to see how you can think it is wasted being a part of the university. It means many people will pass through the building and enjoy what it has to offer over the years. It will bring bright minds young and old into the city and that will have a positive impact on their surrounds. It will become part of Limerick’s culture. Between the bridges you’ll have the courthouse, the castle, the museum, the park and now a part of the university. It should help transform the park aswell, there will be a lot more people about the place sitting out in nice weather etc etc. it can only be good.. we don’t need retail here... that’s what the high streets are for.
Marty.

MarkR

The Specialist wrote: »

I don’t know man and that’s the honest answer, but there are so many other options for a site and location such as that building. It’s as central as you can get including some great views around the riverside facing side of it. Just feel it’s wasted with this current plan but as I said that’s purely Dunnes fault - they left it vacant for an obscene amount of time.

The only other things I've heard suggested for that site were M&S, or some kind of community centre.

A city centre, Riverside campus brings. Something to the city centre that isn't there right now. Depending on its use later on, we might even get people moving around Limerick after six! Could you imagine?!

A drive towards city centre living would be great. Won't happen in isolation, but these new developments would make it more attractive.

tototoe

It's a great site for a college building imo. I wonder will this tie in with plans that were mentioned preciously to knock Arthur's quay ?

Glenomra

The value of the university move is not the added turnover in city businesses, modest though it might be. The real value imo lies in the extra footfall which gives every city a buzz and makes a city a more attractive place.

ejmaztec

phog wrote: »

I've no idea how they intend to use but I'm delighted to see them acquire it and even better it will not be a retail store though part of me would love to see UL lease it the M&S :pac: :pac:

I bet it's been written into the sale contract that UL can't lease it to anyone else, especially any of Dunne's competitors.

It reminds me of how Tesco managed to get into Abbeyfeale, when everybody thought that some local fella was building himself a huge store. I don't think any of the usual suspects objected to it, because he wasn't seen as a threat.

mart 23

I wonder if UL or even a developer would consider buying the shops across from Dunnes and developing a students apparment block there.

thesimpsons

Several thousand students also beings with it loads of staff and the associated visitors. Expecting UL to make full use of the river and finally the city is turning its face properly towards it.

YFlyer

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

Or cycle?

YFlyer

Wonder what is the latest with the Travel Lodge building?

Cookiemunster

Des Fitzgerald was on Newstalk this morning talking about this. He didn't really say much, but when the presenter asked about the design in relation to ULs history of good architecture he said (paraphrasing) that they has a few designs already on the table and wanted the building to be iconic in the city center.

So that definitively answers the question as to whether they they're refurbishing or rebuilding. Can't wait to see the final design.

sioda

YFlyer wrote: »

Or cycle?

Yeah the canal path will get much better use. Hopefully this might be the push to get the coca cola bikes to the University

Stab*City

Well whatever it is it's going to look better than what's there, and about time too!

damowill

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Des Fitzgerald was on Newstalk this morning talking about this. He didn't really say much, but when the presenter asked about the design in relation to ULs history of good architecture he said (paraphrasing) that they has a few designs already on the table and wanted the building to be iconic in the city center.

So that definitively answers the question as to whether they they're refurbishing or rebuilding. Can't wait to see the final design.

listened to it myself. that was confirmation that they will be rebuilding and they already have some initial designs on the table. exciting news!!

anyone hazard a guess at the timelines on design, planning and construction?

geotrig

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Des Fitzgerald was on Newstalk this morning talking about this. He didn't really say much, but when the presenter asked about the design in relation to ULs history of good architecture he said (paraphrasing) that they has a few designs already on the table and wanted the building to be iconic in the city center.

So that definitively answers the question as to whether they they're refurbishing or rebuilding. Can't wait to see the final design.

That is good news and hopefully it will move along swiftly enough...Mypreference for this site would have been events / recreation centre of some sort rather than using cleeves , option 2 part of a big retail redevelopment and finally this !:pac::pac: all options i would have wanted the design to be really good ,I really hope they nail it and it pushes the city on.

Cookiemunster

damowill wrote: »

anyone hazard a guess at the timelines on design, planning and construction?

I saw 2022 mentioned in the press as an opening date, but I can't find a quote from anyone. That would give them a year to finalise the design and get planning and two years for construction, which is definitely doable.

mdmix

Cookiemunster wrote: »

I saw 2022 mentioned in the press as an opening date, but I can't find a quote from anyone. That would give them a year to finalise the design and get planning and two years for construction, which is definitely doable.

with the exception of the medical school, which was delayed for 4 years as the construction firm went into liquidation, UL generally deliver more or less on time. since the medical school fiasco, UL now own their own construction firm (or have some formal partnership with them) so are likely to be able to do this quickly. they do have a few projects on the go already tho which could complicate things

current works on campus are additional sports facilities (pitches and climbing area) - nearing completion

new student services building - design complete, not sure on the start date

500 extra student beds (including an apart hotel for summer use) - still at design i think

research center at park point/travel lodge - ?? they have started hiring, not sure due date

new health research building - early design stage

ongarboy

Out of interest, what year did Sarsfield St Dunnes actually close? I feel like it has been shuttered since the 90s (possibly because I hadn't ventured in there since that decade) but assume it only closed when Howleys Quay Dunnes opened?

I remember there was a handful of shops in the form of a mini mall within the centre as well.

The Lost Sheep

ongarboy wrote: »

Out of interest, what year did Sarsfield St Dunnes actually close? I feel like it has been shuttered since the 90s (possibly because I hadn't ventured in there since that decade) but assume it only closed when Howleys Quay Dunnes opened?

I remember there was a handful of shops in the form of a mini mall within the centre as well.

It was 2008 or 2009 that it closed iirc.

Vanquished

They closed both the O'Connell Street and Sarsfield Street stores in August 2008.

topper75

yermanoffthetv wrote: »

... I'm sure law and business students aren't short of a few bob...

Years ago they used not be paid at all. Wonderful progress. It is hard to keep up.

bigpink

Out of interest how did this happen out of the blue?
Will it be done before the Opera Centre