New Limerick City Centre

MAStanley · 10-10-2011 10:48am #1

Just a thread to discuss what the city centre needs to become a bustling hive of activity on any given day!

High positivity levels required only!

Ninthtym · 10-10-2011 10:56am

I wish there were more independent/alternative shops and pubs/clubs. It seems like there is great musical talent in the city and around it, it'd be great to really promote that as 'our' thing too. Plus maybe the Opera centre, and people coming into town instead of going to all the huge shopping zones out the road.

tof2006 · 10-10-2011 11:00am

Easy access, cheap, and open till late parking. With the centre becoming more and more pedestrian, you really need easy and convenient parking to compete with outskirt malls.

The milk market is already doing some good buzzing on saturday morning, but it only seems to happen that morning.

Develop the banks of the Shannon more, they've done a nice job with north bank and it's new walk, I wonder if we could have a market along the banks, or some animation.
May be find something for the boat club house, I remember some gigs used to be hosted in there a couple of years ago ?
When you compare to waterford, along the banks of the river you have shops, restaurant...etc.... and you can see it could work in Limerick by just watching the Locke Bar & co or the oustside of clohessy on a sunny day.... I wonder why they choose to build appartment there instead of commercial venues ....

tof2006 · 10-10-2011 11:09am

@Ninthtym : what do you mean by independent/alternative shops ?

Seems there is already good few alternative pubs ( Mickey, wicked, .. ) usually always with the same crowd ( and a good one

) , not sure there is a market for more...

Xennon · 10-10-2011 11:17am

Would there be enough trade to run the market 6 days a week?
I think so, perhaps not all the stalls but I think there is a market there for farm fresh produce sold directly from the growers to the public. Think of the English Market in Cork that is a great attraction to their city centre.

A real concert hall and centre for live events?
Not a converted lecture theatre pls, but something we can be proud of (yeah like the old savoy). Doesn't have to be huge, something around 1000 capacity multi function space that could cater for everything from Opera to Rock and everything along the way, with a smaller space for smaller attractions to run.

A food hall where a number of cafes and resteraunts could ply their trade and those of us who like to sit 'al fresco' can do so under protection from the irish weather.

A large FREE carpark, after all if you are driving into town then you are there to spend money, being charged to come into town to spend money is wrong.

Perhaps incorporate all of the above into the Opera space.

Ease off on rates and there would be far more independent shops set up in the city, there's no way a small shop can maintain some of the rates being charged at the moment.

I do hope something is done soon though.

yupyup7up · 10-10-2011 11:51am

William St. is starting to take shape very well! The new street lights and the new footpaths looks really cool!

Ninthtym · 10-10-2011 12:07pm

tof2006 wrote: »

@Ninthtym : what do you mean by independent/alternative shops ?

Seems there is already good few alternative pubs ( Mickey, wicked, .. ) usually always with the same crowd ( and a good one ) , not sure there is a market for more...

Yeah I think the Wicked chicken and Mickey Martins are where it's at. I just came back to live here and I remember the Termights and High stool days, club nights that weren't just house or chart music. I guess it's just being sentimental but you're right The Chicken is buzzing alright, great music, shame it's so tiny. Maybe there isn't enough a demand for it anymore.
In terms of shops, it just seems something else closes weekly, it'd be lovely to have lots of small shops owned by local people as well as the big brands.
I love the idea of using the riverfront more, one of the best assets in the city, we should be proud of it!

Poxyshamrock · 10-10-2011 1:27pm

Something like Opera Lane in Cork with big shops in the city centre such as Topshop/Topman, H&M, Gap, Marks and Spencer and maybe a cinema!

RonMexico · 10-10-2011 1:38pm

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

DeWinterZero · 10-10-2011 1:49pm

Lots of popular womens clothes shops that are not available in the Cresent. Cause most guys aren't into shopping that much.

A cinema would also give people something to do when their finished shopping. Or draw them into town so they'd go shopping after their film.

Lots of pubs, clubs & restaurants won't make the town busy during the day.

The whole free parking thing is a red herring. There's no free parking in Galway or Cork either. If the shops are there people will put up with the multistory parking.

krudler · 10-10-2011 2:02pm

RonMexico wrote: »

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

this, Limerick is an absolute ghost town past 6pm, are any cafes open late?

Simon Adebisi · 10-10-2011 3:07pm

More clothes shops for men.

More gardai.

More outdoor seating ( well april - september ).

bazz26 · 10-10-2011 3:40pm

We need a new Christmas Tree now that the old one sank. :pac:

On a serious note, I think there are a number of similar threads on this subject here already. No quick fix for this unfortunately, not while there is such a high level of unemployment in the region, people are simply not spending what they used to.

ZombieBride · 10-10-2011 3:52pm

oops wrong thread

Berty · 10-10-2011 4:12pm

Monorail

padma · 10-10-2011 4:22pm

a new factory to take over the Opera centre. Jobs for everyone, a roaring lunch time trade for the city and add a bit of traffic congestion around 4 o clock, if that fails, free concerts in the lashing rain in Arthurs quay park.

ErnieBert · 10-10-2011 7:15pm

Simon Adebisi wrote: »

More clothes shops for men.

More gardai.

More outdoor seating ( well april - september ).

The media in Galway claim that there are twice as many Gardai based in Limerick as there are in Galway city's three stations despite the fact that both cities are of similar population size.

As an outsider, the river banks have a massive potential. They are just crying out to be utilised. It is so beautiful.

Also, the central location of the train station is a big plus.

cul-2008 · 10-10-2011 10:28pm

DeWinterZero wrote: »

Lots of popular womens clothes shops that are not available in the Cresent. Cause most guys aren't into shopping that much.

A cinema would also give people something to do when their finished shopping. Or draw them into town so they'd go shopping after their film.

Lots of pubs, clubs & restaurants won't make the town busy during the day.

The whole free parking thing is a red herring. There's no free parking in Galway or Cork either. If the shops are there people will put up with the multistory parking.

totally agree with you there DeWinterZero. In a related note, I was up in Dublin on Saturday, and was passing through Clontarf so I said I'd stop for a bite to eat.

Parked the car right by the sea next to all the restaurants/shops etc and hopped out to pay for a parking disk, and low and behold it was free! 4pm on a Saturday, carpark was full and so were the restaurants. Says it all really.

Poxyshamrock · 10-10-2011 10:59pm

ErnieBert wrote: »

The media in Galway claim that there are twice as many Gardai based in Limerick as there are in Galway city's three stations despite the fact that both cities are of similar population size.

As an outsider, the river banks have a massive potential. They are just crying out to be utilised. It is so beautiful.

Also, the central location of the train station is a big plus.

A galwegian saying we've a centrally located train station? :O

Personally, I think Colbert Station has such an awkward location!

meoklmrk91 · 10-10-2011 11:10pm

The City Centre needs something that you can't get in the Crescent or whatever. It's needs something to draw people in even in the lashing rain. I think free parking is a great idea for starters or at the very least cheaper.

The City Centre has no buzz or life to it, everytime I go Dublin or Cork you always see people busking or street performing. I very rarely see that in Limerick. Also it could do with a few festivals, why not organize a music festival for up a coming talent in the peoples park or somewhere like that. And a good cinema, jesus storm is rubbish, the omniplex however has come on in leaps and bounds. But a good Cinema is badly needed and even more so than any new kind of shopping centre. Make Limerick somewhere people want to go not just somewhere people have to go.

Mc Love · 10-10-2011 11:59pm

The first hour in all the multistoreys should be free and after that normal pricing should resume

constantg · 11-10-2011 2:45am

bazz26 wrote: »

We need a new Christmas Tree now that the old one sank. :pac:

actually yeah, what's the city council's story with this?

savagecabbages · 11-10-2011 3:27am

Bus lanes that actually reduce travel time for the bus routes, rather than just on the less congested parts...

How about local buses that actually stop at the cities main bus and train station?

As mentioned by several posters, a cinema!

The area including the abandoned Dunnes (is it even abandoned???), Arthurs Quay shopping centre and the proposed Opera Centre is vital to the city. Right now its a disgrace. Ok Pennys, Debenhams and Tesco are drawing punters, but there is very little else happening around this area at the moment...

The RIVER SHANNON, Limericks most important natural feature seems to be completely overlooked. Development should have the river as a focal point, rather than just an obstacle that cant be built upon.

As an aside, what is the current status of the Opera Centre?

osarusan · 11-10-2011 3:47am

It's been pointed out that free parking would just mean that every space was taken before shops open by city centre staff driving into the city.

What would work better is some kind of voucher system - spend more than E10 (for example) and you get a voucher validated which means parking is free for, say...2 hours, with a spend of E20 giving you 4 hours, and so on.

Retailers might even pay (say E50) a month to get their business listed in a booklet of vouchers.Customers would be more likely to buy from a place that validates free parking vouchers than from one that doesn't (all other things being equal).

Of course, that doesn't actually mean that people are more likely to visit the city centre because the big big problem is that there's nothing to do there. I lived in Limerick until moving abroad six months ago, and apart from heading to the pubs, I'd struggle to find enough to do to spend 4 hours in the city, even if my parking was free.

Resi12 · 11-10-2011 4:21am

A cinema (how this is STILL ignored is beyond me), more shops, better stock in existing shops.

I don't know who the hell hires the buyers in Limerick for clothes shops, for example Penneys. The men's section is diabolical compared to Dublin, up there you can get such nice clothes on the cheap. Down here it's all casual tracksuits and tacky chequered shirts, I don't get it. Perhaps that's what sells down here sadly?

Hmmm, definitely more street performers on places like Cruises St to liven up the place. The Opera Centre has to be completed to give a much needed injection into the retail sector. However they need shops like M&S, Topman, more tourist places like Butlers, LUSH, Costa and or Starbucks, TGI Friday's, A place like Birthdays such as Hallmark or The Card Company, Pull & Bear. Shops unique to Limerick that will make people start to shop actually in the city and not in the Crescent and/or online. If it's gonna be opened to yet ANOTHER River Island/Tesco/Mc Donalds venue, they can cram it.

Parking.. Really I never get the hoo-ha people go on about here. Me and my 2 friends went for dinner today. Got free parking no bother and every other time I have never had a problem with parking. Honestly I don't think it's even that bad, it's just more a case of the cost (whatever it may be) not being worth it since there is nothing that special in town.

11-10-2011 12:12pm

Beer Baron wrote: »

Monorail

Just imagine it...
Limerick could be up there with Ogdenville, North Haverbrook and Brockway!

By God, it would put us on the map!

savagecabbages · 11-10-2011 12:16pm

2 Monorails

Twice as good as one

tfitzgerald · 11-10-2011 12:18pm

What we need is a city council that gives a fcuk about the city and not one that seems to be doing it's best to mess it up. Also it seems to me that every street in Limk is classed as a loading bay or taxi rank. We have no shops so why the need for so many loading bays

11-10-2011 12:18pm

Mc Love wrote: »

The first hour in all the multistoreys should be free and after that normal pricing should resume

Don't ask me where I read it, but an American multistory car park was having trouble getting people to use it so they had advertised that if you used the car park you had a 50% chance of it being free. (odds may have been worse, I can't really remember) Maybe something like that could encourage more people to the city.

Although if the city multistory are almost at capacity, it would be hard to encourage them to do this.

+1 on the cinema! I miss the savoy...

Poxyshamrock · 11-10-2011 12:21pm

osarusan wrote: »

It's been pointed out that free parking would just mean that every space was taken before shops open by city centre staff driving into the city.

What would work better is some kind of voucher system - spend more than E10 (for example) and you get a voucher validated which means parking is free for, say...2 hours, with a spend of E20 giving you 4 hours, and so on.

Retailers might even pay (say E50) a month to get their business listed in a booklet of vouchers.Customers would be more likely to buy from a place that validates free parking vouchers than from one that doesn't (all other things being equal).

Of course, that doesn't actually mean that people are more likely to visit the city centre because the big big problem is that there's nothing to do there. I lived in Limerick until moving abroad six months ago, and apart from heading to the pubs, I'd struggle to find enough to do to spend 4 hours in the city, even if my parking was free.

I actually think this in operation now! Saw a sign on Wacky shoes window with some parking offer in conjunction with Q Park, I think!

niceview · 11-10-2011 12:27pm

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

I actually think this in operation now! Saw a sign on Wacky shoes window with some parking offer in conjunction with Q Park, I think!

This is definitely in place. Savins and O'Mahoneys are also on board. You spend so much (depends on the shop) and you get an hour free parking. It's a good idea, but to be honest, the parking issue is blown out of all proportion. It is an issue, but nearly as much as is claimed.

savagecabbages · 11-10-2011 1:31pm

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 · 11-10-2011 2:20pm

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 · 11-10-2011 2:50pm

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 · 11-10-2011 5:23pm

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 · 11-10-2011 6:25pm

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 · 11-10-2011 7:10pm

An IMAX perhaps...

phog · 12-10-2011 9:17am

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 · 12-10-2011 10:18am

I miss Javas

Kernunos · 12-10-2011 12:19pm

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 · 12-10-2011 3:56pm

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 · 12-10-2011 4:08pm

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 · 12-10-2011 6:41pm

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 · 12-10-2011 6:53pm

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 · 12-10-2011 7:05pm

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 · 12-10-2011 7:16pm

munstergirl wrote: »

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

How would this work exactly?

Berty · 12-10-2011 8:32pm

TestTransmission wrote: »

How would this work exactly?

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

munstergirl · 12-10-2011 9:22pm

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 · 12-10-2011 11:46pm

munstergirl wrote: »

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

lol

kilburn · 13-10-2011 11:15am

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 · 13-10-2011 11:21am

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

New Limerick City Centre

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