What does Cork need?

Fabio · 08-04-2013 5:12pm #1

What does our city need in order to improve it?

With so many shops now out of business I think it would be great to turn the likes of HMV into a market where many small sellers could sell their wares in a dry space.

A restaurant on the top of the County Hall or the Elysian would be very cool and a draw for tourists and those of us in the city wishing for a view.

A concert venue...

Tombo2001 · 08-04-2013 5:24pm

better weather

.red. · 08-04-2013 5:24pm

Free parking would go a long way to bring people in. Maybe even free park and ride.
Theres nothing i need that i cant get in the shopping centres that are closer to my house and offer free parking so i have no need to venture into the city.
I like your idea of a market set up for hmv tho. It wodnt bring me in but it might for others.

evilivor · 08-04-2013 5:25pm

Fabio wrote: »

What does our city need in order to improve it?

With so many shops now out of business I think it would be great to turn the likes of HMV into a market where many small sellers could sell their wares in a dry space.

A restaurant on the top of the County Hall or the Elysian would be very cool and a draw for tourists and those of us in the city wishing for a view.

A concert venue...

They tried the restaurant on top of County Hall - didn't work. As for a concert venue, ranging from the state of the art Curtis at CSM with 450 cap, to the Everyman and the 1,000 seater Opera House, the city is not badly served with concert venues.

As for indoor markets there is one on MacCurtain street as far as I know and the Unitarian church does them occasionally.

Faith · 08-04-2013 6:35pm

Tombo2001 wrote: »

better weather

This.

If we had nice weather, it would be a far more pleasant place.

Outkast_IRE · 08-04-2013 6:41pm

evilivor wrote: »

They tried the restaurant on top of County Hall - didn't work. As for a concert venue, ranging from the state of the art Curtis at CSM with 450 cap, to the Everyman and the 1,000 seater Opera House, the city is not badly served with concert venues.

As for indoor markets there is one on MacCurtain street as far as I know and the Unitarian church does them occasionally.

Was it ever actually a proper functioning restaurant on top of county hall ? Having been there a few times at corporate events etc it does really just seem like a fancy room for hire, there are regular company events etc on there in the evenings but all the food etc is brought in from outside catering as far as i know.

Chuck Stone · 08-04-2013 6:42pm

An daycent event centre (on the way).

A privatised pot-hole fixing team.

I8A4RE · 08-04-2013 7:47pm

A couple of Michelin starred restaurants

Hogzy · 08-04-2013 7:54pm

Better shopping for mens clothing, Mahon Point is a joke and most shops in town stock about a quarter of the mens range compared to their Dublin counterparts. Im referring to H&M, River Island and Zara in particular. Their mens section is laughable.

kaki · 08-04-2013 7:58pm

Blood Donation clinics that open on a Saturday.

Waterbirths in CUH

More allotments (like the project in Churchfield for growing Veg)

More Educate Together schools, or at least a move away from faith-based administration of schools

A more dog-friendly city i.e. not being ostracised or refused entry to shops/cafes in the city centre with a well-behaved, trained and under-control animal

Oh and less rain kthxbai

Hogzy · 08-04-2013 8:00pm

A Helipad in the CUH wouldnt go a miss either considering its the Countries only Trauma One hospital.

pwurple · 08-04-2013 8:06pm

I would love it if we could make more use of our rivers like they do in amsterdam. The river is so much cleaner now than when I was small and the place stank. River transport like a boat from the quays that went to blackroack pier, or the other piers around. Floating cafes/bars/restaurants/B&B's.

On the menswear thing above, my brothers and husband get clothes in Tony's in town, if that's any help.

Oh yeah, and free parking, or cheaper buses. 1.80 per person each way into town... It's a tenner to bring the family on the bus, or similar in parking.

08-04-2013 8:09pm

A new accent!

Tin Foil Hat · 08-04-2013 8:11pm

Bulldoze The Peace Park. Convert it into an open plaza. Line it with cafes, bars and restaurants.
The only problem would be the weather.

pwurple · 08-04-2013 8:15pm

kaki wrote: »

Waterbirths in CUH

Not allowed since that baby in carlow drowned in one.

More allotments (like the project in Churchfield for growing Veg)

There are loads of these... A couple in frankfield at least, and three that I now of on the northside.

More Educate Together schools, or at least a move away from faith-based administration of schools

Three ET and a couple of gaeilscolanna as far as I know in the city. And I don't know the last time there was any member of any religious order participating in either the teaching or the running of the protestant or catholic schools around me. Seems to be name only.

pwurple · 08-04-2013 8:16pm

Tin Foil Hat wrote: »

Bulldoze The Peace Park. Convert it into an open plaza. Line it with cafes, bars and restaurants.
The only problem would be the weather.

The peace park has the city walls in it, I wouldn't bulldoze those. Would be nice to open it up a bit more though.

Michael.. · 08-04-2013 8:18pm

Cork badly needs an event centre of some sort. The Brewery Quater looks like a good idea but it probably won't happen. I heard Owen O Callaghan making a few noises in the paper not so long ago about his Albert Quay event centre.

Build it and they will come ffs.

Hogzy · 08-04-2013 8:19pm

Tin Foil Hat wrote: »

Bulldoze The Peace Park. Convert it into an open plaza. Line it with cafes, bars and restaurants.
The only problem would be the weather.

Are you taking the piss. The whole of grand parade is a plaza thats barely used. Its such a waste of space. The peace park is about the only nice place to have an al fresco lunch in the city when the weather is nice.

kaki · 08-04-2013 8:30pm

pwurple wrote: »

Not allowed since that baby in carlow drowned in one.

There are loads of these... A couple in frankfield at least, and three that I now of on the northside.

Three ET and a couple of gaeilscolanna as far as I know in the city. And I don't know the last time there was any member of any religious order participating in either the teaching or the running of the protestant or catholic schools around me. Seems to be name only.

Re: the first point, waterbirths have been suspended for insurance reasons. I would like to have water birth as an option nationwide for labour/delivery for whomever might choose it - esp. for Cork considering that the maternity facility in CUH was opened fairly recently. That's probably for another thread in another forum though...

I think the allotments project could definitely be expanded more, unless you happen to have a car or be living close by one of the few existing ones it's quite difficult to use the service.

And the vast majority of schools in and around Cork, especially secondary, are run and administered in accordance with religious ethos of one type or another. I think that the city as a whole would benefit hugely for having this sector developed further.

kaki · 08-04-2013 8:32pm

Hogzy wrote: »

Are you taking the piss. The whole of grand parade is a plaza thats barely used. Its such a waste of space. The peace park is about the only nice place to have an al fresco lunch in the city when the weather is nice.

Long live the Peace Park!

Sure if it was bulldozed Fitzgeralds' park would be the closest substantial bit of greenery

evilivor · 08-04-2013 8:33pm

I8A4RE wrote: »

A couple of Michelin starred restaurants

Ore even one. Far too long since Cork had one, though not sure the city could sustain one now.

Crasp · 08-04-2013 8:47pm

kaki wrote: »

Re: the first point, waterbirths have been suspended for insurance reasons. I would like to have water birth as an option nationwide for labour/delivery for whomever might choose it - esp. for Cork considering that the maternity facility in CUH was opened fairly recently. That's probably for another thread in another forum though...

CUMH has a water birthing suite down by the theatres but afaik one is not actually allowed to give birth in it. pointless exercise anyway. The only thing I will understand less than women is pregnant women... with thier "birth plans" and all this bull****. just be happy you have a healthy baby at the end of it.

Cork badly needs a paint job and redevlopment of the docks. that R&H Hall is an eyesore as is that entire area of the city. depressing to look at, which is a shame. Those docks need something to rival the dublin docklands area, although that part of Dublin is a horrible reminder of the boom.

Hogzy · 08-04-2013 8:49pm

Crasp wrote: »

Cork badly needs a paint job and redevlopment of the docks. that R&H Hall is an eyesore as is that entire area of the city. depressing to look at, which is a shame. Those docks need something to rival the dublin docklands area, although that part of Dublin is a horrible reminder of the boom.

That area wont be developed for decades to come. I never understand how it was never developed back in the boom. You had super-estates (mount oval for example) popping up all over Cork but a beautiful area minutes from the city was never developed. It beggars belief.

Legwinski · 08-04-2013 8:52pm

A burrito place! Pablo picante style!

evilivor · 08-04-2013 8:54pm

Hogzy wrote: »

That area wont be developed for decades to come. I never understand how it was never developed back in the boom. You had super-estates (mount oval for example) popping up all over Cork but a beautiful area minutes from the city was never developed. It beggars belief.

I was at at least three launches of Cork dockland development plans over the years - none came to fruition.

pwurple · 08-04-2013 9:13pm

evilivor wrote: »

Ore even one. Far too long since Cork had one, though not sure the city could sustain one now.

If Ardmore in Co. Waterford can sustain one, Cork can surely sustain one.

And it's not that long since Augustines closed is it?

We do have a good few decent restaurants though, that is certainly something I love about Cork.

evilivor · 08-04-2013 9:27pm

pwurple wrote: »

If Ardmore in Co. Waterford can sustain one, Cork can surely sustain one.
And it's not that long since Augustines closed is it?

We do have a good few decent restaurants though, that is certainly something I love about Cork.

Arbutus Lodge was the only Michelin starred restaurant in Cork and it lost its star in the late 1980s.

pwurple · 08-04-2013 9:51pm

evilivor wrote: »

Arbutus Lodge was the only Michelin starred restaurant in Cork and it lost its star in the late 1980s.

I was sure augustines had one.

See the link below... 2012 - The head chef and owner of the Michelin Star-ranked Augustine’s Restaurant revealed last night that he is closing.

http://www.thecorknews.ie/articles/augustine%E2%80%99s-close-4121

evilivor · 08-04-2013 9:54pm

pwurple wrote: »

I was sure augustines had one.

See the link below... 2012 - The head chef and owner of the Michelin Star-ranked Augustine’s Restaurant revealed last night that he is closing.

http://www.thecorknews.ie/articles/augustine%E2%80%99s-close-4121

Just sloppy journalism, mentioned in a guide does not equate to a star.

Ardennes1944 · 08-04-2013 10:00pm

It needs a chance. The rent businesses have to pay is ridiculous. I walked through merchants key for first time in a long while and it was amazing to see how many empty spots to let upstairs, and the city in general. I've never been in a city with so many empty spots as cork. It's like cork airport and the walkways for getting in and off the plane, they charge the airlines so much to use them, that practically none do. If they lowered the charge then more would and their profits would probably increase.
Same applies to city centre IMO, if they lowered the rents there would more than likely be more businesses their to make up for the small decrease in charges

mcko · 08-04-2013 11:11pm

Less scumbags in the city centre and more Gardai.

Missyelliot2 · 08-04-2013 11:13pm

Am blow-in here......parking is really expensive in City centre.
Love Cork city, but it's not a place I would ever linger in for a coffee - (due to parking - moan!)

Ye should all head up to the prom in Galway!! Free parking and fresh air

Hogzy · 08-04-2013 11:27pm

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

Ye should all head up to the prom in Galway!! Free parking and fresh air

If people arent going to pay city parking prices they sure as hell aint gonna travel to Galway for a coffee

murphym7 · 09-04-2013 8:41am

I think we need a medium capacity concert venue, 3 - 5k to attract bigger name acts during the out of summer months. It could double as a convention centre to maybe. Something to draw in some outside cash from around the province or country.

Grim_Wreeper · 09-04-2013 10:25am

Aha Shake wrote: »

A burrito place! Pablo picante style!

My Kingdom for a Chipotle!

flo8s967qjh0nd · 09-04-2013 10:40am

Tin Foil Hat wrote: »

Bulldoze The Peace Park. Convert it into an open plaza. Line it with cafes, bars and restaurants.
The only problem would be the weather.

The peace park already has Electric and a new place opening in the glass cube outside. Not sure you'd squeeze much more in there.

flo8s967qjh0nd · 09-04-2013 10:49am

Large concert/event centre. I don't think the Beamish & Crawford site is the ideal place for this, prefer the docklands site, but Heineken need to sh*t or get off the pot. Murphys and Beamish make a big deal about how 'Cork' they are, but clearly they don't give a sh*t if they are stalling on this one.

Grand parade needs sorting out in terms of building stock. Central Library site is a real missed opportunity.

All those complaining about parking really need to cop on. If they think they can all drive their cars into town and park everywhere AND still have a nice city to visit, then they are crazy. We don't need anymore cars in the city centre. Get the bus like everyone else!

Loire · 09-04-2013 10:50am

I think turning one of the three churches off Patrick Street into a library like this one would be super....

the beer revolu · 09-04-2013 11:08am

Cork needs people to know the difference between The Peace Park and Bishop Lucy Park!

While I'd be all for free park and ride or cheaper legal parking, I wish the Council would enforce parking properly - Corn Market Street (coal quay), in particular, is a complete joke with people parking on the footpath and in loading bays at all hours of the day and en mass on Sat nights/Sunday mornings when anything up to 50 cars can be parked on the footpath.

They sorted out Emmett Place with bollards but nothing is been done on CM Street.

Milly33 · 09-04-2013 11:44am

Defiantly they need to do something with the parking they ruined the place with the expensive parking and what t. hey done to the coal quay..Spent about an hour driving around looking for free parking one night as I wasn't staying for ages and ended up driving away..

Also the music venue is a great idea but they should defiantly not build another one..Bloody muppets use the beamish and Crawford site it is there being wasted away with nothing happening, if they don't use it now it will be left to crumble... ..

Then most defiantly I think a few stalls or something set up on a regular basis on the main streets something like snack bars, like the doughnut and the hotdog stands..something lie this for local business would be great for getting people into restaurants..

More bins around the place, defiantly more poop bins for dogs.. The council after spending all that money revamping the street which I have to say I hate think it done nothing for town, should take some responsibility to clean up the buildings that have been left to go to crap.. Allow a few kids who like to graffiti and let them loose

D'Agger · 09-04-2013 11:47am

pwurple wrote: »

I would love it if we could make more use of our rivers like they do in amsterdam. The river is so much cleaner now than when I was small and the place stank. River transport like a boat from the quays that went to blackroack pier, or the other piers around. Floating cafes/bars/restaurants/B&B's.

There's a huge difference between a river and man made canals though, Amsterdam can have floating cafés etc. because the water isn't all that changeable in comparison with a river.

Don't think it'd work.

Agree with you regarding the cost of a family getting the bus.

In general I'd love something along the lines of a Luas which would connect Douglas - Mahon - City Centre - Colleges

Cork as a city is hard to get around and suffers from lots of traffic congestion. If people could get around quicker then you'd see the city grow imo

gimmick · 09-04-2013 11:52am

A proper stadium. Pairc Ui Caoimh is a dilapidated eyesore which I reckon should be condemned. Musgrave Park has huge potential, but nothing is/can be done (think residents have objected). Turners Cross is tiny and is as good as it will ever get.

The whole area across from the Lee Fields is prime area to try a stadium project.

This stadium could of course be a multi purpose arena, but I cannot imagine the funds are there for such at present. Closest we have to a multi purpose at the moment is Neptune. Does a job but it is a glorified bingo hall.

More realistic opening hours for pubs/clubs. The 2am curfew is bloody stupid. 4am would be about right. Also, less people all out of the street at the same time cuts down on fights etc as well.

Pedestrianise the city centre, or at least have a perimiter which excludes private vehicles.

pwurple · 09-04-2013 11:54am

D'Agger wrote: »

There's a huge difference between a river and man made canals though, Amsterdam can have floating cafés etc. because the water isn't all that changeable in comparison with a river.

Don't think it'd work.

Agree with you regarding the cost of a family getting the bus.

In general I'd love something along the lines of a Luas which would connect Douglas - Mahon - City Centre - Colleges

Cork as a city is hard to get around and suffers from lots of traffic congestion. If people could get around quicker then you'd see the city grow imo

Yeah, you're right... The tides are possibly a big problem too. I know there is some control over the river with inniscarra, but you're right, would probably need some locks too. Maybe pontoons would work, they float up and down.

How about reopening the old railway line from town to passage west with some light electric vehicle zipping along it? Stops in blackrock, rochestown as well as the city.

evilivor · 09-04-2013 12:23pm

gimmick wrote: »

Pedestrianise the city centre, or at least have a perimiter which excludes private vehicles.

Or at least police the existing pedestrian zones - cars and vans travel up Oliver Plunkett Street all day long in breach of the pedestrianisation hours and nothing is done about it and, has been mentioned, Cornmarket street is a joke - almost got knocked down going into the Bodega last week as a bloke drove up along the pavement.

murphym7 · 09-04-2013 12:32pm

gimmick wrote: »

A proper stadium. Pairc Ui Caoimh is a dilapidated eyesore which I reckon should be condemned. Musgrave Park has huge potential, but nothing is/can be done (think residents have objected). Turners Cross is tiny and is as good as it will ever get.

The whole area across from the Lee Fields is prime area to try a stadium project.

This stadium could of course be a multi purpose arena, but I cannot imagine the funds are there for such at present. Closest we have to a multi purpose at the moment is Neptune. Does a job but it is a glorified bingo hall.

More realistic opening hours for pubs/clubs. The 2am curfew is bloody stupid. 4am would be about right. Also, less people all out of the street at the same time cuts down on fights etc as well.

Pedestrianise the city centre, or at least have a perimiter which excludes private vehicles.

I disagree on the municpal stadium idea. Munster will not move bigger games to Cork with them having redeveloped Thomand in the last few years, plus the numbers are not there to fill these games anyway. Cork city FC will not fill a bigger stadium and finally GAA will use it for a few big games during the summer, and probably dont want to share a stadium anyway, they dont need to. I think building a nice shiny stadium would look great but would be a vanity project and a white elephant.

I agree on the rest of your points though.

gimmick · 09-04-2013 12:42pm

It would be no harm for our City to have a proper stadium though. Something we do not have at the moment. And I would argue that if we did Munster would play in Cork more often. Most of theplayers live here and they would have some say I would imagine. Its pie in the sky anyway as it ain't happening.

denhaagenite · 09-04-2013 1:38pm

Definitely a coat of paint. Was back last week for the first time in almost a year and noticed how shabby not just the buildings in the city, but the houses in the suburbs look. There should be some kind of incentive to paint at least the buildings in town, it's depressing.

Was staying in my Nans house near Magazine road and was quite upset that there is only one of the original owner occupiers living on the street now. Every other house rented to students. Walls grey, curtains falling down, gardens overgrown, quite heartbreaking to see actually. It used to be such a lovely neighbourhood, and we knew everyone living around. Can't believe there's enough students to fill them, sure most of the apartments in and around town are student accomodation now aswell. Nowhere for families to live except run down apartments, so the city is becoming soulless.

calnand · 09-04-2013 3:20pm

More public toilets according to another thread.

AugustusMinimus · 09-04-2013 3:41pm

gimmick wrote: »

It would be no harm for our City to have a proper stadium though. Something we do not have at the moment. And I would argue that if we did Munster would play in Cork more often. Most of theplayers live here and they would have some say I would imagine. Its pie in the sky anyway as it ain't happening.

2/3 of Munster support are in the Cork area but Thomond Park was built due to the majority of the Munster board being from Limerick.

Having games in a municipal stadium in Cork would most likely attract more fans than holding games in Limerick, especially when there is no motorway between the two cities at present.

Cork needs a municipal stadium. It's not Cork's fault that the Limerick County Board redeveloped the Gaelic Grounds in a complete white elephant.

A development plan for the outskirts would also be nice. All the new housing estates are popping up in the outskirts without any link roads being built between them. Its causing extreme traffic congestion at various convergance points.

On the other hand, somewhere like Togher which was built upon a grid system sees virtually no traffic congestion.

D'Agger · 09-04-2013 5:57pm

gimmick wrote: »

A proper stadium. Pairc Ui Caoimh is a dilapidated eyesore which I reckon should be condemned. Musgrave Park has huge potential, but nothing is/can be done (think residents have objected). Turners Cross is tiny and is as good as it will ever get.

The whole area across from the Lee Fields is prime area to try a stadium project.

This stadium could of course be a multi purpose arena, but I cannot imagine the funds are there for such at present. Closest we have to a multi purpose at the moment is Neptune. Does a job but it is a glorified bingo hall.

More realistic opening hours for pubs/clubs. The 2am curfew is bloody stupid. 4am would be about right. Also, less people all out of the street at the same time cuts down on fights etc as well.

Pedestrianise the city centre, or at least have a perimiter which excludes private vehicles.

There are redevelopment plans in place for Pairc Uí Chaoimh which looks good.

It's a great field but they're going to do it up and the area surrounding it which is nice - it's a great spot to visit in the summer for Championship

evilivor · 09-04-2013 6:07pm

D'Agger wrote: »

There are redevelopment plans in place for Pairc Uí Chaoimh which looks good.

It's a great field but they're going to do it up and the area surrounding it which is nice - it's a great spot to visit in the summer for Championship

When is the planned work on the Stade de Frank due to start? Only two thousand people there on Sunday for the league game against Clare - and the majority from Clare. Now wonder the County Board is looking at having Cork games in Clon and Mallow.

What does Cork need?

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