Waterford North Quays

Deiseen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122172614#Comment_122172614

That was clearly a joke (although I wouldn't be surprised as this development is getting worse by the minute).

Also I wasn't the one who made the initial observations on the reduced height of the hotel/apartments. That was a few others.

Bards

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/d32VKqjKSkEZze6x/

azimuth17

In fairness, I fell that almost all the people who post here, do so out of concern, frustration and interest in the development of the city. Sometimes just waiting is the difficult bit.

orangerhyme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122165160#Comment_122165160

I like your vision but I think it's unrealistic that it should be a cultural and entertainment area.

Waterford's essentially a big town. It already has loads of museums.

I agree it should look more unique than the generic buildings presented in the renders.

Also I disagree that nobody will walk over there.

It will be at a crossroads of the Greenway, the transport hub, anyone from Ferrybank going into town so it should be lively enough.

Also a nice bar/cafe/restaurant area overlooking the river on a sunny evening will be very popular. People love novelty also so I think it'll do well.

Flow Motion

I've always thought that the ppl or cities that think outside the box always are the ones who draw the tourists and hence the money. Ive travelled widely and have seen some unique architecture and developments even in the smaller places, cities the same size as Waterford. I recall the span of the river in Bilbao being similar-ish to Waterford (bigger city) and on the banks of this river is the Guggenheim Museum. Now if there ever was a statement building that it. Google it. Similarly take a look at he Lyon confluence area - an urban renewal project with some of the most unique buildings you will ever see. Some other post mentioned Valencia - look @ the Hemisphere there. Look @ the Dancing House in Pargue. Or the Kunsthaus in Graz.

I'd roll the dice get some young & up and coming architects/engineers to enter a competition and build even one statement building that does not follow the rules. Give ppl a reason to come. You need something to draw ppl in. But it has to be different & unique. The Confluence area in Lyon is amazing. There's a mix of residential/cultural/business. Yes, Lyon is a lot bigger city but surely one city in Ireland should try to go out on an architectural odyssey.

Valhalla90

I think they have missed an opportunity to get something iconic. It’s a SDZ site which gives them so much to play around with without the worry of planning appeals. Yet we are getting a 7 blocks of apartments all the same height and a hotel at 6 storeys which could have been much taller. It’s the Dublin Docklands all over again. The original requirements for the SDZ stated there were to be two buildings of height and scale at either end of the site. This from my understanding has not been fulfilled. While the apartment blocks at 8 storeys is good for scale the hotel is a massive let down!

Bards

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122177288#Comment_122177288

It was my good self that mentioned both the Dancing house in Prague and the many modern architecture buildings in Valencia... There are numerous examples around the world.. Hey even the new central bank in Dublin is different but it's the facade that gives it that look and can easily be replicated to a standard square concrete formed building which is relatively cheap to build.. We're not reinventing the wheel here…

azimuth17

This is a hotel in Drogheda. I sthis what people want, don't want?

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122178535#Comment_122178535

If I saw that being built on the NQs I would lose the will!

Valhalla90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122178535#Comment_122178535

This is as bad as what they demolished on the North Quays!

Bards

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122178535#Comment_122178535

Definitely do not want

Bards

What are people's thoughts in the Strand Hotel in Limerick

azimuth17

Or this? Id like to see some indication of style/choice!

azimuth17

Or maybe the traditional Parisian hotel?

914

I think the original Falcon design was on the right track

Valhalla90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122179597#Comment_122179597

Yeah definitely! While it’s not the best at least it had height! Still can’t believe they are going with a 6 storey hotel here.

Asdfgh2020

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122179641#Comment_122179641

you can be sure it’s all down to economics/ financial risk….easy for local ‘experts’ here to critique the plans but have any of you ever been tasked with planning/designing/building/ financing/ project managing anything bigger than a one of house/extension to an existing one…?

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122180456#Comment_122180456

Correct, it is down to economics/financial risk and the developer ensuring they get the best return on their investment.

That said I don't think there is anything wrong with people here expressing what they would or would not like to see developed in the area.

After all the biggest stake holders in the project are the people of Waterford, us our children and our childrens children will have to look across at the NQs, live, work, socialise in the North Quays.

I previously stated growing up in Waterford and seeing all the cranes in the O Connell Street area I was buzzing, Waterford was becoming a proper city with the apartments and at the time some of those apartment buildings looked really well. Now look at that area of town, if I had my way I would go back in time and give myself a slap. I do think apartment living in the North Quays would be different but in order for apartments to work you need well paid young people to take up residency.

No matter what we do or don't say won't make the slightest bit of difference but I do feel it's nice to see people so passionate about the project and Waterford.

After all this is a discussion form for people to express their views/opinions on such matters.

Valhalla90

I am Waterfords biggest supporter. I’m finding this plan just hard to accept. We waited a long time after Falcon fell through to be given this very average design. Falcon had proposed 3 high rise, which give the public a sense of the importance of the site and scale. Limerick has the Clayton hotel which is 17 storeys on the banks of the Shannon. It’s gives Limerick a proper city feeling. Waterford is missing this at the moment. 6 storeys is just not good enough for this site. Also the SDZ requirements were for a building of scale at each end of the site. This cannot be ignored. The apartments are fine my issue is with the hotel height. Also I don’t agree with this temporary carpark idea. Once constructed we will never get rid of them. We shouldn’t accept less than the best for this site.

azimuth17

Interesting to see new student accommodation in Galway at six storeys.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122182571#Comment_122182571

all badly needed, good to see this is being slowly addressed to

Kincora2017

Can someone enlighten me as to whether there is a lack of hotel beds in the city right now? Off the top of my head there are already 5 hotels (min) along the south quays. Although everyone is of course entitled to their opinion, I’m struggling with the idea of the high rise hotel on the NQs. Yes it could probably work from a visual point of view but we already have 1 white elephant hotel over there, do we really need to risk a second?

For me anyway, the key to this is what happens along the boardwalk/at ground level. This area needs to be buzzing with a nice mix of shops/ restaurants/ bars, and there needs to be activities with boats coming and going, places to sit and walk etc. I also dread that we’ll only see the usual 1 & 2 bed apartment mix- no use to anyone those.

azimuth17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122183877#Comment_122183877

The "white elephant " you refer to, presumably the Ardree has been in the High Court for the past number of years in a very well publicised case of adverse possession involving Traceys Hotel, hence nothing could happen there. The case has only recenty been concluded.

There is an acknowledged lack of hotel beds in the city.

Kincora2017

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122183921#Comment_122183921

Thanks for that. I didn’t know what the story was with hotel availability. To be honest I’m surprised as whenever someone I know has needed a hotel bed there’s never been an issue. Interesting none the less.

914

Slightly off topic, what's the story with Falcon Real-estate? Very little on them when googling now makes me think the council dodged a bullet

Bards

Company set. Up specifically to handle the north quays... Similar to harcourt setting up Hopcast Ltd for the NQ too.. Not uncommon for large projects such as this

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122188744#Comment_122188744

Ah ok, but they previously had websites displaying their retailers etc, which I am struggling to find, unless I'm using the wrong company name etc

Bards

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122188838#Comment_122188838

I believe that was alhokair the parent company

Bards

Tomorrow marks the 14 days since the pre-planning application appeared in the munster express.. According to the planning laws, Harcourt have 14 days to apply for planning once the pre-planning application is published... After the 14 days then the application becomes invalid and a new application process must begin... Tik tok time is ticking

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122188910#Comment_122188910

Ah that was it, thank you. Speaking of hotels their image of a hotel on their homepage would be an ideal setting on the NQs