Opera Centre

pigtown

Do we know if Sarsfield House will be signed over to LCCC in return?

Cookiemunster

While it wasn't mentioned in the press release, it was part of the agreement put to the councillors. So I'd assume that it will be.

Brennans Row

I was in Tescos last week so I grabed a shot from the Arthurs Quay roof top car park.

When will those Georgian buildings on Patrick / Rutland Street, Ellen Street plus the old Quins building get restored?

Vanquished

They haven't identified a funding stream for the conservation and refurbishment of Quin's pub or the Georgian townhouses on Rutland Street, Patrick Street and Ellen Street. Quin's has been empty since 2006 and the townhouses are vacant since 2008. 17 years of dilapidation and vacancy along two core streets on one of the primary approaches to the city centre is shameful and embarrassing.

Once the basement works were done on the overall site, there was no reason not to proceed with bringing the street facing buildings on Patrick Street at least back into use for residential and commercial. The Ellen Street townhouses were originally earmarked as being part of the hotel project but that might evolve depending on which operator takes on that site.

The refurbishment of Quin's as a bar/restaurant should have been undertaken in tandem with the One Opera Square project. At least then some life and active street frontage would finally have been brought back to at least one area of the block. No news on any tenants for the 6 storey One Opera Square building yet either, which is essentially complete now.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123682402#Comment_123682402

Great to click you fingers and say reopen the pub but who would take it on while it's in the middle of a building site. I most certainly wouldn't.

Same for the apartments in the Georgian buildings. Like do you actually think they were viable in a construction site with ever changing plans and layouts.

Vanquished

Yes, construction sites in city centres are so uncommon and totally incompatible with daily life in there. So much so that incredibly people continued to live in Watergate, Westgate House, Ormston House, Ellen Street apartments etc. whilst work was ongoing with One Opera Square.

The Old Quarter bar and guesthouse, City Library, Molly's Bar, along with numerous offices and business on Ellen Street and Michael Street somehow managed to keep operating during the construction work also. A new operator even took on and reopened a former bar right across the street from a construction site during that period also!! Absolutely unprecedented stuff altogether!!

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123682582#Comment_123682582

Last time I checked none of those places are actually part of the development.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123682418#Comment_123682418

Depends what you try to do. Foodie daytime place won't work in the middle of a construction site. A wet bar whose main hours of operation would be outside of the construction workers working week would have a chance though. The way the housing market is at the moment you could refurbish an apartment building in the sewer system with warnings of consistent flooding and somebody would rent it off you tomorrow

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683666#Comment_123683666

You "could do" anything but that's not the question. The question is "would you" and I can't see why the answer would be yes if you had the money and were looking to invest. There was also a recession and no housing crisis when they were left to rot.

Also those sites were cleared because Opera was originally going to be a shopping centre and between then and now had different owners if I remember correctly so I don't think the people in charge now are to blame because the damage was done.

Glenomra

from the Leader, 'A planning application has been lodged for a multi-storey apartment building, which would be part of the Limerick Opera site. The new development would see 22 apartment units being developed on a vacant site in the Opera development. The architecture firm Healy Partners have teamed up with developers HKD Limited, to lodge the planning permission for the seven-storey building. The site would comprise of 16 one-bedroom apartments, six two-bed apartments, a communal area as well as a commercial premises. Part of the plan includes the demolition of a vacant garage on Michael Street, in a bid to transform the space to a “vibrant contemporary addition” to Limerick’s city centre.'

Was this proposed development, which sounds very promising, part of the original plans for the Opera Site, or a recent introduction?

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123723646#Comment_123723646

That sounds like the building across the road from Opera. I suppose everything around there is going to be announced as Opera now. A bit like the Leaders very loose definition of Moyross.

Cookiemunster

Yeah, it's the proposed block across the road.

Glenomra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123723935#Comment_123723935

Thanks, that makes sense. The Opera Site was/is very well defined, surrounded by Ellen Street, Michael Street, Rutland Street and Bank Place. I can't understand why this development is referred to as part of the Opera Development unless 2030 are promoting this development. Maybe limerick 2030 are responding to criticism of the lack of accommodation in the site and are promoting adjacent accommodation development. I don't know. Regardless this further development is very welcome.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123724355#Comment_123724355

It's because Opera is good clickbait.

Like I was saying earlier it's the same as a development on Coonagh Cross or anywhere along the new bypass being called Moyross.

dave 27

I suppose the size of the development kind of creates its own name for that area, just another reference point like what the market quarter is

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123724803#Comment_123724803

Does anyone actually call it the market quarter ?

More recognisable and reality based a name than our stupid "fashion quarter" at least

TheWonderLlama

does anyone know what the other two quarters are, or is that still being decided by LCCC?

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123724964#Comment_123724964

Medieval, fashion, market and Georgian I think it was. But there was also plans for Colbert quarter and I'm sure Cleeves will be some sort of quarter in the end.

Because we are twice as good as other cities we will get 8 quarters 😁

geotrig

I've only ever seen the market and fashion quarter and have never been sure where they actually cover so mabe just add an opera quarter and we'll cover any development in the general area, which build is this being planned for ?

mart 23

Anything happening in Opera Square

sleepyman

Is there a tenant for the office building that's nearly finished?

Poxyshamrock

Hoarding is down along Michael street and EVA will be using some units for the duration of the exhibition.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123777369#Comment_123777369

Weird seeing that area look normal again.

Berty

It's like seeing the Bons hospital in Towlerton(or Ballysimon until I get used to saying Towlerton) and the hoarding has been coming down for the past few days and now you can see the building and car park more clearly. The entire area has changed dramatically in a few years.

chicorytip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123777369#Comment_123777369

I don't like the colour of the brick used in the construction of the new library.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123779852#Comment_123779852

Has any brick gone up on the new library yet ?

source

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123779852#Comment_123779852

That's not the new library, that's an office block. The library is going into the old Mid West Business Institute building on Rutland Street. Construction on the library hasn't started yet.

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123779852#Comment_123779852

The new building is the One Opera Square office building. Library is to be built on the other side of the square. The next building to go to construction will be the tower.

sleepyman

To me the whole project is a massive missed opportunity.Why such a high priority was placed on office space I don't know.

How long will it take for One Opera Square to get a tenant I wonder.The Tower element is more suited to a river site.The funding isn't available I believe for the other sites.

At least if the old buildings were restores on the Patrick St and Elkem St sides you could have the footpaths back open to the public.

I'm beginning to wonder will it be all finished by 2030 or will we still be walking through a building site well into the 2030s.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123781176#Comment_123781176

What's the "funding not available" thing about ?

Opera is where it is so you can't build a tower as part of Opera somewhere else. Do you think it would be better to not build anything high here ?