The Destruction of St. Stephen's Green

Kintarō Hattori

I was on the phone with my auld lad tonight and he was telling me that while the Metro is going to be built under St. Stephen's Green access to the park is going to be limited. The arch will be removed and eventually returned, dozen's of mature tree's dug-up and the lake to be drained. It's a haven in the city centre and it seems that after construction is finished, 2-3 years, it just won't look the same. Air ducts from the metro will be visible as well as emergency escape stairs etc.

I did a quick search on Google and found the following discussion:
http://www.archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?t=6888

OK it's great to get a Metro system but it shouldn't be at the cost of the park. I'm aghast that they even considered this idea. There have been so many bad decisions made recently in the city, such as the 'wonderful' new office block in front of Dublin castle, but this just takes the biscuit.

What do you fellow boardsies think? Should the Meto come at the expense of St. Stephen's Green or should it be left as it is, a wonderful mature piece of nature in the city centre.

bronte

God I really love the green, v suprised they considered messing around with the park for this.

admiralofthefleet

progress

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

if you want nature, leave dublin. Too many people and cars around to ground a project like this to keep a park looking pretty.

BraziliaNZ

has to be done. Nice park yes but it doesn't make up for the car parks that are our roads from 9 to 5 everyday.

Edit: 24hrs a day actually

Ross_Mahon

I'm not a fan of nature, i say destroy it

Overheal

but thats like mini mini Not So Central Park! :eek:

They cant do that.

Kintarō Hattori

Wow I can't believe some of the opinions being expressed here. In the thread I linked too it was mentioned that the Green isn't the ideal place for a central hub as it's not strictly in the city centre and it was suggested that O'Connell Street or it's surrounds would make a much better location for a central station. I'd have to agree with this.

More importantly however do you not hold anything close to your heart in regards to the city? Do you not think its important to have somewhere to escape the manic nature of the city for a short while, somewhere you can bring someone for a stroll, take the kids etc. Do you not realise the importance of maturity, the beauty of it? You can't just rip the green up and patch it back together when your done, only nature can do that.

Would you not agree that the mature tree's that used to line O'Connell Street were far better looking than those that we have now and gave the place a better atmosphere?

Dont be at yourself

You can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs.

No matter what is done, people will find a reason to complain.

seraphimvc

oh no!!then i will lose my friends who live there!!!johnny,danny and donaldy...:(

no!!

MagicMarker

there's a metro line being installed? Do tell....

Overheal

seraphimvc wrote: »

oh no!!then i will lose my friends who live there!!!johnny,danny and donaldy...:(

no!!

ducks or hobos?

BraziliaNZ

it's a nice park but the slightest bit of sun and you can't find anywhere to sit. I don't care we need a metro more than anything in Dublin.

Rb

eo980 wrote: »

Wow I can't believe some of the opinions being expressed here. In the thread I linked too it was mentioned that the Green isn't the ideal place for a central hub as it's not strictly in the city centre and it was suggested that O'Connell Street or it's surrounds would make a much better location for a central station. I'd have to agree with this.

As do I.

I really like Stephens Green and it'll be a shame to see it ruined by this monstrosity.

Thrill

Thrill: "This should be posted in the Du..Dub...Duuuu..D....D..."

Yoda: " The battle to not say "Dublin Forum" is strong in this one"

Thrill: " This topic belongs in the Dubbb....Dubbb....Duuuu"

Yoda: "Strong is the will power in this poster. "Dublin forum" he will not say."

Thrill: "Will someone move this f*cking thread to the Dublin forum please"

Yoda: "Groan."

Rb

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

it's a nice park but the slightest bit of sun and you can't find anywhere to sit. I don't care we need a metro more than anything in Dublin.

But it only serves the Northside and Dublin West, why should it affect Dublin City South by destroying one of it's oldest and most famous parks?

flanum

meh, i dont give a flying fork! its Dublin i think you are referencing here? nothing to do with me then so!
What about the job they done on bridge street in cavan? i beleive they had to knock part of a wall down to get a digger in. somebody was saying a starling built a nest in it once.

Rb

Thrill wrote: »

Thrill: "This should be posted in the Du..Dub...Duuuu..D....D..."

Yoda: " The battle to not say "Dublin Forum" is strong in this one"

Thrill: " This topic belongs in the Dubbb....Dubbb....Duuuu"

Yoda: "Strong is the will power in this poster. "Dublin forum" he will not say."

Thrill: "Will someone move this f*cking thread to the Dublin forum please"

Yoda: "Groan."

Nah it should be left here to flaunt the new thing Dublins getting that Cork will never have

Ross_Mahon

Speak backwards i do

BraziliaNZ

it should be here for all to view as it's the most important city in Ireland and all of your lives. Plus we're spending culchie tax money on it hahaha.

Rb

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Plus we're spending culchie tax money on it hahaha.

Lol

Kintarō Hattori

I put it here because I was in such shock that this was even considered and wanted to see what other posters opinions were. I'm not old, I'm 30 but the level of apathy that my generation and others display in their daily lives leaves me feeling dismayed for our future.

Bulldozing something and building a new road, or office block or whatever isn't always progress. I have no doubt that future generations will look back on us and be horrified at some of the decisions that we let happen.

ironictoaster

Ahh, I love the park..It will be missed..

BraziliaNZ

jesus they're not destroying the park it will be a mess for a bit but afterwards we'll have a park again with some different trees. Build a bridge!!! (They might have to build new bridges in the park actually if the old ones get knocked down)

Kintarō Hattori

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

jesus they're not destroying the park it will be a mess for a bit but afterwards we'll have a park again with some different trees. Build a bridge!!! (They might have to build new bridges in the park actually if the old ones get knocked down)

That was a joke right?

robby^5

Good god, I see the point the OP is trying to make here... when construction begins all the emo kids and wasters will flock back into the city... good god we're all doomed.

Rb

eo980 wrote: »

I'm not old, I'm 30

I suppose you're also not in denial, eh?

BraziliaNZ

attempted humour

flanum

ok then, in before the "moved to dublin forum".

Kintarō Hattori

rb_ie wrote: »

I suppose you're also not in denial, eh?

No not at all, I still feel like a whippersnapper.

darkman2

I dont think many people in Dublin will be too impressed if a few trees and a lake stop this project. They will be put back. No more delays - just get the fuppin things built. Its because of attitudes like the OP's that these things take an eternity.

Kintarō Hattori

darkman2 wrote: »

I dont think many people in Dublin will be too impressed if a few trees and a lake stop this project. They will be put back. No more delays - just get the fuppin things built. Its because of attitudes like the OP's that these things take an eternity.

I think the last sentance of your post is very general darkman2. I certainly don't go opposing everything left, right and centre but this plan for the Green has bowled me over.

Oh and for the benefit of clarity I'm not a Dub myself.

monkeyfudge

I got my first ever feel of boob in one of the sections that will be closed off...

Can't help but think of the balls they made of Fairview Park with the Port Tunnel construction. So far no attempt seems to have been made to restore they damage the did.

They should have bought up the land where the old Eircom building used to be just down the road there, that would have been a much better site for the station.

Kintarō Hattori

monkeyfudge wrote: »

I got my first ever feel of boob in one of the sections that will be closed off...

Can't help but think of the balls they made of Fairview Park with the Port Tunnel construction. So far no attempt seems to have been made to restore they damage the did.

They should have bought up the land where the old Eircom building used to be just down the road there, that would have been a much better site for the station.

Man boobs don't count MonkeyFudge. Anywhooo, thanks for the comment, a voice of reason.

flanum

so what about tara/skryne? what about all the other "green" spots being built over/developed etc around IRELAND? wheres the outrage? (presumably in the local forums)!

randylonghorn

I would tend to agree that Stephen's Green is a bit off centre for a central hub ... but would the city survive a couple of years of having O'Connell Street dug up, for instance? (Under Trinity pitches would probably be as central as you could get, in fact, but can you see that happening? )

I don't really like the idea of the Green being pulled apart, but I would be a lot more agitated if it were for an office block or a road. At least the Green can be restored afterwards on this project.

And if we could improve the Dublin public transport system somewhat, maybe we could actually cross the street to the Green without choking on exhaust fumes from the volume of traffic? Hell, at the moment even as deep as it is possible to go within the Green, you're still breathing exhaust fumes!


EDIT: MF, where was the old Eircom building?

flanum

Who is "we"? i dont have to feckin travel anywhere near there these days... "we" ? ... dont speak for me!

monkeyfudge

randylonghorn wrote: »

EDIT: MF, where was the old Eircom building?

I think it was Eircom... it was to the left of the Gaiety. It's been completely demolished for new development and is currently a very large hole in the ground.

Gekko

I think it's a fuzzucking travesty

that is all

randylonghorn

flanum wrote: »

Who is "we"? i dont have to feckin travel anywhere near there these days... "we" ? ... dont speak for me!

I wouldn't dream of attempting to speak for you, flanum, I think that prodigious feat would be well beyond my meagre capabilities.

However, it is our capital city, like it or not. I don't live nor have I ever lived in Dublin, I'm a westerner. I would still prefer to see the city improved rather than destroyed.

Kintarō Hattori

No I thought MF meant on O'Connell Street.

monkeyfudge

Ideally they should just bring the frickin Green Luas line down to O'Connell street to meet the metro there, like they should have done to have the Luas lines meet in the first place.

randylonghorn

monkeyfudge wrote: »

I think it was Eircom... it was to the left of the Gaiety. It's been completely demolished for new development and is currently a very large hole in the ground.

Ah, I think I know where you mean all right. Can't remember what was there before though.

monkeyfudge

Actually could we not use this as an excuse to knock down an ugly building instead...? Perhaps get a Metro stop at the Central Bank on Dame Street.

BraziliaNZ

randylonghorn wrote: »

but would the city survive a couple of years of having O'Connell Street dug up, for instance?

It was dug up for 4 or 5 years during refurbishments and LUAS!!! It was dug up all the time after that too! Is it still dug up now? Haven't been home in ages

randylonghorn

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Actually could we not use this as an excuse to knock down an ugly building instead...? Perhaps get a Metro stop at the Central Bank on Dame Street.

Aye, or Liberty Hall!

Though the Central Bank would be an ideal location, tbh.

monkeyfudge

randylonghorn wrote: »

Though the Central Bank would be an ideal location, tbh.

It would also be far more disruptive to the city's emo population.

doonothing

The metro literally has to run through that little patch of land? The luas managed to avoid it...

randylonghorn

monkeyfudge wrote: »

It would also be far more disruptive to the city's emo population.

Oh, dear! I've just constructed a whole x-files plot in my head about displaced emos throwing themselves under the bulldozers in protest, and manifesting themselves as avenging ghosts in the Metro station years later!



Cast:
Mulder: 6th
Scully: Azezil

kowloon

I brought my first proper ladyfriend there and we fed the ducks. As I grow older and all the good experiences of life are consigned to memory I would like to revisit the damn place! This sucks much ass. Theres plenty of ****ty concrete monsters to dispose of first.

Overheal

irish poets turn in their graves, im sure.