Smithfield

stered

Renting in Smithfield square two years now. Love the area, close to town, quiet enough and plenty of shops/bars/restaurants nearby to keep me happy.

My main concern (horse fair aside) is the construction work on the square. It's been going on since I moved in and it now has what seems to be a permanent building site in the middle of it now with no work being carried out at all.

Does anyone know the story and is there anything that can be done to remove it or get work going again? It's an eye sore and the majority of the work is now completed.

MadsL

Ring Dublin city architects office and ask/complain. It is their project.

FreudianSlippers

Works are substantially finished, there are few small things to do (some cobbles etc.) and the Beech hedge planters need to be put in place (although they look significantly dead to my untrained eye, but whatevs ). Then there is the matter of moving out the extra materials/dirt/cobbles and equipment.

I'd say they'll be done for summer at the rate their going though.

monument

Was thinking at the weekend that it's taking a long time with the area been left as a building site. But there is work progressing -- mostly on the side streets.

Also:

Did they know when they started the revamp that the new garage at the south-west corner would start up and need access?

And where exactly are the planters going?

MadsL

monument wrote: »

Was thinking at the weekend that it's taking a long time with the area been left as a building site. But there is work progressing -- mostly on the side streets.

Also:

Did they know when they started the revamp that the new garage at the south-west corner would start up and need access?

And where exactly are the planters going?

No they didn't. Recommend that garage by the way -sound guy running it. I don't know about the planters but Smithfield will be stuck with the motorway scaled bi-lingual signage for seven years or so.



And to quote a poster on Archiseek...what the fuck is this???



Grass, horses, Smithfield.

Any ideas why they planted a dog toilet for the kids to play in??

psychward

Smithfield has always been partly construction site as long as I can remember a decade before you even moved there. I think someone has been digging up holes in the square there the last 15 years for the craic and for brown envelopes. Theres this strange boxy brick structure at the southern LUAS end which seems to serve no purpose. They should have knocked that first before they did anything else as it just gets in the way and spoils the view of paddy joe levering a slash hook into someone.

MadsL

psychward wrote: »

Smithfield has always been partly construction site as long as I can remember a decade before you even moved there. I think someone has been digging up holes in the square there the last 15 years for the craic and for brown envelopes. Theres this strange boxy brick structure at the southern LUAS end which seems to serve no purpose. They should have knocked that first before they did anything else as it just gets in the way and spoils the view of paddy joe levering a slash hook into someone.

You are aware that that is a 19th Century Market police station??

Also DCC gave it away to Liam Carroll by getting their maps mixed up when they sold the triangular site left over after the LUAS was built. He wanted a ten storey building there.

It was also promised by DCC to an Arts group but DCC welshed on the deal.

psychward

MadsL wrote: »

You are aware that that is a 19th Century Market police station??

Do you mean the larger boxy structure ? I wasn't sure what it was. I thought it was possibly a 19th century Jacks... And I assumed that while ugly there was probably a good heritage argument for retaining it just no good reason not to find a use for it even as a tourist office or office where people can pick up items such as Segways or rent bicycles etc.

I meant another smaller eyesore a bit more North of this building but still on the south side of the square and in the middle of the Southern side. It's sticking up out of the ground for no reason I can fathom. Any idea what it is ?

MadsL wrote: »

Also DCC gave it away to Liam Carroll by getting their maps mixed up when they sold the triangular site left over after the LUAS was built. He wanted a ten storey building there.

It was also promised by DCC to an Arts group but DCC welshed on the deal.

I wouldn't be surprised if DCC swapped the Book of Kells for a DVD of Harry Met Sally :rolleyes:

If NAMA owns it they should give it back but not to DCC, maybe to some conservation trust.

MadsL

Picture tells a 1000 words...

psychward

MadsL wrote: »

Picture tells a 1000 words...

Fine. I'll take a picture next time I pass through the area which could be tomorrow .

kylith

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

Works are substantially finished, there are few small things to do (some cobbles etc.) and the Beech hedge planters need to be put in place (although they look significantly dead to my untrained eye, but whatevs ). Then there is the matter of moving out the extra materials/dirt/cobbles and equipment.

I'd say they'll be done for summer at the rate their going though.

I wouldn't be too worried if I were you; the beech used for hedging keeps its dead leaves through winter. It'll be shedding them soon and the new leaves will be coming in.

reprazant

MadsL wrote: »

Grass, horses, Smithfield.

Any ideas why they planted a dog toilet for the kids to play in??

As far as I know, DCC asked the locals what they wanted in the square and then used the best of the idea's, so there is greenery, a place for a market and something else that I can't remember.

Not sure what you mean by a dog toilet unless you think that planting greenery is a bad thing?

MadsL

As far as I know, DCC asked the locals what they wanted in the square and then used the best of the idea's, so there is greenery, a place for a market and something else that I can't remember.

Ah, the famous DCC 'consultations'. I remember asking them why they were still allowing parking on the square after the renovations when there was a massive underground car park under-utilised below Smithfield. They mumbled something about access to the private Healthcare clinic. I pointed out there were lifts to that basement parking but perhaps you could have healthcare parking only, and perhaps as you are putting electricity boxes below ground in for events you could have a recharge point for electric vehicles. The response was "but no-one has any electric vehicles" to which I asked of course "do you think that might be due to the fact DCC haven't yet provided any charge points?"

DCC seem absolutely welded to the idea of surface carparking, not to mention not taking action on the unauthorised surface carparking at the Irish Distillers site (rejected the planning permission) but Apcoa are still operating it.

As to the dog toilet, do you really think that this 'green' area is going to make it through the summer and the local responsible dog owners of Smithfield will pick up after their dogs. I don't believe DCC even provided a bin for dog faeces.

As to the other end, given they have built a makeshift skatepark, why didnt they build a skatepark?

The tubs and trees are a moveable fun and games whilst they figure how to give Flo access, and as to the light up concrete balls, oh dear.

The horse trough being brought back is deliciously ironic and welcome, DCC opposing the horse fair but spending millions providing water and grass for the horses!

But DCC really don't do civic spaces - see the mess made of the space next to Busaras and the old City Hall on Dame St.

MadsL

psychward wrote: »

Fine. I'll take a picture next time I pass through the area which could be tomorrow .

Any pics?

psychward

MadsL wrote: »

Any pics?

I haven't forgotten ! For some reason I just can't seem to pass by that area lately

lorcandk

Just a comment on the Smithfield dog toilet There's a small new kid's playground (3 activities I think) at the bottom of the square now, with another small lawn. Had words with a bloke who was watching his little dog do a poo there near where the kids were playing. He said it was only a small one. That's ok then.

aliveandkicking

MadsL wrote: »

You are aware that that is a 19th Century Market police station??

Also DCC gave it away to Liam Carroll by getting their maps mixed up when they sold the triangular site left over after the LUAS was built. He wanted a ten storey building there.

It was also promised by DCC to an Arts group but DCC welshed on the deal.

http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.347466,-6.277233&spn=0.000005,0.001714&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.347588,-6.278232&panoid=J_ccT0GAxyJEfU3OodtRVQ&cbp=12,308.59,,0,-5.39

Is this really a 19th Century market police station?

[Jackass]

Smithfield is a badly failed regeneration project in my opinion.

Really run down in parts still and revamp works are poor quality. Area seems desolate at times too and was supposed to be a "posh" area of town, but really attracting bad elements gradually, and the horse stuff doesn't help! :pac:

Delancey

I've been told a lot of apartments are occupied by ' escorts ' with punters in and out of the apartments all day . Who would want that in their building ?

Seems to me that any re-generation project with a significant apartment dimension is doomed - investors snap them up but never live in them and are happy to rent them out to any riff raff.

monument

Delancey wrote: »

I've been told a lot of apartments are occupied by ' escorts ' with punters in and out of the apartments all day . Who would want that in their building ?

Few people... but what's a lot?

Delancey wrote: »

Seems to me that any re-generation project with a significant apartment dimension is doomed - investors snap them up but never live in them and are happy to rent them out to any riff raff.

While I would not call Smithfield, the Docklands, Island Bridge and many smaller pockets of regeneration around the city, perfect. All of them are far from doomed!

Delancey

I cannot say how many apartments are occupied by hookers I must admit but I suppose even 1 or 2 is too many.

I suppose we will need to wait decades to see if these projects fail long-term . I believe that past tax incentives seriously distored planning decisions , when the Quays regeneration was underway it was said the Government of the day was giving tax breaks to build the next generation of Dublin slums , given how the Quays turned out there are few who would argue with that.

Tombo2001

lorcandk wrote: »

Just a comment on the Smithfield dog toilet There's a small new kid's playground (3 activities I think) at the bottom of the square now, with another small lawn. Had words with a bloke who was watching his little dog do a poo there near where the kids were playing. He said it was only a small one. That's ok then.

The only thing more annoying that dog poo is the indifferent attitude of dog owners* to dog poo.

*Cue dog owners saying I am a dog owner and I always.....

......thats fine. There's dog ****e everywhere you look in certain parts of Dublin; eg Smithfield. It comes from somewhere, and by and large I would say there are not many stray dogs in the city.

.....and there are certain types of dog owner that you dont really challenge about dog poo. And a lot of them hang around Smithfield.

Tombo2001

I would add,

I think Smithfield is an area that has many major plusses, and could be a fantastic area, but is not a fantastic area.....

Mainly for reason that there so many scangers hanging around it, relating to the courthouse I imagine. What can be done about that? I dont know. But that would be the major issue.

A seperate issue; there is a traditional Smithfield community, living in the flats and council houses. There is the recent Smithfield community living in the apartments.

My guess is that the two dont mix. I think it would be better if the two communities did mix.

One very obvious thing for me is the cinema. There are loads of kids in the Smithfield vicinity. How ****ing snobby does a cinema have to be that it would completely ignore its doorstep demographic, and never ever show a kids movie, and only show Arthouse movies that people from Terenure are commuting in to see.

Second, Smithfield should try to get some residents street parties going, strictly resident run, with strict controls imposed by residents about who goes and what involves (ie its remains pleasant). I think that sort of thing would improve it a lot.

I dont live in Smithfield, but live very close by.

Lux23

Delancey wrote: »

I cannot say how many apartments are occupied by hookers I must admit but I suppose even 1 or 2 is too many.

I would imagine you find that in most big city centre buildings in the IFCS, Harcourt Street, around the canal at Baggot Street bridge and citywest is rife with it.

I live in Stoneybatter/Smithfield and I have to say it's far safer than I thought it would be apart from the depressing sight of the occasional street prostitute.(The men are the worst!)

reprazant

Tombo2001 wrote: »

A seperate issue; there is a traditional Smithfield community, living in the flats and council houses. There is the recent Smithfield community living in the apartments.

I live in Stoneybatter, which I presume you mean by the traditional Smithfield community. Both the 'tourists' and the 'traditional' community do mix but that comes from being neighbours. I find that apartment living does not lead to any sort of a community and has nothing to do with the different types of 'community' there.

Tombo2001 wrote: »

One very obvious thing for me is the cinema. There are loads of kids in the Smithfield vicinity. How ****ing snobby does a cinema have to be that it would completely ignore its doorstep demographic, and never ever show a kids movie, and only show Arthouse movies that people from Terenure are commuting in to see.

The lighhouse cinema is an art house cinema and got funding from the council to be that. It is not fully art house anyway (it is currently showing Pixar's Brave, but focuses on Irish films which don't get a showing in the usual cinema's. Dublin doesn't really need another cinema showing the same films that every other cinema shows. Cineworld with its gazillion screens is a 15 minute walk from it. I am not sure how the Lighthouse cinema is being snobby really. Is Mulligans also snobby for not catering for the majority? Or the bakery for cheap sliced white pans? If anything, your attitude is quite snobby. Do you have to be from a nice, middle class area like Terenure to go watch films there?

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Second, Smithfield should try to get some residents street parties going, strictly resident run, with strict controls imposed by residents about who goes and what involves (ie its remains pleasant). I think that sort of thing would improve it a lot.

There were lots of street feast parties in the area on during the summer.

Tombo2001

reprazant wrote: »

I live in Stoneybatter, which I presume you mean by the traditional Smithfield community. Both the 'tourists' and the 'traditional' community do mix but that comes from being neighbours. I find that apartment living does not lead to any sort of a community and has nothing to do with the different types of 'community' there.


The lighhouse cinema is an art house cinema and got funding from the council to be that. It is not fully art house anyway (it is currently showing Pixar's Brave, but focuses on Irish films which don't get a showing in the usual cinema's.

There were lots of street feast parties in the area on during the summer.

Point A, I didnt mean Stoneybatter, I meant Smithfield.

Point B, I would accept that if the Lighthouse was not in a residential area, but it is, and the point stands that it is ignoring the local demographic which is madness for a place that doesnt fill up, regardless of how its got its original funding. I am not suggesting that it only show kids blockbusters by any stretch, but I think outright refusing to is also madness. You can show a Ben 10 movie at mid-day on a Thursday and still be an arthouse movie the rest of the week.

Point C, There were street parties in Stoneybatter, not in Smithfield.

I would regard Smithfield ball park as the area with various council flats, apartment blocks and houses in an around the square on Smithfield, and east of Blackhall Place.

I would regard Stoneybatter as the area west of Prussia St and north of Arbour Hill.

They are two distinct areas in my mind.

oizie

Hi,
I am considering moving to this zone from Portugal.
It's all area that noisy?

I was considering this one http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1350331

But I would want some quiet place to rest.

I was looking in the manor street too but I really don't know if it's better or not.

Many thanks

MadsL

I'd look elsewhere than The Richmond, area is good but this a massive complex and has had it's share of prostitution issues.

Try negotiations on this or similar.

http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1356923

oizie

This apartment is great..
A bit expensive but looks very nice.
I could pay a little more if I have the guarantee that would have some rest at night.

Of course I value the location and the amenities.

Thanks for the advice.

oizie

Do you any more advices around this area?

My work is in Thomas Street, Dublin 8 and I'm still considering the best area to move.