Ferrybank Shopping Centre - The Poll

Dicky Pride

Hope this is ok Mods..

I just want to get an idea of what the people of the forum would actually like to see happen to "Ferrybank".

Yes Boss

Should never have received planning in the first place. Parochial planning at its worst. However, I would not knock it. I would use it as a conference venue, to benefit the entire region.

Max Powers

community centre, gym, enterprise incubator, indoor go kart track

BlaasForRafa

One of the reasons Waterford lost out to Dundalk for 1000 paypal jobs is that allegedly there was nowhere in waterford that could house that many callcentre jobs. If that centre was converted to offices it could easily take that many, also it would have easy access to people from KK, Tipp and Wexford to travel there to work.

wmpdd3

A call center would make sence, its got the parking.

Could we make it a car park for the church?

Dicky Pride

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

wmpdd3 wrote: »

A call center would make sence, its got the parking.

Could we make it a car park for the church?

Please tell me you're joking

Ethan Edwards

Open it up with a number of high profile retail units.

It should never open it will kill Waterford City Center. It should never ever have got planning permission it only got the go ahead because of the thousands of houses that were meant to be built up there, that wont be built now for years and years if ever. Knock it the ground and Jurys too.

Yes Boss

I would love to hear the reasons why people would vote in favour of this facility being opened as a retail space. It is clear that it was a mistake and a breach in the planning guidelines. If you take the possibility of jobs out of the equation (as they could be facilitated in the city centre), why open this as a retail space??

rasper

It comes across as extremely protectionist to exclaim that a shopping centre will kill Waterford cc , is that the way to attract people just by making sure they can go nowhere else , sounds crazy , surely people should be enticed with value , variety and convenience not trapped and herded like animals into nets

Finnbar01

We could turn it into a venue for the eurovision song contest, no?

Silverado

I totally agree that it is not suitable and not necessary as a shopping centre. The City Council planners weren't wrong when they objected against the original proposal by Kilkenny Co. Co.

However now that it is built it would seem a shame to tear it down when it could be used for something else. How about an auxiliary College to the WIT - perhaps they need another building for an expanding department.

Perhaps it could be used by one or more manufacturing industries. Building like this are often used to house factories in Hong Kong. It could also act as a splendid showroom for the product of the factory or factories.

Maybe that concept might put extra pressure on the IDA to find us a new badly needed industry. Would it be any use to Glanbia for their new plant? They did want to be in South Kilkenny.

comeraghs

Would it be in any way suitable for WIT to take some office space / Lucture facilities in there? Should be cheaper than building from scratch in Carriganore?

kensutz

Nuke it?

Finnbar01

Yes Boss wrote: »

I would love to hear the reasons why people would vote in favour of this facility being opened as a retail space. It is clear that it was a mistake and a breach in the planning guidelines. If you take the possibility of jobs out of the equation (as they could be facilitated in the city centre), why open this as a retail space??

The main reason would be rates. In fact, the primary reason of why our economy is in the doldrums is because of that. Politicians from all hues rezoning land and then rubbing their hands in glee with all the money coming in. Thinking what pet projects they could spend it on to curry more favour from the populace and get voted back in.

wellboytoo

People should realise this building Is shell and core only, nothing in there at all. So if Dunnes or anyone else want to open your looking at an outlay of say one hundred and fifty euro a square foot for any half decent fit out.
Any perspective tenant who's is looking to shell out that kinda cash in a shaky location like that should look for five years free rent minimum.
The cost of keeping it closed and secure is north of half a mill a year,as it is.this is only going one way,unless a Google or the like can be found and they refuseed Cork, Dublin only they said.

Finnbar01

wellboytoo wrote: »

People should realise this building Is shell and core only, nothing in there at all. So if Dunnes or anyone else want to open your looking at an outlay of say one hundred and fifty euro a square foot for any half decent fit out.
Any perspective tenant who's is looking to shell out that kinda cash in a shaky location like that should look for five years free rent minimum.
The cost of keeping it closed and secure is north of half a mill a year,as it is.this is only going one way,unless a Google or the like can be found and they refuseed Cork, Dublin only they said.

And that's exactly why it should be sold off. Maybe some charities, communtiy groups etc can make a go of it.

Bare in mind that it will fall to the wayside because of the elements and vandalism.

wellboytoo

Finnbar01 wrote: »

And that's exactly why it should be sold off. Maybe some charities, communtiy groups etc can make a go of it.

Bare in mind that it will fall to the wayside because of the elements and vandalism.

Finbar01 beginning to get suspicious you have a bundle of cash your sitting on and want a bargain! your in such a hurry to see it sold!!

curly.bert

Open it up with a number of high profile retail units.

Knock it. It hasn't got a viable future as a retail centre and highly unlikely that a multinational would find it attractive.

At some point we (as in Ireland) are going to have to grasp the nettle and demolish certain developments. This would be a good place to start. It looks rotten too - starting to get very shabby already.

When the bulldozers are finished with the shopping centre, they can head to the old Jury's site ...

Dicky Pride

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

Starting to get shabby already? Some evidence of that please?

Dunmoreroader

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Starting to get shabby already? Some evidence of that please?

Ferrybank & surrounding area does need and deserve some extra shops -every other suburb of Waterford has some. But it is too big, should have been built to suit suburban needs not city centre killer. So I suggest mix of local shops, take aways, bookies etc. with rest offered for office space, call ctr. or whatever.
Oh and apply for boundary extension so it's inside city limits. Kilkenny Co.Co.'s hooky planning decision should diqualify them from deriving any financial gain from this.

Dicky Pride

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

Can we ban people from saying it shouldn't have been built? Everyone knows this already.

Dunmoreroader

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Can we ban people from saying it shouldn't have been built? Everyone knows this already.

Dicky, if that's aimed at me, I didn't say it should't have been built; just adding my tupence worth on how to make a silk purse out of a Sow's ear!

Finnbar01

wellboytoo wrote: »

Finbar01 beginning to get suspicious you have a bundle of cash your sitting on and want a bargain! your in such a hurry to see it sold!!

Oh I wish.

Seriously though, what else can be done with it?

Ericaa

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

Yes Boss wrote: »

I would love to hear the reasons why people would vote in favour of this facility being opened as a retail space. It is clear that it was a mistake and a breach in the planning guidelines. If you take the possibility of jobs out of the equation (as they could be facilitated in the city centre), why open this as a retail space??

Because I have no car, I live in Ferrybank, so it'd be nice to have somewhere closer by :P

allthedoyles

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

The voters who want it demolished should really think again.

You never know but a multi-national / large Irish company may need this type of building yet.

While it is there , it could bring jobs to Waterford .

Get over the fact that it is in Co Kilkenny , because it is in the Waterford metropolitan area .

Bards

Open it up with a number of high profile retail units.

allthedoyles wrote: »

The voters who want it demolished should really think again.

You never know but a multi-national / large Irish company may need this type of building yet.

While it is there , it could bring jobs to Waterford .

Get over the fact that it is in Co Kilkenny , because it is in the Waterford metropolitan area .

It is a Shopping Centre Not an advanced office block. Would probably be cheaper to knock and build a brand new Highly specced office block than it would be to renovate the existing Shopping Centre.

Even better would be to knock this and develop the HALLS site on Dock Road.

For as long as it remains it posses a threat to the future vibility of Waterford City Centre.

What developer in their right mind will now develop a brand New Shopping Centre in the Heart of Waterford City while this White Elephant is still in Situ.

Dicky Pride

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

Well it's a Kilkenny building so why should they care about Waterford city centre. Just saying.

Why should they knock it to protect some other city?

This is not my opinion now...but what's the point in talking about knocking it when it's NEVER going to happen.

wellboytoo

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Well it's a Kilkenny building so why should they care about Waterford city centre. Just saying.

Why should they knock it to protect some other city?

This is not my opinion now...but what's the point in talking about knocking it when it's NEVER going to happen.

Dicky you are all over the place with your comments, you say it's a "Killkenny" building and why should they care about Waterford City?
That is the whole nux of the discussion that is going on here for years now, this was looked at in a micro climate from start to finish without looking at the big picture, hence stupid mistakes / grabs were made.
Despite your protestations "it will not be Knocked" unless a use can be found for it , the ultimate and cheapest solution will be to take it down, unpalateble to you though it may be.
There is NO requirement for that amount of retail square footage in the South east never mind Waterford City,in an area that has little if any footfall.
Remember the three most important Auctioneers rules about retail,
1 Location
2 Location
3 Location

So to finish whether we like it or not a beautifull building was built in the wrong place that was too big for location, solution find an alternative use or make it smaller.
I can see no other way.

Dicky Pride

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

Excuse me, how am I all over the place with my comments? You made that statement and then said nothing to back it up.

Everything I have said is factually correct so please refrain from saying nonsense like "you are all over the place with your comments".

curly.bert

Open it up with a number of high profile retail units.

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Starting to get shabby already? Some evidence of that please?

Look at the outside of it, from the main road. The plants and weeds are starting to overgrow. Looks rotten.

Also, I don't like the way it towers over the graveyard and church. Seems completely out of place to me. Horrible building with no future.

No multinational will ever go in there. It was built for retail not office space. There is a difference. Let us all be rid of it.

wellboytoo

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Excuse me, how am I all over the place with my comments? You made that statement and then said nothing to back it up.

Everything I have said is factually correct so please refrain from saying nonsense like "you are all over the place with your comments".

You ask people their opinion on what they would like to happen to the building but you only want to hear your answer,as in stating as a fact it will not be knocked down,how do you know this for a fact?
I apologise if I insulted you.
Will you now answer or refute the rest of my post?

Dicky Pride

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

Are you for real? I created a poll to see what te general consensus was. Have I shot down anyone else's opinion? Show me an example of where I'm acting like I "only want to hear your answer".

I'm just giving my opinion, that's all I can do. Everyone is entitled to that much at least. If you think it should be knocked down, I believe that would be madness, but you're entitled to believe it.

We all agree that it should never have been built but I would stake my life on it never being knocked down. If, when all is said and done and something nonsensical goes in there then maybe knocking it down would have been the better option but seriously...the stubborn people who gave the go ahead for into be built...do you really believe they would knock it? Or Nama...or whatever banks have their fingers in it at this stage.

I'm a waterfordian but I don't go in for all this scaremongering about competition. I would be delighted to see a major chain go into Ferrybank and I think it would actually be one of the Tescos that would suffer rather than the shops in town because let's face it, that's where people are shopping these days.

While we're talking about ridiculous planning decisions lets talk about tesco ballybeg...

tonc76

Tesco Ballybeg ... handy to get to, handy to get parking, never any queues at the tills and a petrol station

What more could you ask for??

Dicky Pride

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

Lol I'm not sure no queues is quite what they had planned there. Surplus to requirements.

wellboytoo

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Are you for real? I created a poll to see what te general consensus was. Have I shot down anyone else's opinion? Show me an example of where I'm acting like I "only want to hear your answer".

I'm just giving my opinion, that's all I can do. Everyone is entitled to that much at least. If you think it should be knocked down, I believe that would be madness, but you're entitled to believe it.

We all agree that it should never have been built but I would stake my life on it never being knocked down. If, when all is said and done and something nonsensical goes in there then maybe knocking it down would have been the better option but seriously...the stubborn people who gave the go ahead for into be built...do you really believe they would knock it? Or Nama...or whatever banks have their fingers in it at this stage.

I'm a waterfordian but I don't go in for all this scaremongering about competition. I would be delighted to see a major chain go into Ferrybank and I think it would actually be one of the Tescos that would suffer rather than the shops in town because let's face it, that's where people are shopping these days.

While we're talking about ridiculous planning decisions lets talk about tesco ballybeg...

Celtworld

Dicky Pride

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

Lol

tonc76

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Lol I'm not sure no queues is quite what they had planned there. Surplus to requirements.

I'm not (and don't think anyone is) concerned whether tesco are making a profit though

BlaasForRafa

Finnbar01 wrote: »

Oh I wish.

Seriously though, what else can be done with it?

Paintball or laser tag venue?

j/k btw

Yes Boss

I think Dunnes Store's decision to pay 21 million in compensation rather than open a store in Ferrybank should put this question to bed. They would rather throw 21 million down a hole before opening a shop in this white elephant.

Dicky Pride

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

Wellboytoo, I find it interesting that you're thanking all the posts that relate to Tesco Ballybeg. Waterford has Tescos coming out of its ears and you seem to be suggesting that it's a good thing that they're there.

Gadgie

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

Yes Boss wrote: »

I think Dunnes Store's decision to pay 21 million in compensation rather than open a store in Ferrybank should put this question to bed. They would rather throw 21 million down a hole before opening a shop in this white elephant.

Did they not have to pay it anyway, regardless of whether or not they opened a store there?

Jason Todd

Gadgie wrote: »

Did they not have to pay it anyway, regardless of whether or not they opened a store there?

I thought I heard that the 21m was for building work carried out to accommodate Dunnes.

Greenmachine

Never been in this development but it is disgusting that Dunnes would not pay their dept. The company in question went into receivership. Wonder why they did not claim for costs. Guess it is a mute point anyways seems as it belongs to NAMA now and not the original developer.

Nypd

Open it up with a number of high profile retail units.

What puzzles me is how a developer could take a project like this on.
Did everyone involved have blinkers on when they started planning this.

YumDeiseMum

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Starting to get shabby already? Some evidence of that please?

One of the big windows overlooking the graveyard was smashed and there's been a fire in the building a few weeks ago. I know they have to keep the railings around it to prevent vandalism but it looks terrible and as someone said all the green areas are overgrown.

wmpdd3

I didnt realise a window had been smashed. They cleared most of hte weeds and small rubbish that was around it a few weeks ago, but the railings are still there.

I saw a mock up a few years ago of a 'town center' bigger than Ardkeen centered around Mullinabro, I'd love to see it again. I think it was issued by the people selling one of the housing estates by the golf links.

The projected population rates were rabbit like!

wellboytoo

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Wellboytoo, I find it interesting that you're thanking all the posts that relate to Tesco Ballybeg. Waterford has Tescos coming out of its ears and you seem to be suggesting that it's a good thing that they're there.

No it's just that I don't care if Tesco's profits are being hurt and I happen to live close to their Ballybeg store and find it handy that it is always quite to buy fuel there!
simples

Dicky Pride

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

Interesting. So if you lived across the road from Ferrybank shopping centre you might think differently?

wmpdd3

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Interesting. So if you lived across the road from Ferrybank shopping centre you might think differently?

I live accross from it, how should I think?

wellboytoo

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Interesting. So if you lived across the road from Ferrybank shopping centre you might think differently?

Only if they sold Diesel, come on now Dicky your playing with words, I have said my piece on the shopping centre here and to the KK planning department at planning stage and ye both have something in common ye don't listen.:-):D

Dicky Pride

Open it, but not as retail, something else entirely (specify if possible)

I do listen, I just wanted to make sure you were consistent