Mart Site Sold

Threadhead

Confirmed on the news this morning that the Mart site has finally got a buyer.

Not confirmed as to who it is. Strongest rumour seems to be State Street.

Anyone got any ideas?

obezyana

State street, does that mean a big office block might be built there? There would be war in KK if that was the case.

Threadhead

I don't necessarily think there'd be war because frankly (imho), anything is better than the neglected site that we've had there since 2007. Although undoubtedly, lots of people will complain regardless and the conspiracy theories will fly about.

If it is State Street, I'd prefer they were in that location than on the brewery site.

My preference would be a mix of housing, green areas and businesses with a little bit of shopping (which was all in the original designs when the site was originally developed). Something that complements John's Green and Gasworks Lane and ideally doesn't look like a business park. Although with the new road going through it, I've no confidence that it won't be the case.

What would people like to see in that site?

Captain Havoc

I don't see a whole lot being able to go there, we don't need housing or retail and I assume you'd want industrial zones out of the city. Best case scenario was offices, hopefully more employment but unfortunately traffic is going to be a nightmare.

1984baby

A new secondary school would be ideal for that site.

But if State Street have bought it and develop it for their offices it should bring extra employment for the city.

obezyana

A big green/park/recreation area would be fantastic for Kilkenny. Its a shame that the only place like that is the castle. Dont get me wrong the castle grounds are lovely but its park is tiny and there is no pitches or recreational areas and if that wasn't there i don't know what id like to see there, but i definitely wouldnt like to see a big office or commercial building there.

Kirk Van Houten

I doubt its State Street. As far as I know they renewed their lease in Loughboy not too long ago. Haven't heard of any plans for them to go for their own building in Kilkenny.

Bowlardo

Threadhead wrote: »

Confirmed on the news this morning that the Mart site has finally got a buyer.
Not confirmed as to who it is. Strongest rumour seems to be State Street.
Anyone got any ideas?

What is your source that it was sold?

Kirk Van Houten wrote: »

I doubt its State Street. As far as I know they renewed their lease in Loughboy not too long ago. Haven't heard of any plans for them to go for their own building in Kilkenny.

The have other office down near john's green. maybe they are moving from them to bnew location. I know parking would be an issue in their current spot

road_high

Kirk Van Houten wrote: »

I doubt its State Street. As far as I know they renewed their lease in Loughboy not too long ago. Haven't heard of any plans for them to go for their own building in Kilkenny.

Would be very surprised too. They are big but certainly not a space intensive industry. There is many acres at the old mart. They'd surely expand their Loughboy facility rather than a city centre brownfield site.
Be very surprised if it wasn't Tesco tbh.

road_high

http://kclr96fm.com/news/sale-agreed-old-mart-site-kilkenny

Threadhead

Bowlardo wrote: »

What is your source that it was sold?


The have other office down near john's green. maybe they are moving from them to bnew location. I know parking would be an issue in their current spot

KCLR reported it this morning.

Kirk Van Houten

road_high wrote: »

Would be very surprised too. They are big but certainly not a space intensive industry. There is many acres at the old mart. They'd surely expand their Loughboy facility rather than a city centre brownfield site.
Be very surprised if it wasn't Tesco tbh.

State Street rent both the Loughboy and Barrack St offices and there was rumours a few years back about asking for another building in Loughboy ahead of agreeing a new contract. They have approx 500 staff in Kilkenny at the moment and are still growing. I agree that they wouldn't need the entire site but car parking alone for that number would take quite a bit of room.

road_high

Kirk Van Houten wrote: »

State Street rent both the Loughboy and Barrack St offices and there was rumours a few years back about asking for another building in Loughboy ahead of agreeing a new contract. They have approx 500 staff in Kilkenny at the moment and are still growing. I agree that they wouldn't need the entire site but car parking alone for that number would take quite a bit of room.

They'll hardly leave Loughboy, as an outsider that makes no sense. 14 acres for an office with 500+ plus sounds mad

Spins

Any idea how much it sold for? Did it reach anywhere near the asking price?

foxcoverteddy

I cannot believe traffic will be a problem to the mart site, we have the CAS which the council have deemed Grid lock will cure anything, remember trucks to and from the mart, trucks going and toing the brewery site, should be plain sailing.
Support your local council they know best?

imacman

I know somebody who works for Penneys and they had a meeting with staff last week to tell primark/penneys that they had bought the site and there will be a large scale development with a new penneys store and some other retailers.
Interesting developments

odin_ie

Imagine, a 14 acre Penny's shop!!!

linny

were pennys not rumoured to be going into macdonagh junction when the second part of the shopping centre is developed,(down past dunnes)

imacman

linny wrote: »

were pennys not rumoured to be going into macdonagh junction when the second part of the shopping centre is developed,(down past dunnes)

Yea that was on the cards a few years ago but mcDonagh were refused planning permission.

According to my friend work will begin on the site in the new year, she has seen some of the plans and there is going to be one of the largest pennys in Ireland but there is lots of retail space to be developed for other tenants too

linny

Yea that was on the cards a few years ago but mcDonagh were refused planning permission.

No full planning was granted for the future development at the rear of mac donagh junction, for another anchor tenant and other smaller stores,

This is great news if it is true but will they get planning for more retail in this part of the city, I thought that area is after been rezoned for housing

road_high

Mixed use development is ideal for this site given it's massive size and location. Retail, housing and office use is what's needed.

Spins

I heard a rumour that a cinema company may have been involved in the purchase. Anybody else hear this?

pueblo

Spins wrote: »

I heard a rumour that a cinema company may have been involved in the purchase. Anybody else hear this?

On the money..

linny

pueblo wrote: »

On the money..

You in the know ;-)

pueblo

linny wrote: »

You in the know ;-)

No, but I know someone in the know ...you know?

holyhead

Is it realistic to think that Penneys will keep the store in Market Cross as Boots did with keeping High St when they opened in McDonagh Junction?

linny

holyhead wrote: »

Is it realistic to think that Penneys will keep the store in Market Cross as Boots did with keeping High St when they opened in McDonagh Junction?

they might but I couldn't see them keeping market cross open if they were to open a store the size of newbridge or blanchardstown, but it would be agreat pull for shoppers to have a big pennys,

kikel

It would pull a hell of a lot of people out of town for sure. Would have a long term negative effect on retail trade in the high street. Looks like Joe Crockett and John Mullholland are about to allow the same thing that they allowed happen carlow happen kilkenny.

linny

kikel wrote: »

It would pull a hell of a lot of people out of town for sure. Would have a long term negative effect on retail trade in the high street. Looks like Joe Crockett and John Mullholland are about to allow the same thing that they allowed happen carlow happen kilkenny.

I would be thinking the opposite will bring people to the city, if they were to close market cross store would be nice to see a M&S in there

holyhead

M & S would be more likely to go the Old Mart Site but maybe I'm wrong. Twould be great to see M & S in KK though. Love their food. It will definitely shat on Market Cross were Penny's to pull out. I could see Heatons going to a large unit in the Mart Site too if they got the chance.

kikel

linny wrote: »

I would be thinking the opposite will bring people to the city, if they were to close market cross store would be nice to see a M&S in there

Do you think M&S would fit in that space?

Yes you might get more people going to kilkenny but very few would go to the city centre. Like carlow the main street would die. The current executive f*£ked up carlow and they are hell bent on doing the same to kilkenny.

pueblo

kikel wrote: »

Do you think M&S would fit in that space?

Yes you might get more people going to kilkenny but very few would go to the city centre. Like carlow the main street would die. The current executive f*£ked up carlow and they are hell bent on doing the same to kilkenny.

I agree about M&S not fitting on that space, but I think you are wrong to believe that all people (shoppers) want is a retail park experience.

There is more! For example restaurants,boutiques,hotels, art/heritage/archietecture /culture, the medieval mile, the list goes on..

...even if Penneys, Heatons and/or others left there would still be a good number of quality retailers/services left operating in the centre and certainly enough to remain a strong draw for footfall and spend imo.

kikel

If the mart site goes into large retail then the high street will really suffer hard. Just look at Naas and Carlow. Go speak to business on these towns Main Street an see the effect of out of town retail. The mart site will disect again kilkennys unique offering.

I'm all up for these shops for coming to kilkenny but how the fit in is very important. If it were my decision I would rip down the car park in market cross and put in an m&s thereafter could let penny's expand. It's got high street/heritage mile frontage. Granted parking is now an issue but mart site could be park and ride. Not the normal view but he'll we'd be getting more people on that medieval mile. Protect our core for all, citizens, current retailers, tourists.

pegasus1

kikel wrote: »

If it were my decision I would rip down the car park in market cross and put in an m&s

where would you park the car?

kikel

pegasus1 wrote: »

where would you park the car?

Yes parking would be something to look at. Park and ride would be great from mart site. Also car parks could be located in other places. But the main idea is focusing on our core and really develop what we got rather than split our core again with a new retail area.

Deathwish4

Park and ride in Kilkenny city :eek:

kikel

Deathwish4 wrote: »

Park and ride in Kilkenny city :eek:

Sure why not?

pueblo

kikel wrote: »

Sure why not?

they could use that train/bus thingy that does the tours

kikel

pueblo wrote: »

they could use that train/bus thingy that does the tours

It would be unique for an Irish city/town. Kilkenny could be an even better place if we removed cars from our streets especially during main shopping hours. Eg 11-6pm each day.

linny

planning has just be lodged for the new 10 screen, 1444 seat,4225sqm cinema on the old mart site, this will be great when it comes to pass,
http://planning.kilkennycoco.ie/FileRefDetails.aspx?file_number=1576&LASiteID=0

Threadhead

So breaking this down, and tell me if I've got this wrong, the new cinema will be on Barrack Street, with entrances on both the street side and the mart side. There's going to be a public square here coupled with a car park and this is what will be on the Mart side as far as it meets the CAS road. Is that right?

Any ideas then what's happening with the mart land on the other side of the CAS?

catbear

Threadhead wrote: »

Any ideas then what's happening with the mart land on the other side of the CAS?

I've no idea but it wouldn't be any harm if the lake that had been there once was reinstated.

Failing that a monster truck arena!:D

Threadhead

There was a lake there?

I'd be all over that monster truck arena either. If you're gonna build a road for HGV's, you might as well go all out.

Bowlardo

is it too much to have a map of exactly what it will look like?

linny

maps wont be up on council site for about another 2 weeks or so

catbear

Threadhead wrote: »

There was a lake there?

I'd be all over that monster truck arena either. If you're gonna build a road for HGV's, you might as well go all out.

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The area was called Roachpond and there was also a stone quarry which was known locally as "the canyon" but it was filled in when it became a city dump. The map from the OSI website is from the early 19th century.
There were more ponds and marshes around the area, Newpark fen being the only remainder after the rest were drained for land reclamation.

Now if we dug out "the canyon" you could have a pretty good dirt bike course!

Threadhead

Apparently the Omniplex on the Gaol Road is to be turned into a smaller, arthouse cinema, run by the same group.

Can't really see that doing too well, unless they get in a decent café/bar.

kikel

Threadhead wrote: »

Apparently the Omniplex on the Gaol Road is to be turned into a smaller, arthouse cinema, run by the same group.

Can't really see that doing too well, unless they get in a decent café/bar.

Nice idea, but agree it could be difficult. But hey, What do I know. I'll leave that to the real business people with the cash.

Dozen Wicked Words

kikel wrote: »

Nice idea, but agree it could be difficult. But hey, What do I know. I'll leave that to the real business people with the cash.

Haven't heard about that plan, might do ok if it was a reasonable price. That idea with regular kids club type films might help as well. Add in the little coffee shop/cafe bar type thing that's been suggested and it would be a great idea.

Rantan

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Haven't heard about that plan, might do ok if it was a reasonable price. That idea with regular kids club type films might help as well. Add in the little coffee shop/cafe bar type thing that's been suggested and it would be a great idea.

if would be great to have a lighthouse or IFI type cinema in KK. They are my favourite places in Dublin. Does KK have the population for that though?

Threadhead

Don't think Kilkenny has the population for it on its own tbh.

If the idea was incorporated into a much needed arts centre for the city, then we'd be in good shape. For a city that promotes itself as a hub of the arts, we're sorely lacking an arts centre. Thurles, Waterford, Portlaoise, Carlow, Wexford and Newbridge all have thriving arts centres which also fulfill the function of arthouse cinemas. Could be the birds and stones combo Kilkenny needs if someone had the foresight to implement it.