Blackrock Village proposed Development

dewdrop

Heard there was a meeting re above recently. Anyone with details of what is going to happen and timescale involved? Seems to be dragging on for ages

pwurple

12th of Never I'd say.

I remember that playground on the convent grounds being announced when my eldest was a baby. She's in school now. I reckon she'll be doing her leaving cert before we see it.

Pitcairn

They had a contractor picked but they pulled out I think.
Either way they had to go back to the start of the tendering process.
It's supposed to be getting underway this autumn.

I think the first phase is focused on the harbour and removing the road. The convent part will be the second phase and requires funding.

clerk

I'd say they've been making promises for 4/5 Years about developing it, if not more. When the local elections were on last Year they had engineer's down for a week or so. Dug a few holes in the road, councilors said it would be starting in 2015 and nothing has happened. Typical politicians, liars.

The lane down by Convent wall is bedlam in the mornings. The road was built probably 100 Years ago. They're supposed to be widening it. The buses often get stuck there and you get the occasional mexican standoffs when some people try to bully there way up and don't give way when they should. I've seen people getting out of their cars for verbals over the Years. There were supposed to be putting a children's park in the field in front of the Convert and open it up for the community. Nothing done. As I say the whole thing is a joke at this stage.

I've heard nothing about a 'meeting' on it. Are you talking about a Council meeting (of which there's probably been dozens) where they've ****ted on about it or a local meeting ? if it's a local meeting l could find out handy if it's another Council promise meeting it's not worth a ****e. Apologies for the language but they're a shower of langers the lot of them.

Missyelliot2

I agree clerk. I am new to the area and when the last council election was on - I was told it was a done deal (this candidate had 'waited 20 years for this development and with my vote, the bulldozers would be there in the morning').
It's always been spoken about, but nothing ever seems to happen. The last rumour I heard,(in 2011) was that the scout hall was going to be demolished, but it's still standing strong.
It's a shame that it remains so desolate as a village. It was such a pity the pizzeria was destroyed- I'm not sure if they have plans to reopen? The Natural Food Company seems to be the heart of Blackrock, as Dees Delights (the other coffee shop) has closed.

With the population around and the attraction of the river and walkway, you would think that there would be something in place to make the most of the amenity.

Balmed Out

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

pity the pizzeria was destroyed- I'm not sure if they have plans to reopen? The Natural Food Company seems to be the heart of Blackrock, as Dees Delights (the other coffee shop) has closed.

I didnt realize Dees closed. Theres a second cafe (Italian) right next door to where the pizzeria was called Pronto. So far as I know they do plan to re-open but anyhow if you want lunch or a coffee to go I much prefer it to the natural food company. Americano is €2 and loyalty card gives you a free one after 5. Its cheaper and I find better coffee, a great chicken salad for 4.50 too.

If its not to go, best stick with the natural food company. I do like the natural foods almond croissant as an occasional treat though.

I think the plans include providing seating where the present car park is and a new carpark in the convent grounds. Hopefully such an area could be used by patrons of the two coffee shops and the pier head bar which would really give them a boost and breath lif to the village.

Missyelliot2

Balmed Out wrote: »

I didnt realize Dees closed. Theres a second cafe (Italian) right next door to where the pizzeria was called Pronto. So far as I know they do plan to re-open but anyhow if you want lunch or a coffee to go I much prefer it to the natural food company. Americano is €2 and loyalty card gives you a free one after 5. Its cheaper and I find better coffee, a great chicken salad for 4.50 too.

If its not to go, best stick with the natural food company. I do like the natural foods almond croissant as an occasional treat though.

I think the plans include providing seating where the present car park is and a new carpark in the convent grounds. Hopefully such an area could be used by patrons of the two coffee shops and the pier head bar which would really give them a boost and breath lif to the village.

I do know about Pronto - we buy ice-cream there regularly...but Pronto is a takeaway coffee-unless you sit on the wall in the car park. It's the real deal with coffee- but there isn't a seating area-it's a pick up and go.

I know there are plans, but I do feel that plans are all they are!

I think Dee's Delights has moved to Galway - hope she does really well there. She's another plus for Galway, for sure.

clerk

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

It's a shame that it remains so desolate as a village. It was such a pity the pizzeria was destroyed- I'm not sure if they have plans to reopen?

With the population around and the attraction of the river and walkway, you would think that there would be something in place to make the most of the amenity.

I have it from a good local source that the pizzeria will not be re-opening. They were only renting the premises. It is a pity, it was a lovely addition to the village.

As regards, making the "most of the amenity" I agree with you 100% but it simply has not happened for Blackrock/village.

The market every 2nd Sunday is doing a great trade but there is no parking for that type of an event and the place is bedlam. People parking on footpaths, cars blocking the road, it's all the gaff. Some people give me the impression that they think we're operating a one way traffic system in Blackrock village the way they carry on. Of course in the original plans for the village there were to have parking facilities in place for events such as that.

Do you know that when they developed Eden during the Celtic Tiger they had the green in front of the old Ursuline school as a green area park in the "plans". They were very happy to sell the apartments for crazy money but never developed the green. The Green as it stands is a complete mess, full of weeds, mud and even mounds of dirt on the side or it. If you look at the general area it's totally unsuitable for kids to play in and it's sitting there in a complete mess. The councilor's came up with some bull about the ownership rights to the field being as issue but then they told me it was all sorted. That was a year ago. Now if you ask, it's all about "funding". It's a book of excuses. I can't wait to hear what story time the TD's are going to be in the next few Month's. I'd say it'll be the "we'll need to concentrate on National issues and this is a little local issue". There's gas men we have as TD's in South central. I literally haven't even laid eyes on any of them in Blackrock since the last election.

pwurple

Small few corrections here lads. The market is every Sunday, not every second Sunday.

The scout hall WAS demolished.

I've seen a good bit of councillor Kieran McCarthy , he does frequent walking tours of blackrock.

Dee's was a nice spot, but she was way off the beaten tracking up the other side of the church, and didn't get the passing trade.

The development of the area seems to be tied to the development of pairc ui caoimhe. As far as I remember from the city development plan , the idea was that fitzgerald park would be the major park to the west, and blackrock & marina to the east. I can't see why they can't do both the pairc and the village at the same time, but then I'm not the PM.

Karmella

pwurple wrote: »

Small few corrections here lads. The market is every Sunday, not every second Sunday.

The scout hall WAS demolished.

The scout hall is still there, it's the manky public toilets that were demolished.....

Missyelliot2

pwurple wrote: »

Small few corrections here lads. The market is every Sunday, not every second Sunday.

The scout hall WAS demolished.


Just passed there....it's very much intact!
Such a beautiful morning in Blackrock, it should be buzzing with people

clerk

pwurple wrote: »

I've seen a good bit of councillor Kieran McCarthy , he does frequent walking tours of blackrock.

Fair enough, if he has any news for us on the development in the village you might let us know.

Sounds Dreamy

clerk wrote: »

Fair enough, if he has any news for us on the development in the village you might let us know.

Des Cahill was the one pictured with the shovel when the toilets were demolished pre last years local elections
Deirdre Clune & Laura McGonigle were both tweeting about this back in 2010 and still nothing has happened.
The village renewal is separate to pairc ui chaoimh/marina park development.
The scout hall hasn't been demolished.
Blackrock Rowers have a planning application to construct storage alongside the scout hall.

Anyone know what's going on behind Cork Boat Club. Lots of clearance work happening along shoreline?

dewdrop

Why do people get it so wrong like the scout hall been demolished?

pwurple

dewdrop wrote: »

Why do people get it so wrong like the scout hall been demolished?

Because some manky yoke was demolished, which I thought was the hall?

Jeez louise. Did it need 6 people jumping down my throat?

Balmed Out

clerk wrote: »

I have it from a good local source that the pizzeria will not be re-opening. They were only renting the premises. It is a pity, it was a lovely addition to the village.

So far as im aware they do want to re-open and have a good bit left on lease but waiting for the premises to be fixed up?

Going Strong

I thought the scout hall was involved in some sort of dispute? Something about either nobody knows who owns the plot of land it stands on or else there's competing claims to ownership of said plot of land.

clerk

Balmed Out wrote: »

So far as im aware they do want to re-open and have a good bit left on lease but waiting for the premises to be fixed up?

First I heard of it. Like I said I heard they weren't re-opening. Sure the fire was ages ago and it's only a small building. How long would it take to fix it up ? Surely it should be done by now if it was going to happen.

Anyway that one is a bit of a red herring. As the thred is about the development in Blackrock village as opposed to a private building.

Ron Burgundy II

Going Strong wrote: »

I thought the scout hall was involved in some sort of dispute? Something about either nobody knows who owns the plot of land it stands on or else there's competing claims to ownership of said plot of land.

Yeah the dispute is between the newly formed rowing club and the scouts. Originally the hall belonged to the rowing club but when the club stopped, the scouts were given permission to use. Now the new rowing club are trying to claim rights. But I think they have come to some solution shared accommodation or something like that.

They really need to something with old Brosnan's shop now Stanley stickers or something. Its collapsing in on it self, looks awful.

Sounds Dreamy

Not able to post links so you just need to copy paste following to see how long this has been promised twitter.com/MarinaParkCork/status/601112847054196736

clerk

https://twitter.com/despod/status/638412658123874305

clerk

Anyway one of our sitting TD's actually turned up in Blackrock the other Day and called to my gaff. I heard the wife taking to someone about the bedlam that Blackrock village has become for traffic and the non-development of the long promised park so I tore out to the door and there before me was a sitting TD !!

I spoke to him and added to the points made (and he agreed with me - naturally) and said he would speak to the council. He stayed for about 2/3 minutes. Very pleasant fellow, voted for him in the last election.

Got a priceless generic letter off him about 1 week later, signed and all !! (I have it framed in the sitting room ) saying he'd spoken to the Council on my issue ( he didn't mention what my issue was so that should cover him ) when I see him again in 5 Years time. Oh what a Country we live in boy.

Sounds Dreamy

Simon Coveney's department shot down funding for the Blackrock Village renewal

6.7 FUNDING SITUATION FOR BLACKROCK PIER PROJECT
In response to the following question submitted by Comhairleoir K. McCarthy, a written
reply was circulated as outlined below:-
To ask the CE for an update on the funding situation for Blackrock Pier Project?
REPLY
The construction tender process for the Blackrock Renewal Project is complete and the
preferred Contractor has been selected. The value of the winning tender exceeds the
available internal budget assigned. Consequently additional funding is required to deliver
the scheme. Funding applications have and are being made to a number of agencies so as
to be able to commence work at an early date. An application for part funding was made to
the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine but this was not successful. An
application for part funding was also made to the National Transport Authority. This is
being considered at present and a decision is expected within the coming month.
Gerry O’Beirne,
Director of Services,
Roads & Transportation.


Go to: corkcity.ie/services/corporateandexternalaffairs/agendaandminutesofmeetingsofcorkcitycouncil/minutesofmeetingsofcorkcitycouncil/271015%20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf

Yogi81

It's just a joke at this stage.

There will be loads of promises before election time, and then all forgotten again.

How come they were able to give commencement dates before, and now they say they don't have enough funding?

pwurple

Sounds Dreamy wrote: »

Simon Coveney's department shot down funding for the Blackrock Village renewal

Em, why would the dept for agriculture and the marine be funding it?

Or the RTA for that matter, I can see that one also being shot down. Should it not be Arts, culture and heritage?

How much are they short I wonder.

Yogi81

pwurple wrote: »

Em, why would the dept for agriculture and the marine be funding it.

How much are they short I wonder.

Because it would improve the waterway infrastructure and allow Blackrock to be accessed by water taxis etc, if/when they are introduced.

I think the shortfall was something in the lines of €1.5 million

Swiper the fox

pwurple wrote: »

Because some manky yoke was demolished, which I thought was the hall?

Jeez louise. Did it need 6 people jumping down my throat?

I have to say you gave me a hell of a shock anyway. I'm originally from Blackrock and attended that scout hall for a few glorious years when the 51st were the envy of every troop in Cork.:P
T'was a joy to see Brossies shop getting a mention on this thread, I'm quite nostalgic about the Village, when I was growing up you had Paddy Thornhill's chipper (also known as Wiggy's by locals) where the coffee shop is now, Thornhill's never had a sign to say it was anything. Brossies shop was on the other side of the Village and tessies was around the corner at the beginning of Convent road, the Hayg video club was a local institution on the site of the Italian café and Betsy's hairdresser was next door.
And of course there was the Modern Art over by the slip next to the river.
Sorry for boring ye, the shock I got when I thought the scout hall was gone has gotten me all nostalgic.:o

SeanSouth

ah yes "Brossies shop" and "Miss Bross". Miss Bross wasn't much into the customer service end of things and would kill you stone dead with one of her stares.

Wiggies chipper was the best but Wiggie was hardly ever there himself. Frances ran the place and she was a goddess.

Apparently the deeds are lost for the scout hall and as someone else said, things got a bit tense between the rowers and the scouts.

clerk

From the Evening Echo, 03/03/16

BLACKROCK HARBOUR REDEVELOPMENT WILL COMMENCE NEXT WEEK

Work will finally begin on the long-mooted €1.3 million renewal of Blackrock village harbour next week.
Cork City Council officials confirmed that contractors will begin work on the project on March 7th.
Under the plans, the harbour will become a large, open, paved plaza with priority for pedestrians and cyclists. The project requires the widening and repaving of roads.

The curved harbour wall will be reconstructed into a series of steps from plaza level down to the water. New street lamps, trees and benches facing the water will also be installed.
The main road in front of the Natural Foods Bakery and the scout hall will be removed, with this land forming part of the plaza.
It has previously been delayed due to funding issues, with the initial winning tender costing more than the allowed budget. These have now been resolved.
Contractors Ward & Burke will oversee the works, which will be completed in two phases.
Phase one, which begins on March 7th, will include the widening and repaving of Convent Road and Blackrock Road, as well as diverting the road from the marina to the city side of the cafe, and creating the outline of the plaza.
This accounts for approximately 60% of the overall plan, with additional work, including the paving of the plaza and lowering of the harbour, coming at a later date.
The €1.3 million project has been funded by Cork City Council.
An additional €800,000 to €900,000 is required to complete the second phase of work, with council officials confirming that they hope to secure this before the completion of initial works in order to complete the project in one go.
Council representatives met with local businesses and stakeholders earlier this week to outline the specifics of the plan.
John Stapleton, senior engineer with Cork City Council, said the meeting was a positive one.
“We are delighted to finally be getting the project off the ground. While there will be some disruption, we will try to keep this to a minimum and we will maintain access to all of the buildings. We had a very good meeting with the locals who are happy that we are finally in a position to get this started.”

clerk

Was talking to a local business owner today and he confirmed that they had talks with senior engineers from Cork CC and that it was supposed to be going ahead at the start of April.

Mind you...

http://www.corkcity.ie/services/strategicplanningeconomicdevelopment/localplanning/nonstatutoryplansanddevelopmentbriefs/blackrockvillageareaactionplan/

Balmed Out

Some metal fencing erected this morning from the hall towards the water think that all though but great to see something starting anyhow.

pwurple

Just back from a walk down the marina. The road behind the coffe shop has been taken up. They have put up barriers and work signage. The part behind the newer wall in the convent is all dug up, more barriers and they have started stacking materials there. Just before 8pm, there were 3 or 4 people in high vis working there operating machinery.

clerk

Was talking to someone today on this, apparently they're putting another road into the Convent so you will have a road 'in' and 'out'. Presumably to do with opening up the "old" Ursulines building. My wife seems to think that they might be trying to rent out the old Ursulines building but l'm not sure ? anybody hear anything about that ?

Still not sure if the park will happen ?

Ron Burgundy II

clerk wrote: »

Was talking to someone today on this, apparently they're putting another road into the Convent so you will have a road 'in' and 'out'. Presumably to do with opening up the "old" Ursulines building. My wife seems to think that they might be trying to rent out the old Ursulines building but l'm not sure ? anybody hear anything about that ?

Still not sure if the park will happen ?

Are they not converting the old Ursulines Building into apartments?

clerk

Ron Burgundy II wrote: »

Are they not converting the old Ursulines Building into apartments?

Ok, thanks.

That's what my wife heard but it seems mad. it's a protected building with spiral staircases and the lot. I wouldn't have thought apartments would not have been appropriate for a structure of that type.

There are already a tonne of apartments around the City available to rent, including right beside it in the Garden of Eden but sure I suppose the planning goes out the window when the money men roll in.

I suppose it'll be 1 parking spot per apartment again (like Eden) to ensure total parking havoc for the general Blackrock area. A load of people on the Meadow Grove side of Eden have sold up since Eden decided to put an unofficial car park outside their houses and a lot of people in the houses on convent road going down to Blackrock village complain about people parking outside their houses as well. It's going to be some carry on.

Ron Burgundy II

clerk wrote: »

Ok, thanks.

That's what my wife heard but it seems mad. it's a protected building with spiral staircases and the lot. I wouldn't have thought apartments would not have been appropriate for a structure of that type.

There are already a tonne of apartments around the City available to rent, including right beside it in the Garden of Eden but sure I suppose the planning goes out the window when the money men roll in.

I suppose it'll be 1 parking spot per apartment again (like Eden) to ensure total parking havoc for the general Blackrock area. A load of people on the Meadow Grove side of Eden have sold up since Eden decided to put an unofficial car park outside their houses and a lot of people in the houses on convent road going down to Blackrock village complain about people parking outside their houses as well. It's going to be some carry on.

Very little in the way of apartments to rent in Cork City. A liquidator was appointed to Eden recently and anyone renting from the developer were served eviction notices. So nothing really for rent within Eden until the apartments the liquidator are involved in are sold on. I need to check out the planning requirements, but when Eden was developed the car parking requirements was 1.25 spaces per apartment and 2 for houses. This may still be the case.

I haven't seen many for sale signs around Meadow, interesting to hear people have moved on.

Yeah the double yellow lines running from the small brown bungalow to the entrance of Eden on the Meadow Grove side hasn't deterred the residents. Parking on both sides of the road.

Parking is a serious issue in the village especially on Sundays for the market. Something needs to be done with this very quickly, before someone gets hurt.

Yogi81

Where they have the site office in the convent grounds is going to be a lay-by with parking spaces, to replace the existing village carpark if/when the additional funding is ready.
The works that are going ahead at present are for the roads only, but they are hoping that the additional funding will become available while the contractors are there, to do the development of the existing carpark and dredge the foreshore (so that it fills daily to flush it all out and remove the knotweed)

clerk

Ron Burgundy II wrote: »

I haven't seen many for sale signs around Meadow, interesting to hear people have moved on.

There have been a good few houses sold in Meadow Grove on that stretch across from the side entrance to Eden since Eden was built, other parts of the estate not so much. The 2 houses either side of the corner sold, that corner is murder now backing onto the road.

Also, another one is for sale at the moment, say in that stretch of 10 houses. They're driven demented with the parking or overslip from Eden.

You mention 1.25 spaces per apartment, and not getting at you but in general that's nuts in this Day and age. Partically every adult in those apartments will have a car plus naturally the apartments will have loads of visitors that have no parking.

The local residents in that area don't have a huge problem with the 'reality' that some individuals in Eden have no parking because it is a fact. But the planning laws are a arse and regarding that particular area of Meadow Grove which was once a nice area it is a mess to live with on a Day to Day basis. You're nearly taking your life in your hands pulling out of your drive with some of the headbangers flying through there and the road is way narrower now with all the parking on both sides.

clerk

Ron Burgundy II wrote: »

Very little in the way of apartments to rent in Cork City.

To be honest I wouldn't be an expert on that, things must be picking up because a couple of Years ago there seemed to be loads of apartments available just talking to people in general.

opus

The current state of play there....

pogsick

Mentioned in today's echo

http://www.eveningecho.ie/cork-news/seven-year-wait-blackrock-revamp-ends/2011731/

clerk

The thing about it is, as I understand how this process stands. The building in the Ursulines is building of a 2nd road in the Ursulines, which is basically zero amenity for the community but rather a commercial venture. Also they are clearly widening the road (as you can clearly see in the picture in the "Echo" article) but again I strongly suspect that is required for the new "exit" from the Ursulines, which is currently basically a commercial venture.

Therefore,unless I am mistaken and it mentions further funding required in the "Echo" article, this process as it stands is a commercial development of apartments and nothing to do with the public amenity (pending public "funding" which is on the never never). These apartments will only add further to the traffic chaos that they have turned Blackrock village into.

I think the village is being a 'sold a rather large pup' here but somebody is going to make a fortune selling these "posh" apartments with "sought after area, views of Blackrock village....blah, blah... on (rather off) the Blackrock road" and then they all piss off and we wait again, like Eden all over again.

I hope I am wrong and I truly hope that someone can tell me that I am wrong in my understanding.

Yogi81

The trees inside the wall on convent road have been cut down to allow for the road widening.
When the move that wall it will make a huge difference to the bottle neck in the village, especially when a bus comes down it during rush hour

clerk

Yogi81 wrote: »

The trees inside the wall on convent road have been cut down to allow for the road widening.
When the move that wall it will make a huge difference to the bottle neck in the village, especially when a bus comes down it during rush hour

Hi, thanks, so as far as you're aware the wall is coming down ? Any idea when ?

When you say "road widening" are you referring to the corner by the Pier Head pub ?

I agree with you about the buses, it's stunt rider stuff some Days for the buses coming down there. There's literally inch's on either side sometimes if a car is parked awkwardly. I pity any bus driver on their first run if they get cars coming against them on that stretch.

Yogi81

They are moving in the convent wall that runs along convent road near the Pier Head Inn.
They are creating two lanes with parking on the pub side, that will be off the road in a new widened foot path.

I think this road widening is only as far as the first corner (from what I have seen in drawings) but could be wrong

clerk

Yogi81 wrote: »

They are moving in the convent wall that runs along convent road near the Pier Head Inn.
They are creating two lanes with parking on the pub side, that will be off the road in a new widened foot path.

I think this road widening is only as far as the first corner (from what I have seen in drawings) but could be wrong

ok - thanks.

Rang someone earlier today who should better than most what's going on down there and he reckoned that they "are" going to put the wall back by the Pier Head within the current works. That's they're doing the prep work behind the Convent wall first.

Yes, I think you are correct the widening (as I understand it) is only up to the first corner, so you'll still have a bottleneck there but if they do what they are supposed to do it will be a massive improvement on the village side.

Swiper the fox

I was led to believe that the nuns graveyard meant widening that road was never going to happen?

pwurple

Here is the development plan.


http://www.corkcity.ie/services/strategicplanningeconomicdevelopment/localplanning/nonstatutoryplansanddevelopmentbriefs/blackrockvillageareaactionplan/

opus

Looks like some pipe work is the only change since I looked at it last time.

clerk

http://www.eveningecho.ie/cork-news/marina-set-close-month/2171087/

COMMUTERS are facing a headache in the coming weeks with confirmation that the Marina will be closed to traffic for almost the entire month of June.

The closure, which will be in effect from 9.30am on Tuesday, June 7, until 6.30pm on Friday, July 8, is to facilitate the long-awaited redevelopment of Blackrock Harbour.

City Council officials confirm diversions will be in place for the duration of the closure.
The €1.3m project finally got underway in March, several years after it was initially proposed. Funding woes, architectural delays and archaeological works all played a part in delaying the project, which will see the harbour redeveloped as a large, open, paved plaza with priority for pedestrians and cyclists. The project requires the widening and repaving of several roads.
Phase one, which began on March 7, includes the widening and repaving of Convent Road and Blackrock Road, as well as the diversion of the road from the marina to the city side of the cafe, and the creation of the outline of the plaza.
This phase, which accounts for approximately 60% of the overall plan, will be followed by paving works and the lowering of the harbour. The latter stages of the plan are estimated to cost as much as €900,000, with funding yet to be secured.Council officials and elected representatives have previously expressed confidence that the funding would be secured before the completion of phase one.

pwurple

There can't be many commuters along the marina, it's in bits.

Might disturb some of the night activites, but sure they can find another spot.

I was walking arund there yesterday, started on the paving anyway, which is great.