Things the city needs, and does not have currently

topcat72

Maybe this has been done to death but, am interested in thunking what the city lacks and cound use - both social and business, environmental. Obvious ones like improved public transport etc are a given, so ive left out those.

A few to start
(a) a good low cost youth hostel, there is none , in comparison with Ennis, Galway Cork etc. Brings and attracts a mostly young, value clientele, often travelling students etc. I remember there was some mention of one in pre planning for the old Detorris pub place on Mungret street , but never happened. Other Hostel on John street became an apartment block.
(b) A public accessible viewpoint or lookout point at the top of one of the taller buildings in the city -overlooking the river ideally.
(c) A good Mexican or Tex mex restaurant. Steady...
(d) A good (large) secondhand bookshop, like Charle Byrne's . record/vinyl also.
(e) somewhere in city centre that sells toys

nim1bdeh38l2cw

a) Marks & Spencer
b) Monorail

/End thread

source

Jake Millions Greyhound wrote: »

b) Monorail

I hear those things are awfully loud.

Iang87

source wrote: »

I hear those things are awfully loud.

It glides as softly as a cloud

zulutango

Segregrated cycle lanes everywhere.
Bus lanes on almost all bus routes but especially to/from Castletroy, Caherdavin and Raheen.
People friendly, as opposed to car friendly streets.
A Shannon River Interpretive Centre.
More paved walkways along the river bank (up to Corbally, Longpavement, down to Corcanree)
A rail link to Shannon Airport (especially in light of the planned population increase)
Improved rail services to Cork and Galway.
More residential accommodation in the city centre
More high standard office construction in the city centre
Demolition of some really poor quality modern buildings

adaminho

A city central cinema, an ice rink, Greek food but most importantly ..............................a thread where Zulutango doesn't bang on about transport

Eric Cartman

Iang87 wrote: »

It glides as softly as a cloud

Is there a chance the track might bend ?

nim1bdeh38l2cw

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Is there a chance the track might bend ?

Not on your life, my Hindu friend.

source

Jake Millions Greyhound wrote: »

Not on your life, my Hindu friend.

What about us brain-dead slobs?

keane2097

You'll be given cushy jobs
Were you sent here by the Devil?
No, good sir, I'm on the level
The ring came off my pudding can
Take my pen knife, my good man
I swear it's Springfield's only choice
Throw up your hands and raise your voice
Monorail
What's it called?
Monorail
Once again
Monorail
But Main Street's still all cracked and broken
Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken
Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
Mono, d'oh!

There, that's the rest of it. Yawn.

keane2097

Public swimming baths on the river are starting to get mentioned and would be a good addition.

Mc Love

zulutango wrote: »

Segregrated cycle lanes everywhere.
Bus lanes on almost all bus routes but especially to/from Castletroy, Caherdavin and Raheen.
People friendly, as opposed to car friendly streets.
A Shannon River Interpretive Centre.
More paved walkways along the river bank (up to Corbally, Longpavement, down to Corcanree)
A rail link to Shannon Airport (especially in light of the planned population increase)
Improved rail services to Cork and Galway.
More residential accommodation in the city centre
More high standard office construction in the city centre
Demolition of some really poor quality modern buildings

+1

zulutango

adaminho wrote: »

A city central cinema, an ice rink, Greek food but most importantly ..............................a thread where Zulutango doesn't bang on about transport

No chance of that happening

topcat72

100% for the city centre cinema - something I particularly miss.

topcat72

The rail link to Shannon always seemed eminently fesible, given that there is apparenty a reserved strip to facilitate tis, and the Ennis Limerick line is so close. Lack of will.

Mr.H

topcat72 wrote:

The rail link to Shannon always seemed eminently fesible, given that there is apparenty a reserved strip to facilitate tis, and the Ennis Limerick line is so close. Lack of will.

Will never be allowed as it would take business from Dublin airport. A direct train into a city plus the bonus of not being Dublin.

zulutango

If a double track rail line was developed between Limerick and Galway, on foot of the planned population increases in both cities, and the chronic traffic situation in Galway, which is fairly unresolveable, the increasing tourism numbers in the West, etc, then a link with Shannon would make a lot of sense. The single track really is of limited benefit. Then there's the fact that there are sections that are very prone to flooding.

Cookiemunster

topcat72 wrote: »

The rail link to Shannon always seemed eminently fesible, given that there is apparenty a reserved strip to facilitate tis, and the Ennis Limerick line is so close. Lack of will.

The 343 runs 19 times each way daily and the 51 runs 15 times each way daily direct between Colbert Station and the airport. Plus there's a dual carriageway. There isn't really a need for a train.

Cookiemunster

zulutango wrote: »

If a double track rail line was developed between Limerick and Galway, on foot of the planned population increases in both cities, and the chronic traffic situation in Galway, which is fairly unresolveable, the increasing tourism numbers in the West, etc, then a link with Shannon would make a lot of sense. The single track really is of limited benefit. Then there's the fact that there are sections that are very prone to flooding.

It would need to be on a fresh alignment not going anywhere near Athenry and be faster than the express bus service to have any chance of being viable. I still couldn't see a spur to Shannon being viable though.

Cookiemunster

Mr.H wrote: »

Will never be allowed as it would take business from Dublin airport. A direct train into a city plus the bonus of not being Dublin.

Shannon is pimple compared to Dublin. 1.7m passengers v 30m in 2017 and growing. They don't care what goes on in Shannon. If Limerick and Galway grow as hoped then Shannon might get to its 5m capacity, but by then Dublin will be pushing 50m.

zulutango

I think it would only be feasible with the major population increases in both cities that are being planned (and even with that it might not be). If the State is serious about these population increases (and it insists that it is) then it must build adequate infrastructure. Granted the bus & motorway may sufficient to cater for the movement of people that would be expected, but rail generally comes into its own when linking high density cities. Would love to see a thorough study on it.

Cookiemunster

Always to the topic on hand. I'd agree with the city centre cinema, but unfortunately I think the 3 multiplexes probably mean it wouldn't be viable.

I'd love to see an event/concert venue of about 2500-3000 capacity. There were complaints a while back that Snow Patrol did a tour, but left out Limerick. These are the types of things we're missing out on because we don't have a big enough indoor venue in Limerick. The concert hall is not really suitable.

panda100

keane2097 wrote: »

Public swimming baths on the river are starting to get mentioned and would be a good addition.

Can't see it happening. We might just about get the Council to monitor the quality of the water and that's about it.

Limerick city desperately needs some public amenities. A public pool and gym or even just a decent private one is badly needed. Some public playing courts in the centre also for playing tennis and or basketball that all the public can use. It would be great to see a playground or play area down near the river as I don't think there are enough playgrounds in the city.

An ability to have any meaningful Arts festival during the months of June, July & August.

osarusan

Decent football team.

zulutango

osarusan wrote: »

Decent football team.

Is a decent hurling team not good enough for ya?

lisasimpson

A proper functioning rail commuter service. The traffic the last 2 weeks is nuts now with schools and colleges back. The limerick to ballybrophy line is a joke. Too slow to attract people to use it. If it was upgraded even to nenaghalong with a station by thomand park LIT more people would use it. Nenagh,castleconnel etc have had a good population growth innhe last 10 years However it would be shocking expensive to do so its only a dream.There is a serious amount of students now commuting everyday due to the rental situation

Id like to see a park and ride facility on the outskirts a bit like the blackash site off the kinsale road in cork

geotrig

adaminho wrote: »

A city central cinema, an ice rink

I've been saying it for years about the 2 above , would love to see them in the city and not in the burbs and on the dunnes sarsfield street premies , the cinema would need something different for it to attract people in so it would have to be an imax! lol :pac: if it was a large entertainment place with multiple things the better , im not sure they are sustainable in the city anymore though


oh and decent ,level footpaths with good stone used on the main streets , not these off slopes we have on most ! an n some better defined usable public spaces for sitting etc around the city.

zulutango

There were something like 14 cinemas in the city centre before, but that was before the development of the suburbs. We've seen an emptying out of the city in the last 40 years. Better quality housing was built in the likes of Caherdavin, Corbally, Raheen and Castletroy and the people followed. It's obvious that until we provide good quality housing (in the form of apartments probably) in or near the city then the centre itself won't be able to sustain many of things we would like to see, such as cinemas, public amenities, etc.

Stab*City

panda100 wrote: »

Can't see it happening. We might just about get the Council to monitor the quality of the water and that's about it.

Limerick city desperately needs some public amenities. A public pool and gym or even just a decent private one is badly needed. Some public playing courts in the centre also for playing tennis and or basketball that all the public can use. It would be great to see a playground or play area down near the river as I don't think there are enough playgrounds in the city.

Lots of these:

panda100

Stab*City wrote:

Lots of these:

Is there? Where are they?

Stab*City

panda100 wrote: »

Is there? Where are they?

No, we needs lots i mean!

panda100

Stab*City wrote:

No, we needs lots i mean!

Ah yes I agree!! I think along the river near the potato market would be ideal I think communal spaces where people can meet, be they sports courts or cultural spaces, would really help limerick people massively from both a physical, mental and social perspective!

Shapey Fiend

A barcade perhaps? With no cinema in the center can sometimes be hard to think of way to kill time that isn't shopping.

A hostel would be great but I'm guessing the issue is when you've only got one in the city it'd be hard to serve tourists exclusively and you're going to end up being an emergency accommodation type scenario that you're not really properly resourced to handle.

Mc Love

Bowling alley with a bar like they have in the US!

OfTheMarsWongs

There used to be council owned sports centres. One where Supervalu Corbally is now and one near St. Nessans. They were great amenities.

The one in Corbally even had a tennis court out the back. Someone drove a van into the Corbally one though and it caught fire. Not sure what happened the one near Nessans.

sioda

OfTheMarsWongs wrote: »

There used to be council owned sports centres. One where Supervalu Corbally is now and one near St. Nessans. They were great amenities.

The one in Corbally even had a tennis court out the back. Someone drove a van into the Corbally one though and it caught fire. Not sure what happened the one near Nessans.

Nessans one is part of LIT now

damowill

zulutango wrote: »

Segregrated cycle lanes everywhere.
Bus lanes on almost all bus routes but especially to/from Castletroy, Caherdavin and Raheen.
People friendly, as opposed to car friendly streets.
A Shannon River Interpretive Centre.
More paved walkways along the river bank (up to Corbally, Longpavement, down to Corcanree)
A rail link to Shannon Airport (especially in light of the planned population increase)
Improved rail services to Cork and Galway.
More residential accommodation in the city centre
More high standard office construction in the city centre
Demolition of some really poor quality modern buildings

Looking back on the Celtic Tiger era, I think Transport infrastructure was Ireland's biggest failure.

If cycling is made safe then people will cycle. In Spain, Seville transformed itself and proved that any city can get lots of people riding by building an ambitious network of connected, segregated bike lanes. Copenhagen is very bike friendly with bike lanes everywhere, and Amsterdam similar.

If buses run on time then people will use them. There really needs to be dedicated bus lanes from the major suburbs of Castletroy, Caherdavin and Raheen as suggested. If you had bus lanes, then buses will run on time.

Connect our City to other cities & larger towns with modern rail infrastructure and motorways. If the Ballybrophy to Limerick line was upgraded, you would do Limerick to Dublin in less than 90mins. Instead the line taken is via Limk Junction & Templemore and Thurles and then up to BallyBrophy. Its crazy.

There should really be a high speed line from Limerick to Galway and there should be some route from Limerick to Tralee/Kilarney. If we had then could tap into a lot of commuters from these regions imo, which would give us an advantage in attracting jobs & buisness to the city. We currently have unused tracks that go out past Raheen/Patrickswell. If the city planners are building out the city out this side then something could be done with these tracks and build a station out there. The greenways are becoming very popular however isnt it a little shameful that we are digging up some of these routes and others just left unused, rather than investing in them and seeing the potential in them. If there was a station out this side then developers would be enticed to build near them knwoing the value they would bring.

Housing is obviously another major one, does anyone know what the situation is with the Greenfields site behind SCR/greyhound track as it is a premium development site?

A cinema in the city centre would bring a lot of people into the city making it a more vibrant place.

A major plan for Nicholas street is also a must.

zulutango

We need a Lidl or Aldi in the city centre too.

Stab*City

We need:

Free public sports areas
Med-large sized music venue not controlled by Dolans
More cycle lanes less bus lanes
A world class amenity something to make people want to come here (Zoo, Aquarium, Water Park indoor of course, Theme Park or such)
Better traffic management
Rail link to Shannon
A decent well run night club not catered to pissheads, students or rugby supporters
A large scale music festival not controlled by Dolans
Less discount shops

Mc Love

More trees

dashoonage

monorail.

Shapey Fiend

Stab*City wrote: »

We need:

Free public sports areas
Med-large sized music venue not controlled by Dolans
More cycle lanes less bus lanes
A world class amenity something to make people want to come here (Zoo, Aquarium, Water Park indoor of course, Theme Park or such)
Better traffic management
Rail link to Shannon
A decent well run night club not catered to pissheads, students or rugby supporters
A large scale music festival not controlled by Dolans
Less discount shops

Pretty much what I think as well, although Dolans does great work.

Amber nightclub opened pretty recently (in what was The Sin Bin) and it's got a nice atmosphere. The music is pretty poppy but there's a pretty hip crowd in there anyway.

Limerick needs more tourist attractions as well. You've got St Johns Castle and the Frank McCourt tour but you'd be hard pressed to find something to do over more than two days. Distillery/brewery tour, more frequent walking tours, pub crawl tours, traditional music trail maybe.

zulutango

Shapey Fiend wrote: »

Limerick needs more tourist attractions as well. You've got St Johns Castle and the Frank McCourt tour but you'd be hard pressed to find something to do over more than two days. Distillery/brewery tour, more frequent walking tours, pub crawl tours, traditional music trail maybe.

Tsk, tsk

zulutango

A few people are looking for fewer bus lanes, but lack of bus lanes is the principle reason we have a really shoddy bus service (although there are clearly management and investment issues also). A city without a decent bus service isn't much of a city, imo. If we plan for all journeys of over a few km to be made by car, then we're just going to have lots and lots of traffic and congested streets. We'll be building way too many roads which will cost a fortune, and which could be spent on more beneficial things, and way too much useable space will be given over to parking, which is a really poor use of valuable city centre space. More bus lanes are an absolute must for Limerick.

Stab*City

zulutango wrote: »

A few people are looking for fewer bus lanes, but lack of bus lanes is the principle reason we have a really shoddy bus service (although there are clearly management and investment issues also). A city without a decent bus service isn't much of a city, imo. If we plan for all journeys of over a few km to be made by car, then we're just going to have lots and lots of traffic and congested streets. We'll be building way too many roads which will cost a fortune, and which could be spent on more beneficial things, and way too much useable space will be given over to parking, which is a really poor use of valuable city centre space. More bus lanes are an absolute must for Limerick.

Jesus we have enough bus lanes. Taxis and traffic dodgers are all that use them.. And besides that 75% of the buses i see daily are empty.

LimerickCity

zulutango wrote: »

Shapey Fiend wrote: »

Limerick needs more tourist attractions as well. You've got St Johns Castle and the Frank McCourt tour but you'd be hard pressed to find something to do over more than two days. Distillery/brewery tour, more frequent walking tours, pub crawl tours, traditional music trail maybe.

Tsk, tsk

King John The Baptist

Glenomra

specialist shops. they bring people to the city. we have some, cameras, antiques, craft, books, etc but not enough.

Stab*City

Conventions big ones.

Paddico

Jake Millions Greyhound wrote: »

a) Marks & Spencer
b) Monorail

/End thread

Any care to tell me what the limerick obsession is with Marks & Sparks.
It will come some day and then, just like starbucks you'll realise M&S is overpriced for food and and their clothes are ****e quality

Shapey Fiend

There's no way I'd do a full food shop in M&S but some of their stuff is much nicer than the competition.. pasta sauces for instance. They do the hardest wearing school uniforms/shirts as well IMO.