University of Limerick agrees to purchase vacant Dunnes Stores site in city centre

MarkR

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/374382/breaking-university-of-limerick-agrees-to-purchase-vacant-dunnes-stores-site-in-city-centre.html

At least we can stop talking about M&S. :-D

Cpt_Blackbeard

MarkR wrote: »

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/374382/breaking-university-of-limerick-agrees-to-purchase-vacant-dunnes-stores-site-in-city-centre.html

At least we can stop talking about M&S. :-D

I just posted the above in the Limerick improvements thread. The UL president just circulated an email to all staff with the same details and I see that the Limerick Leader has the story now too.

This has to be the best case scenario for the city. Although, I'm sure that the usual suspects will find a way to spin it as a negative.

MarkR

I also got that email. Good news for a friday evening. :-)

Berty

It's a popular thread on their Facebook post (LL) but so far only somebody has sarcastically mentioned the homeless comment in 3.2.1......

Somebody is bound to mention it.

This has actually made my day!

zulutango

It's huge news for Limerick City. It'll be interesting to see how the project develops.

Glenomra

Fantastic news for limerick city.

MarkR

Just waiting for UL Stores. ðŸ˜

Massive all right, and seems to be linking up with development around the opera centre. I presume it'll be knocked and built up.

The main campus is really well maintained, and used by all for walks etc. Hope the new place is as well kept.

Limerick74

Does this mean that UL won’t develop a campus in the Opera Centre as announced last December?

tototoe

Limerick74 wrote: »

Does this mean that UL won’t develop a campus in the Opera Centre as announced last December?

Would a campus for 2000 students fit in the Dunnes site, seems a bit small?

Unless they go up...

Vanquished

Limerick74 wrote: »

Does this mean that UL won’t develop a campus in the Opera Centre as announced last December?

The plans released two weeks ago for the large site along Rutland Street, Patrick Street contained no provision for accommodating UL. They clearly had their sights set on elsewhere.

Giggsy19

Finally that eye sore will be gone, great news.

However where do they plan to put all the parking to accommodate tis extra 2000?

Phileas Frog

Giggsy19 wrote: »

Finally that eye sore will be gone, great news.

However where do they plan to put all the parking to accommodate tis extra 2000?

They'll all be walking, with grass for shoes if zulutango has anything to do with it

boege

tototoe wrote: »

Would a campus for 2000 students fit in the Dunnes site, seems a bit small?

Unless they go up...

I think 2000 student is very unlikely in the short/medium term.

I understand the Opera site will be used to develop and deliver life long learning programmes. Many students on these programmes are part-time student and in existing employment. They are targeting employees in the city (law accounting, entrepreneurship). The UL presidents email mentions activities for the Dunnes site that are very similar to the Opera site, so this announcement is intriguing.

The site will be expensive to develop so going high makes financial sense. Planning is a different matter.

Cookiemunster

boege wrote: »

I think 2000 student is very unlikely in the short/medium term.

I understand the Opera site will be used to develop and deliver life long learning programmes. Many students on these programmes are part-time student and in existing employment. They are targeting employees in the city (law accounting, entrepreneurship). The UL presidents email mentions activities for the Dunnes site that are very similar to the Opera site, so this announcement is intriguing.

The site will be expensive to develop so going high makes financial sense. Planning is a different matter.

The council will bend over backwards to facilitate this. It will breeze though local planning. Expect an appeal to ABP from An Taisce though.

MarkR

Phileas Frog wrote: »

They'll all be walking, with grass for shoes if zulutango has anything to do with it

Speaking of taking a walk, Phileas will be taking a break from the Limerick forum.

zulutango

Giggsy19 wrote:

However where do they plan to put all the parking to accommodate tis extra 2000?

Students who live and study in the city are less likely to need cars. Where do Trinity, UCC and NUIG students park?

zulutango

Regarding the Opera plans, I'd imagine there will be quite a few submissions to ABP. And that's a good thing. You can thank An Taisce for the plans being as good as they are. The Council wanted to level the buildings on Rutland, Patrick Street and Ellen Street, and have a greater proportion of office space but thanks to An Taisce's efforts they were revised.

This thread is about the really great news that UL are developing a city centre campus on a prominent site which has been idle for more than a decade. Let's not derail it with petty bickering.

Mc Love

Maybe UL should take over and start running the council

Giggsy19

zulutango wrote: »

Students who live and study in the city are less likely to need cars. Where do Trinity, UCC and NUIG students park?

Fair point actually!

sioda

This is great news on so many levels for the city the eyesore gone and getting more students thus footfall into the city.
Water taxi to Ul yes I know pie in the sky but would be great addition.

This combined with the possible new student accom in Corbally are showing a bit more confidence in the city

Mc Love

sioda wrote: »

This is great news on so many levels for the city the eyesore gone and getting more students thus footfall into the city.
Water taxi to Ul yes I know pie in the sky but would be great addition.

This combined with the possible new student accom in Corbally are showing a bit more confidence in the city

That could actually be a thing though.

damowill

Cookiemunster wrote: »

The council will bend over backwards to facilitate this. It will breeze though local planning. Expect an appeal to ABP from An Taisce though.

I'd imagine they will just renovate, gut and fit out whats there, put in new windows and new facade...

PetKing

I'm now a bit confused. I thought the latest plans for Opera included nothing connected to UL. Which is it?

MarkR

Opera Centre would be opposite Arthur's Quay, so same general area, but not directly connected. Hopefully all positive developments.

Cookiemunster

damowill wrote: »

I'd imagine they will just renovate, gut and fit out whats there, put in new windows and new facade...

They're talking about a 2022 opening. It wouldn't take 3 years to do that. And you wouldn't fit many student into the current building without going up.

With the UL President saying “It is fitting that UL’s presence in the city will be on the water front mirroring our magnificent riverside campus just four kilometres away,” and the Mayor saying “the vacant Dunnes Stores shopping centre, which will now be replaced with a state of new riverside city centre campus for UL students.”, I'd expect it to be fully demolished and something with a face to the river (which the current building doesn't have) being built.

pebbletroy

Honestly best piece of news I’ve heard in a long time, I really thought it would be an eyesore forever.
Guess 8 million changes Margaret Hefferenans mind eventually
Money talks

The Specialist

Not great news in my eyes, from posts here I would have thought retail was the main target for the city - not education spaces using a prime retail space in the city centre. This doesn’t benefit Limerick in any way but the blame lies solely on Dunnes for being such hoarding pricks in the first place.

MarkR

The Specialist wrote: »

Not great news in my eyes, from posts here I would have thought retail was the main target for the city - not education spaces using a prime retail space in the city centre. This doesn’t benefit Limerick in any way but the blame lies solely on Dunnes for being such hoarding pricks in the first place.

What type of retail do you think would do better?

Cookiemunster

The Specialist wrote: »

Not great news in my eyes, from posts here I would have thought retail was the main target for the city - not education spaces using a prime retail space in the city centre. This doesn’t benefit Limerick in any way but the blame lies solely on Dunnes for being such hoarding pricks in the first place.

It gets a couple of thousand more people into the city every day. I fail so see how that's a bad thing. And more people working and studying in the city center, results in more footfall which will entice more retail.

tommy249

damowill wrote: »

I'd imagine they will just renovate, gut and fit out whats there, put in new windows and new facade...

You must never have seen the ambition UL have and the quality of their buildings on the main campus if u think UL would ever consider keeping that building with just a refurb!

Cookiemunster

tommy249 wrote: »

You must never have seen the ambition UL have and the quality of their building on the main campus if u think UL would ever consider keeping that building with just a refurb!

Actually that's a very good point. The odds are high that this will end up being the nicest building in the city centre.

martyc5674

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Actually that's a very good point. The odds are high that this will end up being the nicest building in the city centre.

Let’s hope so- UL have great vision with their buildings.
I think they will do something mind blowing with this site given the vista.
Much better result than the council getting it- you really couldn’t trust they’d have really done anything creative with it given their reputation. This will be up and occupied before they’ve turned a sod at the Opera site I reckon.

phog

I've no idea how they intend to use but I'm delighted to see them acquire it and even better it will not be a retail store though part of me would love to see UL lease it the M&S :pac: :pac:

Glenomra

martyc5674 wrote: »

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Actually that's a very good point. The odds are high that this will end up being the nicest building in the city centre.

Let’s hope so- UL have great vision with their buildings.
I think they will do something mind blowing with this site given the vista.
Much better result than the council getting it- you really couldn’t trust they’d have really done anything creative with it given their reputation. This will be up and occupied before they’ve turned a sod at the Opera site I reckon.

Well then they better get a move on then as the Opera Centre construction will commence at the latest by Autumn of next year. A truly enormous project that will transform limerick city far more than any other project, this one included. Fully funded with a planned fourteen storey central building, 25 million euro library, apart hotel, revamped Quinns pub and restaurant, plaza, retail, offices, some residential etc. A project that started life as a failed private sector venture and one that would never be realised only for the vision of limerick council with the 2030 plan. And incidentally, I know no one in the city council, don't even have a vote in limerick but credit where credit is due.

The Specialist

Cookiemunster wrote: »

It gets a couple of thousand more people into the city every day. I fail so see how that's a bad thing. And more people working and studying in the city center, results in more footfall which will entice more retail.

A couple of thousand people who have a limited selection of retailers to access every day, if at all considering they are students - 10 million to the local economy this is not. I don’t disagree with the principle of it but not that choice of building - it has potential for so much more than a city campus for a university. That’s Dunnes fault more than anyone.

MarkR

The Specialist wrote: »

A couple of thousand people who have a limited selection of retailers to access every day, if at all considering they are students - 10 million to the local economy this is not. I don’t disagree with the principle of it but not that choice of building - it has potential for so much more than a city campus for a university. That’s Dunnes fault more than anyone.

OK, but what would you suggest as an alternative?

The Specialist

MarkR wrote: »

OK, but what would you suggest as an alternative?

I don’t know man and that’s the honest answer, but there are so many other options for a site and location such as that building. It’s as central as you can get including some great views around the riverside facing side of it. Just feel it’s wasted with this current plan but as I said that’s purely Dunnes fault - they left it vacant for an obscene amount of time.

Vanquished

Glenomra wrote: »

Well then they better get a move on then as the Opera Centre construction will commence at the latest by Autumn of next year. A truly enormous project that will transform limerick city far more than any other project, this one included. Fully funded with a planned fourteen storey central building, 25 million euro library, apart hotel, revamped Quinns pub and restaurant, plaza, retail, offices, some residential etc. A project that started life as a failed private sector venture and one that would never be realised only for the vision of limerick council with the 2030 plan. And incidentally, I know no one in the city council, don't even have a vote in limerick but credit where credit is due.

And sure it only took them 8 years to lodge a valid planning application. It's a 10 year permission that's being sought as well so for a finish it will have taken the Council the bones of 20 years to develop the site!!

It has to be said also that elements of the proposed scheme are of extremely dubious design quality. I really hope An Bord Pleanala will instruct them to revise elevations such as the Patrick Street/Ellen Street corner (which is so incredibly bland and featureless) and the infill beside the old Town Hall, which is extremely jarring. The quality of design here needs to be significantly improved.

yermanoffthetv

The Specialist wrote: »

A couple of thousand people who have a limited selection of retailers to access every day, if at all considering they are students - 10 million to the local economy this is not. I don’t disagree with the principle of it but not that choice of building - it has potential for so much more than a city campus for a university. That’s Dunnes fault more than anyone.

Its a campus for the law and business Dept's. I'm sure law and business students aren't short of a few bob. Its also supposed to include an enterprise hub which most certainly will benefit the local economy. I think this is a fantastic development.

martyc5674

The Specialist wrote: »

I don’t know man and that’s the honest answer, but there are so many other options for a site and location such as that building. It’s as central as you can get including some great views around the riverside facing side of it. Just feel it’s wasted with this current plan but as I said that’s purely Dunnes fault - they left it vacant for an obscene amount of time.

I fail to see how you can think it is wasted being a part of the university. It means many people will pass through the building and enjoy what it has to offer over the years. It will bring bright minds young and old into the city and that will have a positive impact on their surrounds. It will become part of Limerick’s culture. Between the bridges you’ll have the courthouse, the castle, the museum, the park and now a part of the university. It should help transform the park aswell, there will be a lot more people about the place sitting out in nice weather etc etc. it can only be good.. we don’t need retail here... that’s what the high streets are for.
Marty.

MarkR

The Specialist wrote: »

I don’t know man and that’s the honest answer, but there are so many other options for a site and location such as that building. It’s as central as you can get including some great views around the riverside facing side of it. Just feel it’s wasted with this current plan but as I said that’s purely Dunnes fault - they left it vacant for an obscene amount of time.

The only other things I've heard suggested for that site were M&S, or some kind of community centre.

A city centre, Riverside campus brings. Something to the city centre that isn't there right now. Depending on its use later on, we might even get people moving around Limerick after six! Could you imagine?!

A drive towards city centre living would be great. Won't happen in isolation, but these new developments would make it more attractive.

tototoe

It's a great site for a college building imo. I wonder will this tie in with plans that were mentioned preciously to knock Arthur's quay ?

Glenomra

The value of the university move is not the added turnover in city businesses, modest though it might be. The real value imo lies in the extra footfall which gives every city a buzz and makes a city a more attractive place.

ejmaztec

phog wrote: »

I've no idea how they intend to use but I'm delighted to see them acquire it and even better it will not be a retail store though part of me would love to see UL lease it the M&S :pac: :pac:

I bet it's been written into the sale contract that UL can't lease it to anyone else, especially any of Dunne's competitors.

It reminds me of how Tesco managed to get into Abbeyfeale, when everybody thought that some local fella was building himself a huge store. I don't think any of the usual suspects objected to it, because he wasn't seen as a threat.

mart 23

I wonder if UL or even a developer would consider buying the shops across from Dunnes and developing a students apparment block there.

thesimpsons

Several thousand students also beings with it loads of staff and the associated visitors. Expecting UL to make full use of the river and finally the city is turning its face properly towards it.

YFlyer

sioda wrote: »

This is great news on so many levels for the city the eyesore gone and getting more students thus footfall into the city.
Water taxi to Ul yes I know pie in the sky but would be great addition.

This combined with the possible new student accom in Corbally are showing a bit more confidence in the city

Or cycle?

YFlyer

Wonder what is the latest with the Travel Lodge building?

Cookiemunster

Des Fitzgerald was on Newstalk this morning talking about this. He didn't really say much, but when the presenter asked about the design in relation to ULs history of good architecture he said (paraphrasing) that they has a few designs already on the table and wanted the building to be iconic in the city center.

So that definitively answers the question as to whether they they're refurbishing or rebuilding. Can't wait to see the final design.

sioda

YFlyer wrote: »

Or cycle?

Yeah the canal path will get much better use. Hopefully this might be the push to get the coca cola bikes to the University