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OVER THE PAST several months, Fora has taken a look at some of the more notable big-ticket projects that were floated during the Celtic Tiger period – or in the aftermath of its demise.
Most recently, we detailed the story behind the plans to build a huge shopping centre in the middle of Naas.
While locals are hopeful that the move could help revitalise the town’s suffering retail centre, the mostly completed centre has lain empty for years.
In this installment, we’ve moving to Ireland’s third-largest city to take a look at a similar project, but on a bigger scale.
The so-called ‘Limerick Opera Centre’ would be a major retail and commercial development with the potential to change the face of the city.
What is it?
The original plan was that the Limerick Opera Centre would be a major retail development in the heart of the city, built on a 3.7-acre site opposite the Arthur’s Quay shopping centre and near the Cruise’s Street shopping area.
It was to span a huge 350,000 sq ft, with frontage on five streets and scope to house over 1,000 workers when completed.
The shopping centre was designed to include a major anchor tenant and over 30 new shops, bars and restaurants. It would have been the biggest shopping centre in Munster upon completion.
The project was to include a spectacular elevated walkway, encased in glass, that would link the new centre with various nearby shopping locations.
The centre was to be dedicated to the memory of the world-renowned 19th-century soprano Catherine Hayes, a Limerick native – a connection which inspired the project’s name.
The site was assembled over many years by the Belfast-based Suneil Sharma, alongside property developer Sam Morrison, who then sold it on at the height of the boom.
When was it first suggested?
In 2003, Sharma started working with a local auctioneer to buy Limerick properties and assemble the site.
Sharma served as the chief executive of Regeneration Developments, the company behind the Limerick project. Regeneration announced plans to develop the site as a shopping centre in 2006 and got planning permission soon afterwards.
What happened?
The project was quickly given approval by Limerick city council, however several locals appealed it to An Bord Pleanála.
In the meantime, well-known developers Jerry O’Reilly, Terry Sweeney and David Courtney bought Regeneration for a reported sum of €110 million in early 2007.
In the years to come, this would be frequently held up as one of the most inflated deals of the boom years.
It was later revealed that the now-defunct Anglo Irish Bank, which worked with O’Reilly, Sweeney and Courtney, acquired a 50% stake in Regeneration in December 2007. It is not known how much it paid for the stake.
An Bord Pleanála eventually granted planning permission for the project in the middle of 2009, however at that stage the recession was well and truly under way and a development as ambitious as the Opera Centre getting off the ground was never likely to happen.
The site, which takes up a big chunk of the city centre, lay idle for years. As with so many other boom-time projects, state bad-bank Nama wound up with control of the developer’s loans.
The site was put up for sale in 2011 for €12.5 million, a fraction of its original sale price, and acquired by Limerick City and County Council – which still owns the property.
What’s the latest?
The local council looked at plans for what to do with the site and in 2015 said it was seeking expressions of interest for a new scheme that would feature a mix of office, retail, residential and educational development.
As well as plans to build a large shopping centre, the Irish Examiner reported in 2015 that the Revenue Commissioners offices would be moved to the new centre from the nearby Sarsfield House.
The state body is expected to move 900 staff to the new site, which will anchor the development. As well as that, the new plan also includes accommodation for 350 college students.
The project, which is estimated to cost between €120 million and €150 million to develop, forms the centrepiece of the Limerick 2030 renewal scheme.
While the site had planning permission for the huge shopping centre, the new development will feature more commercial development and less of an emphasis on shopping.
A spokesman for Limerick council told Fora that the local authority is planning to unveil new, detailed plans for the site in the next few weeks.
“There will be the same amount of development, but it will have more office space than retail,” he said.
“There will be some retail development, but it won’t be a retail hub. The Limerick 2030 regeneration plan has a plan for zones, and Arthur’s Quay is where a lot of the shopping will be.”
It is not known yet how the project will be funded, but no matter who’s behind it, locals will likely be hopeful of some progression at a site that has been a blight on the city for so long.
Written by Paul O’Donoghue and posted on Fora.ie
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R.I.P.
When Bowies creative output started to suffer in the 80′s, Prince came in and filled that void magnificently. I always viewed Prince in similar terms to Bowie in the way they challenged the mainstream constantly with their music and image. One crumb of comfort can be taken from his premature demise and that is the thousands of unreleased material he wrote over the years and which fans can look foward to hearing in the future.
On probably his worst album ‘Never Let Me Down’, Bowie sang the line : “The Little Red Corvette has passed me by” …
‘Least greatest’ album I think is more appropriate :)
What is the obsession with celebrities when they pass away?We should be mourning scientists,Doctors,professors and not musicians.A note in a newspaper is worthy,but countless stories one after the other is not on.We are taught to worship these people now and obsess.Sad day man passess away,hey over it.it Sums up society today,willfully ignorant and brainwashed by tv and radio.
You didnt have to pay attention to the article’s on him you know, you have a choice here Lee.
Says Lee Oswald
Yes but you know I have to give my 2 cents here…if I don’t highlight the pure ignorance and lack of common sense who else will?
What’s up Elma?
Musicians of this magnitutde are mourned simply because music means so very much to people; we grow with it, it grows with us, it relieves our stress, it gives us emotional release and it has very positive influences on our energy, body and brain. Prince was a musical genius, many people are upset, obviously not you Lee but thats okay. Maybe you’ve never heard music before
The reason for this is that more people would find Purple Rain to be more emotional and uplifting than Panck’s Constant.
Says the lad called after a dead Assassin????
I think if you did a wee bit of research you would realise I was not an assassin.I had a poor shot ,I could not off pulled of the assassination due to this fact.But you believe the Warren commission,which in itself was flawed from the day it was set up.
Back and to the left, back and to the left.
I sense a slight bit of sarcasm there Elma…The fact is shots could not be done in the time scale suggested.
I’m actually with you on this one tbh.
Thank you Elma,I’m not saying I was not involved.But I certainly did not act alone.I never got the call…
Is this worthy of a separate news story?
Maybe not, but the people who own the website think so, and it’s a free world.
Using your thumbs as a guide, it would appear about 80% thinkn yes it is.
“One day of seven we’ll die”
Gotta get those clicks
Goodnight sweet Prince
RTE government and cronie buddies would not represent the independent freedom loving Prince. They might like his music but they certainly wouldn’t be down with his stances on position on certain things. Might I suggest that PrimeTime do a piece on Chemtrails a subject which Prince was vocal about ???
Maybe they could have played ” something in the water does not compute”…
I agree Mr mango…but as you can see from all the red thumbs you are gettingn most people like to be spoon Fed from the likes of rte news.They hold comfort in their Irish independent,rte news and mor ing Ireland lol.Over educated but lack independent thought and the will to question authority.
Mass media educated sheeple, fleeced of free thought, and totally oblivious to the wool being pulled down over their eyes.
Good work RTE. good work
Thats cool,Prime Time taking a leaf outta Newsnight’s book with a lighter credits and a nice music tribute. Too many rte shows are too stiff and serious
Prince, like most of us like minded, would spit on Rte and it’s lie through omission policies. Prime time is a gate keeper like the war on drugs. They proclaim to be tackling the problem when they really are helping guide the outrage which is the brainwashed masses goto first emotion in reaction to the corruption of their overlords. But even Prince’s soul can’t replace the ones Rte & it’s minions already sold to the devil.!
Surprised anyone in RTE has enough soul to appreciate Prince. Disturbing to realise I have something in common with the government droids in Donnybrook
I wonder did David McCullogh manage to stay awake to hear the tune?
They should have faded the music in rather than just blasting it straight out. It’s a nice sentiment all the same.
Pity RTE is shite for the vast majority of the time.
Last weekthe bodies of two more young males were fished out of Galway Bay and Leo the Loo Head has decided he can afford to tske €14m from mental health.There are plenty more tragedies closer to home Prime Time could theme song, maybe “Suicide is Painless”.but of course it’s not, neither is is victimless.
Prince was a fan of Dick Gregory. He had strong opinions about society and politics and would not have been a fan of state owned and government controlled propaganda tv.
And I’m sure he would appreciate you hijacking the fact they played his music to commemorate his death as an excuse to have a rant. Not.
have your say