VICAR STREET OWNER Harry Crosbie is planning to construct a two storey ‘glass box’ in Dublin’s docklands to house a new four star, 34-bedroom Misery Hill hotel.

In planning documents lodged with Dublin City Council, they show that Harry and Rita Crosbie’s Misery Hill Entertainment Ltd is also planning to construct a 200 seat ‘Baby Vic’ entertainment venue as part of the mixed-use scheme.

Planning consultant for Mr Crosbie’s Misery Hill Entertainment Ltd, William Doran, has stated that the entertainment venue will be used for “intimate concerts and dramatic productions”.

Mr Doran states that the location “requires the hotel element to be of an exceptional quality”.

An innovative design by architects PRC Architecture & Planning is proposing to locate the 34 hotel bedrooms in a two-level glass box which will ‘oversail’ the protected structure at 9 Hanover Quay.

9 Hanover Quay has been the home of Vicar Street owners, Harry and Rita Crosbie, for the last 30 years and the planning application involves converting the Crosbie home to hospitality and entertainment mixed use.

A report by PRC Architects & Planning contends that the scheme “represents a transformative project that merges the preservation of Dublin’s architectural heritage with innovative modern design”.

The architecture report states that “the project’s unique combination of a boutique hotel, music venue and dockside bar is designed to breathe new life into this waterfront site”.

It adds that the Misery Hill hotel and Baby Vic venue “represent a forward looking yet respectful approach to urban regeneration”.

The report adds that the project “stands as a model of how sensitive design can revitalise a historic site”.

U2 secured planning permission for an exhibition centre at 15 to 18 Hanover Quay in 2019 with planning permission now lapsed but work continues on the project.

In his report, Mr Doran states that the Misery Hill Entertainment proposal provides a vibrant hub of activity on the waterfront and opening up this section of quayside to public use, which may link through to the future U2 experience in the longer term.

Mr Doran believes that the proposal “is an innovative use of a building on the Grand Canal Dock quayside which will encourage people to make use of the water resource which is currently little used”.

He also contends that the hotel and entertainment venue “will bring economic activity to the water edge, boosting local employment and with the entertainment venue to attract people to the Grand Canal Square and Dock area increasing the economic activity and benefiting other business in the area”.

He said: “Currently the Grand Canal Square and Dock are little used other than transiting through, in this regard it has failed to achieve its potential. Footfall tends to be along the shop side of Hanover Quay. 

He said that “the extension of the footpath in front of the proposed development and the U2 venue will alter that pattern for the better, and the provision of access to the waterfront along the proposed mixed use development and potentially along the waterfront of the U2 Venue will have an impact on the access to and use of the water body”.

He said that the overall mixed use on the site “will create a focal point on the water edge bringing a vitality to the water body lacking heretofore and should encourage more innovative use of the Grand Canal Square, which currently serves no useful purpose in the community”.

He said that the proposal will enhance the outdoor activity and make over 53 metres of quay/campshire available for public use.

A decision is due in November.