If Cork is back, then why so many empty shops?

The great and the good were in City Hall on Friday night. Tux-clad, I sneaked in to join more than 1,000 others representing a large slice of political and business life in Cork City and county.

There was a fair bit of celebration. After all, Cork is attracting foreign direct investment, employment levels are improving, and property prices are starting to rise.

That’s as good a cocktail for economic recovery as you will find.

Nonetheless a stroll up the Mall, on to Grand Parade, along Patrick’s St, and besides the quay to the bus station left me confused.

If Cork really is a centre of energy and dynamism that is plugged in to the trends of modern global life, then why can’t I see it on its streets ?

The last time I suggested the South Mall was drab and dreary, I had more incoming rockets than a bunch of marines stuck in the Mekong Delta around 1971. It may be time to strap on the flak-jacket again because I don’t see much evidence of an impressive degree of street culture in Cork at present.

Let’s start on Grand Parade. The council has done a great job there with wider footpaths, a park, and good street lighting.

But the retail and office landscape there is brutal, especially as you near the monstrosity known as the Capital Cinema complex. The poor old English Market is being left down badly by the hulk next door that makes that part of the street downright depressing.

Turn on to Patrick St and you are met by a motley group of retail outlets that offer products like e-cigarettes.

It is grotty, too, as you move along and look at the plethora of ‘For Sale’ and ‘To Let’ signs on either side of the street. Hardly a sign of a thriving community and local economy.

Back around on the Mall I’m sorry but it still looks jaded. Are we honestly pitching that street as a 2015 business hub with the potential to reach out and serve global markets?

Of course there are jewels in the middle of all this. The Hi-B on Oliver Plunkett St is arguably one of the coolest pubs on earth.

You won’t find as good a café as Idaho in London or New York. A bunch of new restaurants have popped up on both side of the river that are fresh and energetic.

The Waterstones outlet on Patrick St is the best book shop I’ve visited — ever.

These bright spots need a marching army of supporting councillors and policymakers prepared to shake things up a lot across the city.

In ten years’ time, what type of city should we all look forward to ? How about:

* Really inexpensive and accessible car parks within walking distance of the city centre and a public transport system that whisks residents and shoppers in and out at ease all day;

* A radical makeover of property rates that encourage urban shopping and eating in a vibrant and forward thinking way.

* Unutilised shops should have fast-moving and escalating rates imposed on them that force their use by adventurous and ambitious retailers.

* The rapid incentivisation of urban dwellers to rent and own properties above retail outlets at the heart of the city.

Combining an ambitious retail- and resident-focused strategy would turbocharge the lifestyle benefits of making Cork a greater go-to centre.

These ideas are mapped over an environment already rich with resources. The city centre is about 15 minutes away from the sea and a downstream river system packed with amenity potential.

Within an hour, anyone living in Cork can reach some of the most beautiful landscapes and seascapes in Europe.

There is plenty to boast about, but you still need to hustle the city centre to hit the standards its residents deserve.

Joe Gill is director of corporate broking with Goodbody Stockbrokers. His views are personal.