Land deal opens new chapter for city library

CORK city is to get a brand new public library, twice as large as its current facilities, on its existing Grand Parade site.

The City Council is to swap part of its site for a new replacement library building of between 50,000 and 60,000 square feet, following the signing of a contract with developers Frinailla yesterday.

Planning permission is to be sought within two months for a major €300m-plus mixed-use development on the Grand Parade, to include a 50,000-plus square feet library and associated public facilities, 160,000 square feet of offices, 100,000 square feet of shopping, basement car parking and overhead apartments.

The proposed new library will have exhibition space, an auditorium, children’s and teenagers’ facilities, study/meeting rooms, language learning facilities, music room, banks of computers and DVD screens among lending and reference services — all within a five-storey glass facade structure.

The plans provisionally worked up by architects Reddy O’Riordan Staehli include retention of the 1930-built Hiberno-Romanesque limestone facade at 57-8 Grand Parade.

The library site is adjacent to the former Grand Parade Hotel, a development site stretching back to South Main Street, owned by Frinailla which will allow the two sites to merge for new uses. Grand Parade is undergoing a multi-million euro upgrade to a design by Catalan architect Beth Gali.

City manager, Joe Gavin, yesterday confirmed the deal with Frinailla was now through, and it came about after the Council advertised last year for interested parties to for the provision of a new Central Library. Five bidders made approaches and proposals.

“Frinailla Development’s proposal involves the building of the new library on part of the current library site extending into adjoining property. The new library proposed is state-of-the-art. It will comprise in excess of 50,000 sq ft which is twice the size of the existing library,” noted Mr Gavin.

“Under the arrangement, the City Council will secure a state-of-the-art landmark Central Library on Grand Parade, without any financial outlay. Frinailla Developments will also provide temporary accommodation for the current library, while the new one is under construction, free of charge,” he added.

Part of the existing library site which isn’t used for the new library will be given to Frinailla.