Let’s not miss chance to preserve historic site

SENSE has finally prevailed in the rejection of the bizarre proposal to relocate the Abbey Theatre to the GPO.

The disregard some have for the status and standing of buildings that link us to our past is startling. There is hardly a street left in the capital that hasn’t been vandalised by architects, with the apparent approval of city planners, intent on leaving their particular mark on the city landscape without by or leave of those most affected — the citizens. Under the Carlton site planning application, the landmark Carlton Cinema in O’Connell St is to be relocated further along the street in order to front a proposed John Lewis store in a shopping centre. Its surrounding buildings, streets and laneways are to be levelled to make way for a suburban type shopping mall. If it is the case that we need a new theatre, then a natural home for it could be the Carlton, linked to the 1916 National Monument in Moore Street, as Phase 1 in the development of a 1916 historic cultural quarter.

Any development of this site requires the approval of Minister Deenihan since it has within its area the protected structures of a National Monument at 14 to 17 Moore Street. There is no support for the proposed retail development. An opportunity exists to create something worthwhile that will be treasured by future generations. It should not be missed.