€20 million quay project on site

A €20 MILLION mixed-use development has gone on site less than 100 yards from St Patrick’s Bridge in Cork city.

The development, at a pivotal road junction on Camden Quay, Carroll’s Quay and Pine Street, is adjacent to the temporary Circuit Court directly across the River Lee from Cork Opera House and Emmet Place plaza.

Set to go into the scheme are 58 apartments, five retail units and large restaurant. Surprisingly, the up to six storey building had a clear run through planning, clearing the process in just a few months without any appeal.

City Manager Joe Gavin forcefully backed the project, according to sources, and is keen to see this city quay area redeveloped.

Another large site which previously went for planning for offices is back in assembly across Carroll’s Quay, now the main route through the city to Blackpool, Mallow, Limerick and the west. Offices, shops and apartment are also planned for several other schemes across the river on Lavitt’s Quay.

Developer behind the major project fronting onto Camden Quay is Jack Hornibrook, who owned the older industrial-style 19th property on the half acre site which abuts a multi-storey car park.

Architects for the urban scheme are JE Keating and Associates, who were put forward for a design award by Cork County Council earlier this year for their urban renewal project, the suburban East Douglas Village scheme in Douglas.

Unlike that scheme which comprised five separate blocks, the city centre site is one single substantial building, but does pick up on some common details, such as use of limestone and brick, with the brick being selected to blend in with that on the elegant Georgian terrace on Camden Quay.

However, the design is contemporary, with four floors to the front, stepping up to six floors behind and then dropping back again to match the car-park building’s height.

The lower section at the front was designed to allow a view of Shandon steeple from St Patrick’s bridge, according to architect Paul Keating.

There will be six large apartments to the front with up to 1,000 sq ft of space, plus roof gardens, and overall all 58 apartments will have access to shared roof gardens and there will also be an internal ground level courtyard.

Construction is by PJ Hegarty, and the site has just been cleared in the last week. The project includes basement parking for 50 cars.

The scheme, not yet named, will be launched in September with agents Frank v Murphy Ltd, with Robert Jeffery handling the commercial end and Nicola Murray handling the residential component.

Prices for leases on the five retail units haven’t yet been set, according to Mr Jeffery, who is also seeking a user for the 1,800 sq ft restaurant space with curved glass wall and south-facing views of the river and Opera House. The apartments will be served by seven lifts.

The city centre location will make them very attractive to investors.

Price are likely to start from €260,000 for two-bed units of 600 sq ft, all with balconies, and the larger 1,000 sq ft units to the front will have strong owner-occupier appeal. Prices are likely to be from the mid to high 300,000s for these. Car parking spaces are priced at €40,000 each.