Bord Gáis checks out as Lapp’s Quay upgrade begins

Bord Gáis is checking out of several of its office spaces on Cork city’s Lapps Quay — just as Cork City Council prepares a €2m quay upgrade, to include the €800,000 purchase of the old Cork Savings Bank at 1 Lapps Quay.

City Hall’s purchase of the 1839-built classical Romanesque bank building is currently proceeding after departing City Manager Tim Lucey announced the local authority’s intention to buy it, back in March, for civic purposes, and to copper-fasten the improvements on Parnell Place, linking the South Mall to City Quarter.

The elegant, 7,600 sq ft bank building had been on the market since January 2013, initially guiding €1.2m with Lisney. Among those known to have viewed it from the private sector were local publicans, as well as UK chain Weatherspoons, who’ve since bought the Newport bar on Paul Street.