WITH the future of the proposed Opera Centre very much up in the air, businessman, Tony Connolly, is recommending that parts of the site be utilised for ground level carparking.
He recommended to a meeting of the city council’s Economic Policy Development and Future Planning Committee, that locating a major ground level carparking facility in the area would be “very attractive and convenient for a lot of people.
“You’d be surprised how many do not like multi-storey indoor car parks, which can be difficult to manoeuvre, and people coming into the city for shopping with families would opt for ground level parking,” suggested Mr Connolly
Cllr John Gilligan hinted it would “cost almost nothing” to convert the United Drug building on Charlotte Quay to a carparking facility.
Director of services, Oliver O’Loughlin, revealed the city council is in contact with the owners of empty retail units that comprise the Opera Centre layout.
“We could talk to them about car parking there but they own the properties and it would be up to them. We have written to NAMA, but they say they are only at the very early stages with regard to the future of the Opera Centre. It will take a year before they get to making final decisions about it”.
Confirming that the council has been working closely with Shannon Development on ways to attract people into the city, Mr O’Loughlin said:
“With the tunnel opening this month, there will be considerably less traffic on the city streets and we will be able to enhance O’Connell Street and start work on upgrading William Street – we have other structural plans as well, that will benefit the city”.
Cllr Joe Leddin called on the committee chairman, Cllr Diarmuid Scully to invite in Shannon Development to City Hall to “get a greater appreciation of their plans for the city, going forward,” and Cllr Gerry McLoughlin said the opportunity should also be used to “quiz SFADCO on what they are doing to open up King John’s Castle for greater business”.
It was agreed that an invitation will be sent to Shannon Development.
