FOLLOWING a period of public consultation, a total of five submissions were received by Limerick City Council in relation to its Draft Retail Incentive Scheme for vacant property in the city. The scheme was adopted by the city council at its monthly meeting. It offers incentives to encourage city centre higher order retail uses on O’Connell Street, William Street, Shannon Street, Roches Street, Catherine Street, Little Catherine Street, Henry Street, Liddy Street, Honan’s Quay, Denmark Street, Cruises Street, Todd’s Row,
Chapel Street, Bedford Row, Thomas Street, Sarsfield Street and the north-east half of Patrick Street and Rutland Street, to specifically include the Opera Centre site, in order to address vacancy in these streets.
A submission from Hogan’s Pharmacy called for an extension of the scheme to include Upper William Street and all city streets, but the council points out that it is vital that it is concentrated in a defined core retail area at the outset in order to maximise its impact.
“The submission will be considered at the mid-term review of the scheme in August/September,” the city manager’s report states.
In their submission, Hogan’s Pharmacy says it has just one reservation.
“We think the decision to conclude at the junction of William Street and High Street is short sighted.
‘We walked William Street from O’Connell Street to High Street and counted six empty units on the street. The block of Upper William Street from High Street to Gerald Griffin Street has two empty units, and the block of Upper William Street from Gerald Griffin Street to Cathedral Place has four – both these blocks appear to be a smaller stretch of road with the same number of empty units”.
Pointing out that they have been trading in the street for the past 70 years and that Upper William Street is used by tourists going to visit St John’s Cathedral, Patrick Sarsfield’s sculpture and Mount St Laurence Cemetery, the proprietors of Hogan’s Pharmacy say:
“We appreciate that you are describing this scheme as being a city centre initiative – would you, however, consider extending it to include all the streets of the city?”
In response to a submission from the council’s Finance Department that higher end restaurants be considered, the city manager’s response is that the inclusion of restaurants will be considered at the mid-term review stage.
A submission from Limerick Chamber that the scheme be extended to include existing businesses, was rejected.
In the submission, chamber chief executive, Maria Kelly, says: “We feel this would further enhance the visual appearance of our city and may entice existing businesses to expand or improve the facade of their premises.
“A more long term measure, which we urge you to examine, is our proposal for a special zoning within the city centre – we want to ensure that Limerick is best placed to take advantage of an upturn when it occurs in the marketplace and feel such a zoning would go some way to achieving this, and if we can be of assistance in working with you to achieve this designation for the city centre, we will be more than happy to do so.”
The manager’s reply states:
“This is not appropriate as the scheme aims to address vacancy in the core retail area of the city centre,” and the chamber’s recommendation to include additional support measures to provide further commercial incentives was replied to as follows:
“Every effort will be made to assist applicants pertaining to the take-up of vacant units to the scheme”.
Elenora and Marie Hogan, Hogan’s Pharmacy, Upper William Street.
