Multi-million euro plan to spark ‘rebirth of Limerick city living’?

A NEW €250m plan for Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre could bring about a doubling of retail space, a rooftop cinema, leisure area and almost 300 apartments.

That’s according to proposals from a city centre developer who has produced an ambitious blueprint to redevelop the shopping mall.

He was acting in response to plans by council to transform the Arthur’s Quay area.

While council has put forward three options to redevelop the area - one of which includes the expansion of the shopping centre’s retail space - city businessman Michael Tiernan has outlined his own vision which he hopes will spark “the rebirth of city centre living.”

His blueprint, pictured below, is not the exact same as the council’s third option, and he is hoping to work with local authority bosses to make it happen.

Mr Tiernan opened Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre in 1988 and also founded Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership which provided support to the hundreds of Krups staff made redundant 25 years ago.

Under his multi-million euro projections, the majority of the shopping centre would be demolished, apart from Tesco and the car park.

A walkway would be created through the middle of the centre connecting the new Opera Centre site and Arthur’s Quay Park.

A food and beverage court would provide active frontage to the park at the ground floor of the new shopping centre.

Tesco would remain in place. But the car park above the supermarket would be reduced from almost 600 spaces down to 400 to 500.

The top level of the car park would become a multiplex cinema, leisure area and play zone for children.

Mr Tiernan confirmed that it is envisaged there will be two floors of retail space, with an extra 100,000 square foot.

City centre apartments would sit on top of the retail spaces with the tower potentially going up to 14 storeys.

Two other blocks would also be constructed, the shopping centre plans show.

“We are estimating in the region of 250 and 290 apartments,” said Mr Tiernan, adding these would be in a mixture of one-bed, two-bed, and three-bed. He hopes government initiatives to help get people on the property ladder would be utilised for these.
Communal gardens will be located adjacent to the apartments.

“It will bookend this side of the river. We have Riverpoint and the Clayton Hotel at one end, now we will have this at the other end,” Mr Tiernan said.

“It’d bring a whole new life to the city. It would be inspirational, and a rebirth of city living,” he added.

There is a public consultation process ongoing as to the future of Arthur’s Quay. In the New Year, it’s expected council will select its preferred option.

Mr Tiernan said he would be keen, once the consultation period is over, to sit down with council bosses and finalise plans for the early implementation of an “exciting new era for Limerick city centre”.

Not everyone agrees with this plan with some concerned about the loss of public space to a private developer and a reduction in green space.

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Mr Tiernan has pointed out that under his plan, however, land currently being used by Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre would transfer to council, and the loss of green space from the park itself would be small.

Dave Tobin, of the Limerick Cycle Campaign said he would prefer the second option which sees Arthur’s Quay shopping centre remain the same size, and public realm improvements.

It’s a view shared by Rachel Beck, president of University of Limerick’s Environment Society. She said: “We think it's wasteful to extend the footprint on a shopping centre when the future of shopping centres are increasingly internet-based.”