New strategy aims to deliver 'world class waterfront' to Limerick
A NEW STRATEGY is being developed which it's hoped will lead to a “world class waterfront” in Limerick.
Limerick City and County Council has teamed up with urban design company Metropolitan Workshop, which will develop a new vision for the Arthur's Quay area of the city centre.
As part of this, the public have been having their say on how they’d like the area to appear in the future.
Attendees at a special open day in the University of Limerick's city centre campus in the former Dunnes Stores building at Sarsfield Street were given the opportunity to contribute to an 'engagement map’.
Looking at a current overhead map of the area, people were asked to identify using colour-coded stickers what they'd like to see introduced, with improved retail, water access, housinh, culture and improved green spaces all options.
Denise Murray, who leads Metropolitan Workshop's Irish studio said: “What we are doing is looking at how the buildings interact with each other. Council want to develop the park as part of its world class waterfront project. So we are working with them to gather everyone’s points of views.”
She said that city centre housing in the area was one of the things raised, including notably from An Taisce Limerick.
“People also want to see the old tourist office brought back into use as a cafe or for community use as soon as possible. It would activate the park as a reason to go there,” she said.
“If traffic needs to come through Arthur's Quay, what we're hearing is that it could be civilised a bit, and maybe the emphasis should switch to the pedestrian. Cars could pass through at a more gentle speed and have better connections to buildings,” Ms Murray added.
While UL hosted the consultation event this Friday, staff from Metropolitan Workshop will go on location to Arthur's Quay Park this Saturday to get the views of its regular users.
Based on all the feedback, its staff will return in either September or October with proposals for Arthur's Quay, which will be used as a guide to development. Ms Murray said it's then hoped a full framework document will be ready before Christmas.