Hotel

THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NINE STOREY APARTMENT HOTEL

June 26, 2023 by infomatique

IS ABOUT TO BEGIN ON CAPEL STREET

More than twenty years ago there was a Head Shop at 164 Capel Street but it was set on fire.

To quote from court documents: “The facts of the case were that the appellant and another man deliberately set fire to a head shop premises called Nirvana situate at 164 Capel Street, Dublin 1, in the early hours of the 12th of February 2010. The shop specialised in the sale of psychotropic substances which, though now illegal, were legal at the time. in the sale of phototropic substances which were legal at the time. The fire also spread to the two premises on either side of Nirvana, namely to a premises called The Souvenir Seeds Store at 164A Capel Street, which also sold then legal psychotropic substances, and to Utopia at 163 Capel Street which was a sex shop.”

This photograph was taken towards the end of 2022 however nothing really happened until a week or two when a demolition crew arrived to demolish the Dublin Working Mens Club at 33-36 Little Strand Street. I must admit that I was totally unaware of the the building and am not sure if it is being cleared to allow the construction of the new hotel.

[UPDATE] I checked the planning permission documents and the footprint of the hotel includes 162-164 Capel Street and 33-36 Strand Street Little []

In September 2021 An Bord Pleanála disagreed with Dublin City Council’s contention that there were too many hotels in the city centre and awarded permission, following an appeal, to Ringline Investments for a nine-storey, 142-bedroom hotel for Capel Street, in Dublin. The appeals board decision overturned a ruling by the City Council to refuse planning to Ringline for the hotel after expressing concerns about the “existing over-concentration” of hotels in the area.

Some objections were due to the fact that about 2,150 hotel rooms have been permitted in recent years within 350 metres of the site on Capel Street.

Apartment hotel group City ID recently announced the acquisition of a site on Capel Street in Dublin. The latest addition to its brand is the next step in its wider growth strategy across Europe and beyond. Originally the site received full planning permission for 142 bedrooms with food and beverage and meeting facilities and once developed will extend to approximately 5,471 sq m / 58,890 sq ft over 9-storey over basement.

My understanding is that the complex now under construction will operate 104 apartments with a diverse room mix. All apartments will feature fully equipped kitchens and living spaces, suited for short and long stays. The ground floor public area will include an open lobby, a deli, and a bar.

The acquisition of Capel Street adds to its three locations in central Amsterdam and to its latest site in central London’s Victoria district. Together with pension provider APG and Aware Super, City ID is implementing its strategy of international growth. The goal is to invest more than € 1 billion over the next five years to grow its international platform of apartment hotels across major European cities.

THE LATEST AND LARGEST STAYCITY APARTHOTEL IN DUBLIN

January 21, 2023 by infomatique

LITTLE MARY STREET

As the street is very narrow it is difficult to photograph this new building. The laneway at the side of the building is Anglesea Row and to the best of my knowledge a former mill was located was located here and it has been completely rebuilt to provide modern office space.

Two or three years ago the Irish Times reported that there about 100 new hotels or similar accommodation developments under construction or in the planning process and that there were already more than 250 hotels in Dublin.

Staycity was established in Dublin in 2004 and to the best of my knowledge the largest and most recent is located on the site of a Keelings owned fresh fruit and veg distribution depot on Little Mary Street. Back when planning permission was applied for However, the potential for human remains on the site had placed a question mark over the development. A City Council archaeologist report found that given that the site is located near to a medieval abbey and that human remains were found nearby, “I consider that it to have high potential for in situ structural remains of medieval date and for burials”.

An apartment hotel or aparthotel (also residential hotel, or extended-stay hotel) is a serviced apartment complex that uses a hotel-style booking system. It is similar to renting an apartment, but with no fixed contracts and occupants can “check out” whenever they wish, subject to the applicable minimum length of stay imposed by the company.

An apartment hotel complex usually offers a complete fully fitted apartment. These complexes are usually custom built, and similar to a hotel complex containing a varied amount of apartments. The length of stay in these apartment hotels is varied with anywhere from a few days to months or even years. The people who stay in apartment hotels use them as long-term accommodation; therefore, the hotels are often fitted with most things the average home would require.

MOTEL ONE STILL A WIP

January 16, 2023 by infomatique

SO THE LIFFEY STREET PUBLIC REALM WORKS SCHEME IS SLIGHTLY DELAYED

In May 2919 I wrote the following: “Construction of a 310-room hotel at this location is underway. When completed in mid-2020, the hotel will be operated by the budget hotel brand Motel One. It is claimed that the development will transform the area, encouraging tourist footfall and general retail activity in the surrounding area.”

It is now January and for various reasons the hotel is still a work in progress.

Dublin City Council, through its’ Public Works Contractor, Cairn Construction, now propose to commence work on the LIFFEY STREET PUBLIC REALM WORKS Scheme in the fourth (4th) week of January 2023 (Monday, 23rd). This brief postponement of commencement (from the previously advertised 9th January Starting Date) is consequent on unexpected delay(s) to the completion of Motel One on Liffey Street Upper (previously due to open at the end of December). Unfortunately, there is not enough space on the street to accommodate both the Motel’s Contractor and the Roadworks Contractor at the same time.

Liffey Street (both Upper and Lower) provides an important link between the north and south city centre shopping and tourist precincts. Liffey Street can experience some 30,000 pedestrians and some 2,500 vehicles per day, and accommodation of same will present the Contractor no small challenge during the Works.

This scheme is being progressed as part of the Public Realm Strategy, the City Centre Masterplan and the Reimagining Dublin One Study, which was developed to meet the objectives of the overarching Dublin City Council Public Realm Strategy ‘Your City Your Space’ document.

A high quality design is being utilised to improve the ambiance of the street, with increased greening and wider footpaths creating a quality space to be enjoyed by all.

The proposed Works will involve a full upgrade of the footpaths and carriageway at this location. The footpaths will be widened and repaved in granite, and notable new planting will be included to match those already introduced in other recently completed city centre streets.

The above Works include, but are not limited to:-

The proposed works extend the full length of Liffey Street Upper and Lower from its junction with Henry Street running south to its junction with Ormond Quay and Bachelor’s Walk along the Liffey Quays. The Scheme’s Works endeavours to minimise disruption to local businesses and the general public.

The Liffey Street Public Realm project involves the excavation, reconstruction, milling and reconstruction of the asphalt carriageway and the repaving of the footpaths with new granite slabs and setts laid on a new high strength bedding mortar, replacing the existing pavement materials, and as shown on the scheme design drawings.

The existing pedestrian area on Liffey Street Upper is extended to the intersection with Abbey Street. A new pedestrian plaza will be created on Liffey Street Lower between Strand Street and the Quays.

The Works involve the replacement of an existing gas main, the provision and installation of new water mains, the provision of new surface water sewers, public lighting and communications ducts, street furniture in the form of bollards, benches, bicycle stands, and bins and the replacement of some utility covers and frames within the site extents.

The Works also involve the provision of planted areas throughout the scheme.

Liffey Street lower is currently open to one-way southbound traffic along its entire length from Abbey Street to the Quays.

There are pedestrian footways on both sides of the road. Insofar as is reasonably possible, through-traffic will be maintained for the duration of the works between Abbey Street and Strand Street. However, it is acknowledged in advance, that Temporary Road Closures (affecting vehicular traffic) will have to be an integral part of these Pubic Roadworks.

Temporary Traffic Management will be a major part of the proposed Works, with the safety of pedestrians and other road users remaining paramount throughout the construction period.

The Contractor will do its’ utmost to preserve vehicular passage along the street insofar as is reasonably possible, during the course of the Works.

Dublin City Council, and its’ Public Works Contractor, Cairn Construction, apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption these Works may cause.

https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/transportation/roads-and-traffic-projects/liffey-street-public-realm-works