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I saw this mentioned in the Irish Times and I thought it might interest a few here. The Town Council have just advertised for developers, but this article gives the background. Good to see a piece of military heritage being restored.
http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople...story35906.asp
New plan to transform Ballina’s town centre
The Western People, 7 March 2007
AN elaborate and exciting plan to develop the old Market Square in Ballina into a continental style plaza and to restore the adjoining 1798 military barracks buildings as a town centre amenity area, were unveiled last week.
The extensive military barracks, which was taken over by General Humbert’s forces when they entered the town in 1798, are largely intact, and it is now planned to restore these buildings and to open up this area as part of the new town square.
The ambitious plans for an extensive area of the town centre, incorporating the Market Square, and a big area between the Square and Pearse Street, were disclosed at an oral hearing into objections to Compulsory Purchase Orders made by Ballina Town Council on the properties in question.
Ballina Town Council already owns extensive property in the area and Senior Executive Officer and Town Manager, Paul Benson said that any redevelopment of the Market Square in isolation to that of the former military barracks property would be considered piecemeal and shortsighted and would most likely limit future access and site redevelopment options for the former barracks property.
The barracks property was described as the remains of an 18th century army barracks, including a fine five bay two story facade, built in about 1740. The barracks were designed in a classical 18th century double quadrangle, extending from Market Square to the officers’ section on Pearse Street.
Mr Benson said the acquisition of the property was pivotal to the development of the Market Square as the land and buildings occupied a key area fronting the Market Square and possible pedestrian links to Pearse Street and Tone street.
A Council report said that the complicated land ownership and title issues generally pertaining to the subject CPO lands, diminished the potential for urban renewal and re-development of the area and as such was not conducive to orderly and sustainable development.
If the CPO is approved a new pedestrian public right of way will be constructed to link Pearse Street, Tone Street and the Market Square while it is also planned to restore and reconstruct much of the old military barracks buildings and to create what will be a unique heritage area in the town centre.
The Compulsory Purchase Order related to six owners and a total of nine different properties. A decision on the oral hearing into the objecftins will be given in about three months.
The Western People, 7 March 2007
AN elaborate and exciting plan to develop the old Market Square in Ballina into a continental style plaza and to restore the adjoining 1798 military barracks buildings as a town centre amenity area, were unveiled last week.
The extensive military barracks, which was taken over by General Humbert’s forces when they entered the town in 1798, are largely intact, and it is now planned to restore these buildings and to open up this area as part of the new town square.
The ambitious plans for an extensive area of the town centre, incorporating the Market Square, and a big area between the Square and Pearse Street, were disclosed at an oral hearing into objections to Compulsory Purchase Orders made by Ballina Town Council on the properties in question.
Ballina Town Council already owns extensive property in the area and Senior Executive Officer and Town Manager, Paul Benson said that any redevelopment of the Market Square in isolation to that of the former military barracks property would be considered piecemeal and shortsighted and would most likely limit future access and site redevelopment options for the former barracks property.
The barracks property was described as the remains of an 18th century army barracks, including a fine five bay two story facade, built in about 1740. The barracks were designed in a classical 18th century double quadrangle, extending from Market Square to the officers’ section on Pearse Street.
Mr Benson said the acquisition of the property was pivotal to the development of the Market Square as the land and buildings occupied a key area fronting the Market Square and possible pedestrian links to Pearse Street and Tone street.
A Council report said that the complicated land ownership and title issues generally pertaining to the subject CPO lands, diminished the potential for urban renewal and re-development of the area and as such was not conducive to orderly and sustainable development.
If the CPO is approved a new pedestrian public right of way will be constructed to link Pearse Street, Tone Street and the Market Square while it is also planned to restore and reconstruct much of the old military barracks buildings and to create what will be a unique heritage area in the town centre.
The Compulsory Purchase Order related to six owners and a total of nine different properties. A decision on the oral hearing into the objecftins will be given in about three months.
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