THE LIBERTIES DUBLIN BUSINESS AREA IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE END OF YEAR PROGRESS 2015
The Liberties Business Area Improvement Initiative is a partnership between Dublin City Council and local stakeholders and businesses in the commercial streets of The Liberties Dublin. The programme is working to revive one of Dublin’s most historic and colourful districts to create a highly attractive area within which to live, work, visit and invest. The Liberties Business Forum represents the interests of large and small businesses and stakeholders in Dublin’s historic Liberties district. The Forum works in partnership with Dublin City Council to oversee and deliver The Liberties Business Area Improvement Initiative - an initial three year collaboration to transform the business environment of Dublin 8. This End of Year Report sets out the achievements of the Business Area Improvement Initiative and the Forum during its second year, 2015.
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Our ambition is to develop the commercial streets of The Liberties Thomas Street & Cornmarket, James Street, High Street, Meath Street, Francis Street and Newmarket - as a highly attractive area within which to live, work, visit and invest.
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PARTNERSHIP
2015 was a successful and busy year in The Liberties Dublin. Some of the notable achievements of the area partnership included: ‒
In May 2015, The Liberties Business Forum Limited was established as a not-forprofit company to formalise the activities of the Forum and its role in the economic life of the area.
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A new Liberties website was launched in June 2015.
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A very successful Liberties Showcase and Investment Expo was held in June 2015 in Teelings on Newmarket Square. The exhibition and networking event was addressed by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD.
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A promotional brochure and business guides have been developed and are available online.
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A new Liberties visitor map and guide has been developed and distributed to tourism offices and venues. It’s also available online.
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The Shopfront Improvement Scheme was piloted on Thomas Street and Cornmarket, offering incentives to businesses and property owners to upgrade their frontages. In total, 11 projects have been funded under the scheme, a number of which have now been completed. Continued confidence in the area has encouraged a range of other improvements on our streets.
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Tree planters have been installed on Thomas Street and James Street under the Liberties Greening Strategy. Further locations are planned for 2016.
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Continued engagement with building owners and existing and new business interests to encourage and draw investment to the area.
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National and local media exposure of the area and its renewal.
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Who We Are: LIBERTIES BUSINESS FORUM BOARD
(Appointed May 2015)
Catherine Heaney
DHR Communications
(Chairperson)
Bruce Phillips
Dublin City Council South Central Area
Anthony Flynn
Dublin City Council South Central Area (resigned Sept 2015)
Christian Hayden
A4 Art, Thomas Street
Declan McGonagle
National College Art & Design
Gerry Macken
The Digital Hub Development Agency
Joanne Kearney*
The Digital Hub Development Agency
Jack Roche
Greengrocer, Meath Street
Nicholas Gore-Grimes
Cross Gallery, Francis Street
Richard Hamilton
Independent member
Anthony Joyce
Anthony Joyce Solicitors
Angela Smith
Diageo Ireland (joined Jan 2016)
Jennifer Kennedy*
Guinness Storehouse
Liam Reid*
Diageo Ireland
Vincent Callan
St James’s Hospital (joined Jan 2016)
(Company Secretary)
Representative to South Central Joint Policing Committee/ Business Watch Aoife Carragher*
Reilly’s Pharmacy, Cornmarket
Executive Stephen Coyne
Programme Coordinator
Michael Barry
Marketing & Promotions Officer
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PROGRAMME
To contribute to the ongoing improvement of commercial and social life in The Liberties through practical measures and actions over an initial period of three years. -6-
What’s Been Achieved So Far
COMMUNICATING & PROMOTING A BETTER LIBERTIES
A strong ‘The Liberties Dublin’ brand established. The Liberties Business Forum Ltd established in May
2015.
Monthly e-newsletter and bulletins issued to over 300
business and community.
A new Liberties website launched in June 2015. Active social media channels with over 7000 followers Ongoing process of engagement with building owners
and existing and new business interests to encourage and draw investment to the area.
Enhanced Garda presence on Thomas Street provided
in summer 2014 and 2015. Liberties Business Watch programme established.
Area Showcase and Investment Expo held in June 2015
in Teelings of Newmarket. Promotional brochure and business guides developed and published online.
Extensive national and local media exposure in 2015
Opportunities for 2016
Key Challenges: 1. Develop an environment that is conducive and supportive of business 2. Challenge negative perceptions of The Liberties and raising the profile of the area with the wider city
3. Develop a source of news and information about the area 4. Encourage more people to visit and spend time in The Liberties 5. Develop a high level communications and lobbying strategy to influence key stakeholders in the community and in state agencies and bodies to invest in The Liberties
Continue to develop ‘The Liberties Dublin' website and
social media channels as engaging news sources for the area. Develop brand guidelines for ‘The Liberties Dublin’ brand for businesses and encourage its use.
Encourage more cross-over events and ‘Liberties’
themed events.
Continue the Bring Your Business to the Liberties
approach. Continue to build relationships with building owners/agents to reduce vacancies and attract new businesses to the area.
Continue to develop a partnership with relevant
agencies and service providers to address 'street atmosphere' and address anti-social behaviour.
With stakeholders, hold further ‘open days’ of business
campuses etc in the area. Support a greater city profile for the NCAD Graduate Exhibitions.
Undertake a survey on the attitudes to the area, footfall
and consumer trends in the area.
Host smaller-scale business events that target and
attract key sectors to the area.
Develop a high level communications strategy to lobby
key agencies, stakeholders and bodies to encourage investment in The Liberties.
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What’s Been Achieved So Far
CULTURAL LIFE, TOURISM & A DESIGN DISTRICT
Participation in citywide cultural events and activities
including Tradfest, St Patricks Day, Heritage Week, Culture Night, Open House. Regular walking tours provided during the year.
A new Liberties visitor map and guide produced and
distributed to tourism offices, venues and online.
‘Visit the Liberties’ pages on the website.Events and
activities promoted through web and social media.
Liberties Welcome Ambassador programme run for 3
years from Jun to Aug each summer. A pop-up information Hub established on Thomas Street.
New visitor attractions developed in the area.
Encouragement for tourism businesses.
‘Welcome’ banners on High Street, Bull Alley Street Christmas campaign - Liberties Christmas All
Wrapped Up!
Opportunities for 2016 Key Challenges:
Continue to develop a tourism strategy for The
1. Position The Liberties as one of Dublin’s ‘must-see’ areas
Encourage and support an enhanced Liberties
2. Provide places to stay 3. Expand the range of things to do in the area and encouraging visitors to explore The Liberties 4. Ensure that the footfall to the major attractions benefits the commercial streets and wider area 5. Develop a greater outreach for NCAD and creatives in the area to generate new business activity
Liberties that is focused on improved connections between key attractions in the area; support for new attractions; improve visitor information. Festival. Encourage businesses to participate in and add to the festival.
Improve DCC Events coverage of this area. Develop a brand for Francis Street - Art & Antiques
Quarter and Meath Street Market.
Encourage more 'local-based' historic walks of the
area and support a high quality visitor information hub.
Develop a ‘Creative Liberties’ page and information
on new website.
Support and promote the 1916 Commemoration
programme in The Liberties.
Support a Spring Show at NCAD Community Farm. Help to publicise NCAD Graduate Week and explore
possibilities for businesses to engage with festival.
Promote The Liberties as a location for hotels and
support hotel and accommodation development.
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What’s Been Achieved So Far
ATTRACTING INVESTMENT & PROMOTING NEW BUSINESS
A successful Area Showcase Event held in June
2015
A promotional brochure and strategy developed
promoting 6 key themes for growth - supported by the website.
€1bn of public/private sector investment in the area
expected by 2019
Continued interest in development of visitor
attractions in area: Guinness Storehouse improvement, Teelings (2015) and St James Distillery (2016)
St James Hospital as location for National Children’s
Hospital - a €650m investment with attendant community benefits and regeneration (opening 2019)
High media profile in 2015 with national and local
coverage
Growth of The Digital Hub with new office space
opened at Grainstore. Continued success of The GEC.
Opportunities in 2016 Key Challenges: 1. Develop an environment that conducive and supportive of business 2. Build the local business network 3. Engage with Enterprise Ireland, IDA and agencies to bring further employment and investment to the area 4. Increasing the number of restaurants and cafes and creating a more vibrant evening economy
Continue to advertise and highlight new business
opportunities in the area and create a supportive environment for existing businesses.
Host a second investment event in 2016 Explore with NCAD the potential to develop a craft
fare or pop-up design shop as part of future Graduate Weeks. Assist with greater promotion of Graduate Week as the basis for a ‘design district’.
Identify and focus on key industries to attract into The
Liberties area (i.e. Health and Life Sciences, Digital Media, Tourism, Creative, Food & Drinks)
Liberties Business Forum will develop a
communications and advocacy strategy that actively targets EI & IDA and supports FDI investment in The Liberties.
Seek continued Dublin City LEO support for new
SMEs and NCAD graduate start-ups.
Seek the support of local representatives for
commercial renewal of the area.
5. Retain businesses in this area and facilitate ‘scaling-up’ from small to medium
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What We Achieved So Far
THOMAS STREET: A BUSTLING & VIBRANT STREET
Ongoing improvement of shopfronts and buildings on
Thomas Street with a range of owners encouraged to upgrade. Reduced vacancy on Thomas Street in 2015. Thomas Street Shopfront Improvement Scheme
piloted in 2015 - 12 projects supported 25 tree planters installed under Greening Plan. Winter
tiered planters provided. Further locations for planters in 2016 identified. Significant level of work to add value to the Thomas
Street Enhancement Programme (QBC works). Attention to three key projects on Thomas Street -
Chadwick's Arch, 10-13 Cornmarket & Thomas Court. Improvements to visitor signage under Dubline in
2015. New Dubline heritage panels. Upgrading of NCAD frontages and new campus
heritage trail - Past & Present.
Opportunities for 2016 Key Challenges:
Undertake outstanding pavement and public lighting
improvements on Thomas Street by end of 2016.
1. Thomas Street is the primary street of the area but requires investment in buildings along the route and public realm 2. There is a significant degree of dereliction and vacancy on the street 3. Businesses have concerns around coordination of services on the street 4. There is a need to attract fresh business ideas to the street 5. There is a limited evening economy on the street and in particular, limited options to eat in the area after 7pm
Continue a programme of building/ shopfront
improvements on Thomas Street and make available a second year of incentives. Engage more building owners to come on board and focus on upper floors. Raise the standard of cleanliness of Thomas Street
and provide new bins. Seek improvement measures to side streets and
lanes off Thomas Street. Can these be more positively used? Support Digital Hub and Diageo plans to develop their
estates and encourage creative uses of older buildings. Continue to promote Thomas Street and enhance
visitor perceptions of the street. Provide further planters and seats. Encourage cafes to improve their terrace areas. Is there potential to improve the presentation of
market stalls on Thomas Street?.
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What’s Been Achieved So Far
JAMES STREET: A CLEAN & INVITING STREET
New whiskey distillery and visitor centre under
development at former St James Church, including the restoration of the historic graveyard. New Camino Centre opened in St James Church Extensive programme of renewal of Diageo
properties along James Street estate. NCAD Postgrad & Research Annex established at
Watling Street/ Rupert Guinness Theatre. New district residents group was established in 2014
and renewed community engagement. New Dubline investment in signage and route quality. 25 tree planters installed under Greening Plan Improved presentation of Echlin Street with
assistance of Harkins Pub and local residents. Visitor leaflet for St James’s Church
Opportunities for 2016 Key Challenges:
Support local businesses and residents at Fountain
area to reduce vacancy and improve streetscape.
1. Develop an environment that is conducive and supportive of business 2. Create more lively frontages along James Street and make use of vacant Diageo buildings 3. Improve sentiment among business and local residents at the Fountain area and attract new uses to the area to fill vacant shops and sites
Develop a marketing campaign to create awareness
of Liberties businesses relevant to staff and visitors of St. James’s Hospital - ‘Your Street‘ Support the Alltech whiskey distillery investment at St
James's Church. Encourage improved signage, lighting and
presentation of Guinness Storehouse and its approaches and enhanced wayfinding signage. Work to resolve Grand Canal Harbour site (NAMA) Support the development of the National Children’s
Hospital at St James’s and the development of a Life Sciences quarter around the hospitals.
4. Draw the Hospital closer to the street and support the development of a regeneration area based on National Children’s Hospital - 11 -
What’s Been Achieved So Far
FRANCIS STREET: CULTURAL LIFE, TOURISM & A DESIGN DISTRICT
Street upgrade works: Street lamps repainted. Work
to clean up small area beside Garden View and adjoining ESB site. Graffiti removal undertaken. Programme of shopfront refurbishment on the street
and hanging baskets initiative by local businesses. Re-landscaping of St Nicholas Place. Draft proposals for Francis Street public realm
prepared. Initial workshops with businesses and residents held in July 2014 and November 2015. Engagement with a number of vacant and derelict
site owners. Low vacancy of available units. Successful participation by galleries and businesses
in Culture Night.
Opportunities for 2016 Key Challenges:
Advance the Francis Street public realm
improvement project.
1. Developing an environment that is conducive and supportive of business and residential life
Undertake some small urban interventions on the
street in 2016 - parklets, cycle parking Undertake a street brand initiative to promote Art &
Antiques Quarter to the wider city
2. Promoting the Art & Antiques Quarter
Continue to target vacant units/ derelict sites and
3. Drawing greater footfall to Francis Street from Thomas Street
Improve way finding signage to the street.
4. Addressing a number of vacant sites on the street, most particularly the former Iveagh Market
work with their owners to match potential tenants.
Develop a pocket park adjoining Garden View Court.
Seek improvement of the ESB substation site. Enhance the connection to Newmarket by improving
the public environment on Dean Street and The Coombe.
5. Improving the quality of the public realm
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What’s Been Achieved So Far
MEATH STREET: A BUSY & VIBRANT STREET
Pavement repair works undertaken and street lamps
repainted. Initial discussion with local businesses to designate
Meath Street as a market street. Refurbishment and opening of the Bull Ring Market
bringing a anchor use to the street Three new café businesses establishing at end of
2015 Improvements to The Coombe Hospital memorial
Opportunities for 2016 Key Challenges: 1. Develop an environment that is conducive and supportive of small and informal business 2. Promote market life on Meath Street 3. Draw greater footfall to Meath Street from Thomas Street 4. Address the quality of shopfronts on the street
Consider ways to improve profile of Meath Street
Market. Provide new wayfinder signage to Meath Street. Consider banners to streetlamps and promotional measures. Extend the shopfront improvement grant on Meath
Street and encourage investment in buildings. Contribute to a longer term public realm vision for
Meath Street. Consider new cultural arts uses for empty units at
The Coombe. Explore potential to floodlight St Catherine's Church
and improve visitor signage in its vicinity.
5. Improve the quality of the public realm and regularise stalls and on-street trading
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What’s Been Achieved So Far
NEWMARKET & CORK STREET: A NEW AREA FOR BUSINESS
New Teelings Irish Whiskey Distillery opened for
business in June 2015 with over 30,000 visitors by year end. This is new footfall to Newmarket.
The Green Door Market opens and continued Dublin
Fleas and markets on the square.
Weaver Park designed and expected to develop in
Spring 2016
Street lamp repainting, new bins and improved street
cleansing. New steps from St Luke’s Avenue. Mural sign.
New student housing development commences
development on Mill Street including the restoration of 10 Mill Street.
Hotel development approved for Blackpitts
Opportunities for 2016 Key Challenges: 1. Transition the area from light industrial and vacant spaces to new uses such as housing, quality retail and market spaces and small businesses
Improve recognition of Newmarket as a city
destination.
Support a second craft Food and Drink Fair Seek improved presentation of St Luke’s Church site Seek new visitor signage and wayfinding. Dublin City Council proposed Newmarket public
realm improvement plan to be advanced
2. Cork Street represents a traffic barrier, separating the area from The Liberties 3. Poor quality public realm 4. St Luke’s Church is a significant historic asset but is derelict and inaccessible
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The Liberties is an area that is full of personality and it is currently drawing new ideas, new energy and new people. Through the Liberties Business Forum, we are collaborating and supporting each other. This collaboration is part of the personality of the area and it’s one of the reasons why someone would locate here. - 15 -
ATTITUDES
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A short survey of businesses in The Liberties was undertaken in November and December 2015. While the response rate was low, the results provide some interesting views on the progress of the area over the year and point to further improvements that can be made.
On confidence levels in the area...
On cleanliness and safety...
On your business fronts...
How are we doing?...
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