Projects Area

There’s a logic to carrying out all Dublin City Council Beta Projects in the one area…

1. By concentrating them can make it easier to get them approved quickly within the internal approval processes of Dublin City Council (as there’s a limit to their impact), and therefore get them onsite much more quickly.
2. They may make an area more interesting, more creative (as hopefully they will be highlighting new ways of thinking within the City). If so, we may be able to use that side-effect to begin the rejuvination of an area of the city.
3. By concentrating them, it may encourage a ‘splatter effect’ – noticing one, might alert you to the others, etc…thereby increasing the reach of each Beta, and hopefully increasing the amount and quality of feedback that the Council receives.

This is the proposed Beta Area, but we may decide  to later change, or we may decide to create another Beta Area (for whatever reason…even this Beta Project idea is a Beta Project itself after all!).

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There are several reasons for choosing this area…

1. This area has an enormous array of different aspects, which was why it was chosen as the test area by Designing Dublin.
   • The area populations are even between males and females.
   • There are numerous vacant properties in the area. There are also a few vacant lots which are now used for surface carparking.
   • There is a good mix of mixed-use properties and both separate commercial and residential properties in the area. Therefore the area represents a good opportunity to demonstrate both day-time and night-time activities.
   • The area is one of the most representational areas in the City in terms of a healthy mix of private and social housing, and also provides a good opportunity to engage with people of different cultures.
   • The area has a large number of under-utilised parks and also with some ‘green’ items.
   • The proposed zone contains both great opportunities for exploring ‘moving around’ (3 Dublin Bike stations, a Luas line, bus stops), and also challenges such as an heavily congested streets and one-way systems.
   • The area contains some very quiet streets and some very busy streets. This ‘scalability’ should allow for ideas to be initially tested at a exposure level most suitable.
   • The area of Capel Street specifically was mentioned to Designing Dublin by several people in terms of safety. Numerous surrounding areas were also mentioned.
   • The expense of Dublin City was one items raised repeatedly. Capel Street is one of the lower-cost streets in Dublin. The area also contains (or has nearby) pay-as-you-go office space.
   • There are numerous facilities which appear under-utilised.
   • The area has bars, some late bars and also an ‘Early House’ (but no night club). It might provide a good testing area.
   • Numerous ‘gems‘ surround the area.
   • Ensuring that the proposed area crosses the Liffey allows for the ‘Liffey Corridor’ (East-West route) to be examined, and also ensures that the Northside/Southside social divide could be explored. Capel Street Bridge is also one of the wider bridges, and also is a starting point for the Liffey Boardwalk.
   • This area contains both small and varied retail (Capel Street & Parliament Street and Temple Bar West) and large international retail (Mary and Henry Street) all within very close proximity to one another (which was one of the reasons that people gave to Designing Dublin for liking the Dundrum Shopping Centre). It also has some of the only free near-city parking.
   • As a result of the Designing Dublin project, numerous well-known links…let’s call them ‘friends’ (businesses or individuals that we’ve spoken to, worked with, or are supported by)…are in the area.
   • This zone contains a Local Authorities office, a university, large markets, large shopping centres, and cultural centres. Few areas in the city contain such a mix.
   • It is an area in which Dublin City Council would like to see more creative growth.
   • The area contains a full range of ages…
     1. Playgrounds and a primary school
     2. Contains popular places for teens
     3. Due to the DIT faculties in the area, the is a possibility for feedback from students’ perspective.
     4. Various items for seniors in the area.
2. Proximity to Dublin City Council’s Civic Offices makes it a useful and convenient location for the Council to easily and regularly observe the performance of Beta Projects.
3. Perhaps by carrying out Beta Projects, an INDIRECT consequence could be that they make the area around them ‘more interesting’. This is an area that DCC would like to enhance, and by doing so, may also have a positive impact on both of its neighbouring areas – Henry Street/O’Connell Street and Smithfield.