Jack Fagan
One of the most important redevelopment sites to have come on the market in Limerick city in recent years - part of the grounds of the Redemptorist community at South Circular Road - is expected to attract interest from national as well as local developers.
The Redemptorists, who have been in Limerick for the past 150 years, announced yesterday that they are seeking a development partner to "consolidate their presence and plan their future in Limerick".
An area of about 2.32 hectares (5.75 acres) beside St Clement's Boys Secondary School is to be made available for a mainly residential development and, as part payment for the site, the "development partner" will be expected to either redevelop the existing monastery or build a new one.
The grounds have already been zoned for residential use under the city development plan.
The land, which is probably valued at well over €1 million an acre, is located in the city centre at the city end of the South Circular Road. It is adjacent to O'Connell Street, Henry Street, Shannon Bridge and the Dock Road.
Simon Healy of Lisney's Cork office, who is advising the Redemptorist community, is inviting proposals from developers by April 15th.
The present three-storey monastery building has a floor area of 3,810 sq m (41,010 sq ft) and, according to the Rector, Fr Seamus Enright "no longer serves our needs".
It was unsuitable for their ministries and presented serious health and safety issues. "We also have an ageing community whose needs must be catered for in future years," he said.
Fr Enright said that like many other communities they must plan for their future and central to their deliberations had been a desire that they could remain and continue to serve the poeple of Limerick into the future. "We are determined to meet the needs of our own community and our obligations to the people of Limerick in the best possible way."
The overall plan will include the retention of the present church, a new or redeveloped monastery and hopefully a new school for which the order has set aside a site. This element of the plan is dependent on funds from the Department of Eduction and os not specifically part of their present plan, Fr Enright said.
