THE LIBERTIES DUBLIN

BUSINESS AREA IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE

END OF YEAR PROGRESS 2015

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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-for-profit company to formalise the activities of the Forum and its role in the economic life of the area.

‒ A new Liberties website was launched in June 2015.

‒ 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.

‒ A promotional brochure and business guides have been developed and are available online.

‒ A new Liberties visitor map and guide has been developed and distributed to tourism offices and venues. It’s also available online.

‒ 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.

‒ Tree planters have been installed on Thomas Street and James Street under the Liberties Greening Strategy. Further locations are planned for 2016.

‒ Continued engagement with building owners and existing and new business interests to encourage and draw investment to the area.

‒ 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 (Company Secretary)

Angela Smith Diageo Ireland (joined Jan 2016)

Jennifer Kennedy* Guinness Storehouse

Liam Reid* Diageo Ireland

Vincent Callan St James’s Hospital (joined Jan 2016)

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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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.

PROGRAMME

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COMMUN-ICATING & PROMOTING A BETTER LIBERTIES

What’s Been Achieved So Far

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

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.

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

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CULTURAL

LIFE, TOURISM

& A DESIGN

DISTRICT

What’s Been Achieved So Far

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

Continue to develop a tourism strategy for The Liberties that is focused on improved connections between key attractions in the area; support for new attractions; improve visitor information.

Encourage and support an enhanced Liberties 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.

Key Challenges:

1. Position The Liberties as one of

Dublin’s ‘must-see’ areas

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

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ATTRACTING

INVESTMENT &

PROMOTING

NEW

BUSINESS

What’s Been Achieved So Far

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

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.

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

5. Retain businesses in this area

and facilitate ‘scaling-up’ from

small to medium

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THOMAS

STREET:

A BUSTLING &

VIBRANT

STREET

What We Achieved So Far

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

Undertake outstanding pavement and public lighting

improvements on Thomas Street by end of 2016.

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?.

Key Challenges:

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

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JAMES

STREET:

A CLEAN &

INVITING

STREET

What’s Been Achieved So Far

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

Support local businesses and residents at Fountain

area to reduce vacancy and improve streetscape.

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.

Key Challenges:

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

4. Draw the Hospital closer to the

street and support the

development of a regeneration

area based on National

Children’s Hospital

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FRANCIS

STREET:

CULTURAL

LIFE, TOURISM

& A DESIGN

DISTRICT

What’s Been Achieved So Far

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

Advance the Francis Street public realm

improvement project.

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

Continue to target vacant units/ derelict sites and

work with their owners to match potential tenants.

Improve way finding signage to the street.

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.

Key Challenges:

1. Developing an environment that

is conducive and supportive of

business and residential life

2. Promoting the Art & Antiques

Quarter

3. Drawing greater footfall to

Francis Street from Thomas

Street

4. Addressing a number of vacant

sites on the street, most

particularly the former Iveagh

Market

5. Improving the quality of the

public realm

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MEATH

STREET:

A BUSY &

VIBRANT

STREET

What’s Been Achieved So Far

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

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.

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

5. Improve the quality of the public

realm and regularise stalls and

on-street trading

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NEWMARKET

& CORK

STREET:

A NEW AREA

FOR BUSINESS

What’s Been Achieved So Far

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

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

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

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.

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ATTITUDES

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?...

© LIBERTIES BUSINESS AREA IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE 2016

EBLANA HOUSE, MARROWBONE LANE, DUBLIN 8

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