That the City Council in conjunction with the owner(s) and the local community develop, the now vacant site at, 12 Watercourse Road, Blackpool, Cork, into the BLACKPOOL PLACEMAKING CENTRE.
We believe that this unique and historic building, in the heart of our village, is ideal for the realisation of the STRATEGIC VISION outlined in the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 where the key strategic principles of : Compact Growth, A city of neighborhoods and communities, Sustainable and active travel, Enhanced built and natural heritage, A strong and diverse economy, A resilient City, A healthy, inclusive and diverse city, A connected city and A city of learning and culture is realised in this historic cork suburb.
What we are looking to achieve is: The creation of up to 300 new jobs by:
Building a flourishing community.
Fostering a vibrant and diverse ecosystem of stakeholders
To facilitate the creation and maintenance of well-paid, year-round jobs.
Our operating principles for social and economic impact will be to:
Joining the dots, making connections
Creating aspirations
Lending visibility
Approaching evidence based
Evolving with participation and adaption
Co-creating solutions
Learning in the wisdom of the crowd
Layering international, national, regional, county, city all the way up and down to local the community.
We believe that by developing this building into a multifunctional place that offers workspace with highspeed connectivity and co-working facilities to startup and established enterprises and community sector we truly believe that our goal will be achieved.
More than workspace as we:
Aim to foster opportunities
Collaborative projects
Improve core skills
Assist learning new skills
Help develop entrepreneurship
Support community projects so that it may transition to a low cardon society, working closely with the community, state agencies, public bodies and higher educational institutes to identify, fund and deliver these projects:
Creating a community that engages continuously in education, learning, upskilling
Supportive of innovation
Learning about future societal changes and using Test & Trial networks to explore solutions
Facilitate effective engagement with the community, public bodies and private companies who wish to co-develop workable solutions
Encourage young and ability challenged individuals to believe they can live and work in their local community
Services to be provided in building:
Access to Fiber broadband
Pod cast studio
Dedicated telephone line
Hot Desks
Access to Blackpool area wi-fi and IoT testing platform
No overheads (lighting & heating included)
Secure Keycard Access to Hub – CCTV included
24/7 building access
Access to printing facilities
Access to mentoring and support services.
HISTORY HUB -HISTORICAL FOCAL POINT
Maurice F. Hurley in the Cork City Council’s own book published in 2006 “Old Blackpool - An Historic Cork Suburb” states that “For many people Blackpool is synonymous with Cork city but still remains a discrete entity within the city.....Over the years I spent working as an archaeologist in Cork, I have alternately been indifferent, impressed, intimidated, skeptical and exasperated by Blackpool.....I was exasperated because although everybody seemed to feel that Blackpool was the ‘heart’ of Cork it was impossible to define the heart or limits of the area..... I believe that an understanding of the origin and development of any area is essential to inform those who are obliged to make critical decisions. For this reason, I think the absence of an integrated study of the origins and development of Blackpool has handicapped our decision making” (p. XV).
We believe that it is now time to create a space in Blackpool where the people can come and see, learn and be inspired by the history and development of Blackpool. We believe that the Hewitt building would be an ideal place for such a space.
This space could be operated under the direction of the Cork City Museum as an off-site space and extension to their service.
It is envisioned that it would involve rotating exhibitions showcasing different aspects of the history, development and contribution Blackpool has made to the city and the region down through the years.
ECO HUB
We envision this dimension of the space to be developed along the model put forward by Green City Force of New York (see www.greencityforce.org)
Their vision is: “We are working towards a ‘green city’ rooted in social, economic and environmental justice. We view young adults from frontline communities as the essential force for driving the emergence of sustainable resilient cities – by transforming their own lives, leading community transition, and promoting the values of a new regenerative and inclusive economy.
Eco Hubs align local green service for food, water and energy behavior change and neighborhood transformation strategically with local, city, county, national and global goals for climate and equality. Eco Hubs affirm the ‘people power’ often left out of visions of sustainability and systems change in cities.
MOBILITY HUB
Bicycle connections:
Bike Share
Bike Parking
Bicycling Support Facilities
Vehicle Connections:
Ride share/Pick up/Drop off
Electric Vehicle Infastructure
Bus Infrastructure:
Bus/ Light Rail Lay over
Information/Signage
Wayfinding
Real-Time information
WI-FI/Smartphone Connectivity
Support Services:
Ambassadors
Waiting Areas
Safety & Security
Sustainable approach
Active Uses:
Retail
Public Space
Pedestrian Connections:
HERITAGE, CULTURE AND ARTS HUB
We envision this as a Centre that will continue Creative Ireland Program that was initiated in 2017 by the Government.
It will continue to connect people, creativity and wellbeing to inspire, transform people, places and communities through creativity. They focus will continue based events exploring issues of identity, community, culture, heritage and citizenship.
The Programme is built around key themes: Creative Youth, Creative Communities, Creative Places, Creative Nation.
Greater details and publications can be found on their website www.creativeireland.gov.ie
CONTINUOUS EDUCATION & UPSKILLING HUB
We envision this as an offsite center that will be used by Skillnet Ireland and CETB to develop:
Analysis of workforce design for the area, determining its future needs and identifying the gaps that exist between what organisations and individuals need now and in the future.
People development activities to improve talent and enable workers to learn and to grow.
Strategic Innovation Trial & Error projects to be run out of center.
TOURISM HUB
We envision this as a center that will offer:
Network Tourism – Making Tourism Relevant to Daily Life in an Urban Context
Visitor Experience Center - Route start – displaying information
Youth Tour Guides Station
Craft Retail Space
SME incubator
Tourism Strategy:
Area Bicycle/Walking Tours
Blackpool Art Experience- native artists
Eco Tours
Cultural Tours – Drag Hunting, Road Bowling, Pigeon Racing
Historical Tours
Political Activity/Independence Tours
Souvenir Shop
Craft Stalls/Upcycling Stalls