New York firm meets Cork City Council to discuss skyscraper plan

A NEW YORK development company have met with senior City Hall officials in Cork asking them to allow a landmark skyscraper be built on the prominent Custom House site.

Time Square Construction is proposing the construction of a 40-storey skyscraper located at the key site where the north and south channels of the river Lee meet.

The €100m building on the Port of Cork site would be twice the height of the Elysian Tower. It is being proposed by US-based developer Kevin O’Sullivan.

However, it is feared that planning restrictions will not allow a building of that height at the location.

Under the city’s development plan, the Custom House is zoned for commercial use, but it is not one of several sites in the Cork Docklands earmarked for ‘tall building’ development.

These sites are, instead, on the south side of the Lee, including several sites on Kennedy Quay, Monahan Road and Mahon.

Last month planning consultants for the company met with the City Architect, planners, engineers, the Conservation Officer and the Director of Strategic Planning and Deputy Chief Executive Pat Ledwidge to discuss the proposal.

Their intention at the meeting was that a provision is made in the Docklands Local Area Plan for a tall building to be built on the Custom House site.

Such a change to the plan would require the approval of City Councillors.

Last year the Port of Cork agreed to sell the Custom House to two Kerry brothers, Kevin and Donal O’Sullivan, who have a track record of major skyrise developments in New York.

It is understood the skyscraper would accommodate a combination of hotel space and offices along with residential apartments.

Tourist, cultural and heritage uses are promised for the existing custom house buildings, which are protected structures, as well as a boardwalk running along the quayside.

It is understood the company is set to lodge a planning application in the first half of this year.