The
building has remained all but empty over the last three years, following a
controversial sale and closure which left a hole in the capital's shopping
thoroughfare.
But
the O'Connell Street site will spring back to life as new owners, the UK-based
Europa Capital, unveiled its plans for the famous building.
It
promised the historic building and its famous clock will be restored and the
development "will regenerate Dublin's landmark street".
For
165 years, it was an iconic landmark of Dublin's city centre - before it closed
its doors in 2015.
Now
Clerys department store will be returned to its former glory.
Building
is due to begin before March and finish late next year.
More
than 400 jobs will be created with the opening of what will be called 'Clerys
Quarter'.
Another
750 temporary construction workers will be hired to work on the project that
will include a 176-bedroom four-star hotel, its new owner Europa announced.
There
will also be retail outlets, office space, a panoramic rooftop restaurant,
cafés, restaurants, and a market.
In
a statement, Europa and its partners Core Capital and Oakmount, said the
historic store will be restored into a "new city centre destination".
"Key
to the development will be the sympathetic transformation of the listed Clerys
building into a world-class retail, office and leisure destination," they
said.
"This
will include the restoration of Clerys iconic features, including the
colonnaded facade, internal staircases, columns and ceilings and the famous
Clerys clock."
Clerys
original restaurant and bar, the Tea Rooms, will be fully refurbished.
Former
workers have demanded the new owner live up to an agreement to ensure the
northside community benefits from the job opportunities.
"Myself
and my colleagues expect this agreement to be fully respected by the new
owners," said Justice for Clerys Workers spokesman, John Finn.
"We
look forward to ensuring that this development is one that works for business,
those who are employed in it and the surrounding local communities."
Workers
were given just 30 minutes to leave when the department store went into
liquidation in 2015, and the building was sold to the Natrium Investment Group.
The
new owner said new employment opportunities will be available on completion,
anticipated in late 2020.
It
said there will be positions in retail, leisure and hospitality.
Europa
acquired the development in October last year and got planning permission to
extend the buildings from 212,000 sq ft to 344,000 sq ft.
There
is a tendering process under way and construction is expected to start in the
first three months of this year.
The
plans include, 92,100 sq ft of office space across two buildings and 60,000 sq ft
of retail space,
An
18,762 sq ft panoramic rooftop restaurant, bar and events venue, are also
planned.
A
former warehouse will become the new hotel at Earl Place Market. It will be
close to a new Moxy Hotel.
The
owners said they are in talks with a number of occupiers for the retail, office
and hospitality areas.
Meanwhile,
a Siptu spokesperson said it will seek clarity from the owner on an agreement
reached after Clerys closed to boost job opportunities in the area.
"I
was interested to see that the owners didn't refer to the community benefits
scheme that was formally agreed under Dublin City Council, and is part of the
planning process," he said.
"To
the best of our knowledge, they haven't engaged with that process yet and we
expect them to as soon as possible but it looks like they may have to be
contacted."
He
said the scheme meant the owners should be in touch with local representatives
and training institutes in the north east inner city to ensure locals were
trained for the various roles.
A
spokesperson for Europa Capital said it was "fully committed to providing
the jobs, and training".
She
said the jobs will be advertised among the local community, and in the
mainstream media.
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