It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 6:56 am


Merchant Place

if it's about Cardiff.. Sport, Entertainment, Transportation, Business, Development Projects, Leisure, Eating, Drinking, Nightlife, Shopping, Train Spotting! etc.. then we want it here!
  • Author
  • Message
Offline
User avatar

paul cardiffwalesmap

  • Posts: 1095
  • Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:27 am

Merchant Place

PostSun Aug 17, 2014 10:27 pm

Image

When are we going to hear something about plans for these buildings. I know there were plans years ago but surely they are no longer alive? What a waste! and given the location you'd think something was very achievable for them?
CARDIFFWALESMAP http://www.cardiffwalesmap.com ---- CARDIFWALESMAP TWITTER https://twitter.com/cardiffwalesmap
CARDIFF DEVELOPMENTS flickrphotos https://www.flickr.com/photos/8761770@N05/
Offline

Neil

  • Posts: 78
  • Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:01 am

Re: Merchant Place

PostMon Aug 18, 2014 8:41 am

Monaco style casino and hotel is what I've always wanted to do with them. Oh well when I win a triple euromillions rollover I may consider it!!

Jantra

Re: Merchant Place

PostMon Aug 18, 2014 9:18 am

as beautiful as the buildings are, I don't think the internal layout lends itself well to modern office space. So whatever is going to end up there - if anything, is not going to be offices so probably more like a boutique hotel or resi. They did something similar with Cambrian Buildings and Empire House with apartment conversions so perhaps that is what we will end up getting. :?: :?:
Offline

LocalResident

  • Posts: 87
  • Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 2:45 pm

Re: Merchant Place

PostMon Aug 18, 2014 11:10 am

Found this draft Economic Development Directorate Delivery Plan 2014-2017: https://formerly.cardiff.gov.uk/objview.asp?object_id=28784

Pages 14 and 15 (ED9-ED12) mention merchant place, and also the coal exchange, bute street station and the James street site (i assume the half finished steel structure).
It is only a draft document, but good to see that there is at least some consideration for the area. It's sad to see such a run down set of buildings in any place in the UK, nevermind right next to some of Cardiff's biggest tourist spots.
Offline

Ash

  • Posts: 1040
  • Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2014 12:28 pm

Re: Merchant Place

PostMon Aug 18, 2014 11:47 am

I'm fairly hopeful about Merchant Place. It was weather-proofed and had asbestos removed before the downturn. It should be more of an opportunity than a problem as the economy strengthens.

The one possible problem as I see it is that MP is a very similar set of buildings to the Coal Exchange. It's difficult to imagine both being developed concurrently unless they have different end-uses.
Offline

Briz-Tim

  • Posts: 41
  • Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2014 10:43 pm

Re: Merchant Place

PostWed Aug 20, 2014 4:09 pm

If both Merchant Place and the Coal Exchange were reconfigured into flats, without much of a commercial aspect to either, it probably wouldn't matter too much, seeing as there's a large demand for new homes in the city. Although Merchant Place is probably better suited for redevelopment into homes than the coal exchange is, given the interior the latter would make a much more impressive commercial space, especially for a hotel.
Last edited by Briz-Tim on Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Offline
User avatar

Shminky Binky

  • Posts: 133
  • Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 3:45 pm
  • Location: Cardiff

Re: Merchant Place

PostWed Aug 20, 2014 4:45 pm

Briz-Tim wrote:If both Merchant Place and the Coal Exchange were reconfigured into flats without much of commercial aspect to either it probably wouldn't matter too much, seeing as there's a large demand for new homes in the city. Although Merchant Place is probably better suited for redevelopment into homes than the coal exchange is, given the interior the latter would make a much more impressive commercial space, especially for a hotel.

I think a hotel for the Coal Exchange is most probably the best bet.
Offline

SirBlah

  • Posts: 20
  • Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2014 7:32 pm
  • Location: Whitchurch, Cardiff

Re: Merchant Place

PostWed Aug 20, 2014 6:29 pm

I don't know, I feel that turning the whole place into residential would be a bit of a let down personally, This area, even though it contains some very important historical buildings and some of the best examples of Victorian architecture in Cardiff, is also an area which is completely forgotten about and almost completely empty of people, simply because there's really nothing there.
The Coal Exchange especially, this is building that deserves to be more then just a load of flats or a hotel (there's already more then enough of those around the area anyway). Like the Pierhead Building it needs to be an attraction itself- since by doing so it opens up the possibility of regenerating the whole area around it. I'd love to see it turned into something like a museum, or maybe an art gallery. Something cultural, that would help bring people that that area of the bay.
Offline

Cardiff

  • Posts: 457
  • Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2014 7:48 am

Re: Merchant Place

PostThu Aug 21, 2014 5:25 am

I think they need to massively increase the pedestrian realm on Bute street and continue Mermaid quay up it to the station. There are already a few businesses along that road. I always imagined the Cory building as a hotel, there is plenty of scope to add spa facilities etc next to it or have on site parking. The smaller building next to it would make a great entrance to the spa area and the red brick building by the millennium center a great cafe/restaurant with chandeliers etc. with apartments above.
Offline
User avatar

Kyle

  • Posts: 963
  • Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 2:24 pm

Re: Merchant Place

PostThu Aug 21, 2014 9:49 am

SirBlah wrote:I don't know, I feel that turning the whole place into residential would be a bit of a let down personally, This area, even though it contains some very important historical buildings and some of the best examples of Victorian architecture in Cardiff, is also an area which is completely forgotten about and almost completely empty of people, simply because there's really nothing there.
The Coal Exchange especially, this is building that deserves to be more then just a load of flats or a hotel (there's already more then enough of those around the area anyway). Like the Pierhead Building it needs to be an attraction itself- since by doing so it opens up the possibility of regenerating the whole area around it. I'd love to see it turned into something like a museum, or maybe an art gallery. Something cultural, that would help bring people that that area of the bay.


I think you are spot on actually. There are plenty of other offices going up or planned in other areas of the city, other places for small businesses to be located. The building is just too important.

Ignoring the obvious and massive funding issue, would a gallery work in that building ?
Next

Return to Cardiff Wales Map forum

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 66 guests

cron