Cholmondley-Warner Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 I'm afraid folks, that at the end of the day it all comes down to economics. Snow Domes, Ice Rinks ect are fanciful ideas but the developer/site owner will only spend the money if there's a return on his investment. I believe Summerland was a loss maker when we actually had visitors coming here and wasn't there some problem about the losses the Villa Marina made a few years ago? I'm not sure what the best thing for the site is, if not apartments (not that I'm advocating them. Dan Dare has had too much say on Douglas Prom) then perhaps a hotel/conference/leisure/heritage complex would be viable, just needs someone to put the cash up - the Government hasn't got any!!!! Thinking about Summerland and its design and build quality, what a piece of shit it was. About 30 years old and falling to bits and designed by the "Fuhrerbunker" school of architecture and yet the Villa Marina, many years older (admittedly recently refurbed) stands solid and pleasant to look at (as far as a municipal entertainment centre can) personally I'll be glad to see the back of Summerland, let's hope that whatever replaces it is built properly and visually fits in with the magnificent crescent of Douglas Bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beckett Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 Memorial garden. The thing should never have been rebuilt. Creepy place. With the stink up there they sure as hell can't build a hotel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheesemonster2005 Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 How about a car park and then a park and ride system in to centre of Douglas? A car park is the stupidest idea yet. We don't need another eye sore. How about some kind of museum. As it's also the terminus for the MER maybe a museum for railways with a nice big park? A shopping centre would be nice but it's not the best location as it's about 3km from the centre of Douglas so would just encourage more people to drive in their cars. Snow dome is an interesting idea but like skating rinks it would rarely be used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 An entertainment complex with multi-screen cinema, a live music venue that seats 4-500, rehersal rooms for local bands that can be hired, a climbing wall, a larger gym than the one at the NSC. Whatever is there it would be nice if it were open very late every night to give people an alternative to do rather than go drinking and clubing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 I like the Snow Dome with maybe a Ice Rink as well idea however i wouldn't think it would be cost effective in the long run. I would be awesome fun for the families though. As regards to a Memorial, I don't see why something couldn't be put in the garden/park place at the bottom of Summerhill. Out of the way but close enough to be relevent and qiuet enough for people to visit in peace. There is a little memorial plaque in that garden at the bottom of Summerhill. The lasting memorial to those souls that died was the huge overhaul of fire regs. here and in the UK (and probably elsewhere) that followed, making buildings much safer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirdick Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 I hate these ideas of hotel/conference/leisure/heritage complexes for high-flying yuppie business-types. What about the people who actually live here and want something more to do with their free time? The hotels on the prom only really get full when there are big tourist events on like the TT and GP so another hotel would be rubbish, a car park/park and ride scheme wouldn't stand much on a return on investment I would reckon and a garden type affair probably wouldn't be seen as a good use of the land. That end of the prom is horrible and most people realise this, I don't see how one very nice looking building is going to change that. Hopefully while they're doing all this renovation and pedestrianisation on North Quay they'll consider the other end of the promenade as well. Maybe a building that could do a better job of what Summerland tried to do would be worthwhile, with better entertainment venues and 'things to do'. But then, it would be the only thing up that way to do and a lot of people probably wouldn't want to walk back into the town centre for more entertainment with only a few pubs en route to keep them going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 a car park/park and ride scheme wouldn't stand much on a return on investment Park and Ride schemes, properly implimented, could greatly improve the atmosphere and experience in Douglas Town Centre. Which I feel would be a good return on the investment. However, I don't think the Summerland site is a particularly good choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amadeus Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 (MGM Mirage has a presence on the Isle of Man) sure? Initially, that policy seemed to pay off, as some of the world's largest gambling operations, including MGM Mirage, purchased expensive licenses to operate online casinos there. But business was not as brisk as expected and six major casinos, including MGM, have relocated from the Isle of Man or closed their Internet operations altogether. From Herald Tribune / NY Times - clickmedo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirdick Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 a car park/park and ride scheme wouldn't stand much on a return on investment Park and Ride schemes, properly implimented, could greatly improve the atmosphere and experience in Douglas Town Centre. Which I feel would be a good return on the investment. However, I don't think the Summerland site is a particularly good choice. I've always loved the idea that from about Broadway back towards the quay would be a no-car zone, having the entire town centre pedestrianised. Having a monstrous car park on that site would be a waste though. It would be a good opportunity to provide the town with some kind of recreational facility but I fear someone is going stick silly ideas in the government's head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deejay Denzel Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 it's a crap site, rock falls and high tides. they should grass it over and put a park there. rememberance but a little less in your face. Before they completely knock it down they have to leave a whole strip along the back of it while specialists come over and secure the rock face similar to at bulgham. Then they can proceed to completely take it down. 9 weeks and it's completely gone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 A park? It's right next to a glen that no-one ever uses as it is. Bar kids looking for a place to neck their cider and each other anyway. I'd like to see basically what was there before, a pool, gym, rollerdrome, cinema, concert room, bars, restaurants. But there's no money in that sort of stuff, so it will prob end up as apartments... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Cardboard Box Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 It's the ideal place to build a Castle. A Derby Castle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirdick Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Takeshi's Castle? Now that would be a fun day out for the family! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonquine Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Ice rink Snow Dome etc. Wouldn't be cost effective as I don't think many people would want to use it. I think whoever it was that proposed a 4-500 person music venue would be a great idea. As at the moment there are loads of bands who can't support the Villa (and let's face it the Gaiety ain't much of a music venue) but equally are to big to put on at the Cornerhouse or similar pub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 The Isle of Man and all it stands for, and 'Park and Ride' somehow should not be allowed to happen. A leading business man came over some years ago to advise the government on what to do with the site. He proposed that they build a mega casino - MGM Grand style - an attraction in itself.... (MGM Mirage has a presence on the Isle of Man) It would include many activities within itself and also help alleviate a shortage of hotel rooms. Because of the tax advantages of being based on the IOM, I’m sure we could entice someone to set the casino/hotel/entertainment centre up and they would quickly see a return on their investment.... So, we cater for mega rich cocaine sniffing arseholes. no change there then' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.