PETER HUGHES
Formative proposals to utilise the recently acquired portion of lands and buildings at the St Louis Convent in Monaghan Town to create a vibrant cultural and community hub were outlined to the members of Monaghan Co Council at their meeting last Monday. Senior Executive Planner for Town Regeneration Drew Hurley detailed the initial key points for the area’s future development contained in an option paper prepared following a series of consultation exercises involving stakeholders and the local community.
Among the options being considered are the establishment of a cultural hub at the St Louis Chapel building that would serve as a performance space and a venue for artistic and cultural events, teaching and community activity. It is envisaged that the former nursing home building could serve as a visitor hub, with its upper floors being developed as affordable visitor accommodation. The former Heritage Centre on the site has been deemed suitable for social housing provision in the form of supported accommodation for older people, with the ground floor being reserved for residential use and perhaps also community and creche functions. The options being considered also include the conversion of the former primary school building to a community centre and the retention of terraced houses on the site as residential dwellings. Mr Hurley also told the meeting of outline plans to develop a new public park and open greenspace in the grounds, which would have features that would reflect the heritage of the St Louis Order and their history. He said the document that had prepared as a result of the consultation exercises reflected concerns which had been expressed by the councillors about the importance of the Park Street and Market Street areas of the town and the need for consideration to be given to further affordable housing…
