Uncertainty over future of Galway City Hall as councillors split on building’s use after Crown Square relocation
As Galway City Council prepares to relocate to Crown Square, councillors are making decisions to broaden the possible uses for the building they will leave behind.
Galway city councillors agreed to rezone the old City Hall site on College Road at a special meeting this June, in hopes to widen the options for its future use.
Proposed zoning changes across Galway city are under review under the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029, which designates sites for particular types of development.
Councillors voted to rezone City Hall from Community Facility (CF) to Commercial/Industrial (CI), allowing commercial and enterprise uses to be considered for the site rather than strict public service infrastructure.
While the vote was only in regard to the zoning category, a big question mark remains over what is to be done with the ideally located 1.55 hectare City Hall site when staff and services vacate.
While most councillors in the chamber expect a Masterplan for the site and its neighbouring organisations, some raised concern that rezoning would welcome commercial interest with a financial focus.
“My view is not every public space needs to have a financial return,” Councillor Alan Curran said. “It needs to be more of a social dividend then a financial return.”
During a meeting in July 2022, it was suggested that the site should be used for social and affordable housing, an idea Cllr Curran is quite keen on. However, during the meeting planners said that was just one option of many to be explored.
Contrarily, Councillor Declan McDonnell would consider a financially advantageous option for the site, for a much-needed boost in the council’s budget.
Galway city planners explained that when a masterplan for the site is considered, surrounding organisations, one of which being a grammar school, will not be negatively affected.
Once the move to Crown Square is complete, the old City Hall building is said to be back as a focus discussion for the local authority.
Council staff are projected to move to Crown Square shortly after IT services are fully installed by the end of 2026. A contractor, Flynn Management and Construction, was selected earlier this spring. The €15 million fit out will consolidate four existing council office sites.