The local authority has unveiled a stunning new plan to transform the former Rialto Cinema in the center of Nina into a modern digital centre.
The former Rialto Cinema in Banpa Square in Nina is a beautiful example of unexpected Irish affection for Art Deco-style architecture of the 1940s and 1950s, which unfortunately has begun to disappear as quickly from the rural towns and villages of the past two decades as so many buildings. , although it still had a captivating presence, it fell into disrepair and was demolished.
The new plan of the historic building preserves the art deco charm of the ballroom dances and the old generation of Hollywood stars lighting up the silver screens of Ireland’s rural towns.
Tipperary County Council acquired the former Rialto Cinema, a conservation structure, in December 2020. The Rialto Digital and Enterprise Hub is a sustainable downtown regeneration model project that will co-create the place-making and revitalize the city center of Nenagh by providing space for the incubator institution that Much needed, enhanced public realm and backland site redevelopment by planning city center homes handover.
The Rialto Digital and Enterprise Center, Nina is one of the projects announced for funding under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF) by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD on January 6, 2022.
Funding under Tier 2 from the Rural Regeneration Development Fund will allow the project to move forward through design and planning and get to the point where an application can be made for Tier 1 financing to carry out the works. The main focus of the provisions under this fund is to rejuvenate city centres, drive economic growth and footfall, combat neglect and boost tourism in rural Ireland.
The masterplan will sustainably reimagining the iconic 1940s cinema building into a modern digital and corporate central facility using best practices and appropriate modern architectural intervention to provide excellent offices, collaboration and meeting spaces.
The accompanying project site will be mainly planned to explore the potential for more digital office space and projects, create new streets along Emmet Place, potential provision of condominiums downtown, and deliver the heart of the new public amenities downtown.
The total cost of this phase of the project is €1,511,059, of which €1,208,847 will come from the Re-Housing and Rural Development Fund. The Nenagh RRDF application was submitted by Tipperary County Council in partnership with Nenagh & District Chamber of Commerce, North Tipperary Development Corporation and Local Corporation Office.
Welcome announcement of funding, Cllr. Michael O’Mira, Cathaoirleach in the Nenagh Municipal District, said, “This project will become the fourth pillar in the Nenagh Historic and Cultural District proposals and will complement the significant investment in the public domain and city infrastructure.
The proposals will be transformative for the city center while still ensuring that the heritage architecture of the former Rialto is preserved and the vacant iconic building is returned to productive use. With changes in working practices, there is a growing demand for smarter, co-working spaces. The Rialto is an ideal location for this purpose and will generate a strong footfall that will benefit local businesses as well as facilitate local projects.”
The Nenagh Workspace Study, which was conducted by the Nenagh Municipal District in 2018, highlighted the absence of co-working, nursery and remote work space in Nenagh and its outlying areas, and determined that this was a significant damper to economic growth in Nenagh and the region.
Director of Services for the Ninag Municipal District, Marcus O’Connor, said the project will contribute significantly to Nina and the county in terms of employment, facilitating jobs directly and indirectly.
“The purchase of Rialto Tipperary County Council has enabled the development of this project. Announcing the funding will allow us to make progress on a project that has the potential to generate a continuous return to the local economy as well as prevent default in a prominent downtown location.”
The next steps will be to procure a team of consultants to progress in completing the detailed design and planning process for Part VIII.