A group responsible for transforming part of Belfast city centre has set its sights on some of the city's most run-down areas.
For years, Great Victoria Street and the Dublin Road leading to Shaftesbury Square have been allowed to fall victim to the migration of the night-time economy, leaving it rundown and calling out for help.
A gateway to the city centre, these streets have become known for their delict buildings, graffiti and anti-social behaviour.
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The Linen Quarter BID hope that over the next five years they will not only be able to implement serious change in the area to begin to bring it back to its former glory but also bring new life to the Gasworks.
After the success of their first term introducing improved social spaces such as the Parklet at Pugs and FLAXX on Brunswick Street, MD Chris McCracken, MD told Belfast Live that their work has only begun.
Chris told Belfast Live: "The Gasworks is already a well-maintained area of the city looked after by the Belfast City Council and is of a good standard.
"However, it is a little bit sterile in terms of animation so one of the things we want to do in that area is create some opportunities in the summer for the likes of outdoor music, a coffee van and work with the Radisson Blu hotel to animate the terrace which would be a great space for outdoor drinks.
"We were also thinking of a butterfly garden in that space and some outdoor games and other activities throughout the year so it means it would be a bit more interesting and enjoyable for those people working in the area."
Linen Quarter BID's vision also includes further work on the proposed bridge connecting the area to Ormeau Park.
"We are also trying to work alongside the Department for Infrastructure to accelerate the delivery of the bridge proposed from the Gasworks to Ormeau Park for cycle and pedestrians. This would create a green lung for workers in the area. We'd like to see a cycleway all the way from the bridge to the train station also," Chris explained.
Linen Quarter BID's current boundary stops at Hope Street and does not cover the lower part of Great Victoria Street or the Dublin Road and Shaftsbury Square. In 2023, if voted for by businesses, they hope to take the area under their wing and begin transformations.
Chris continued: "Those parts of the city are in a very poor state - there is a lot of dereliction, a lot of litter, weed, empty properties and the place doesn't feel safe. There are the first green shoots of recovery as a number of businesses have moved into the area and we want to support this progress by having a massive clean-up of the area.
"That will involve power washing the pavements, removing the weeds, painting the frontage of buildings, repairing fences and cutting the size of dereliction to make the area look better in the short term. In the medium term, we want to work with landowners to redevelop the space and see more businesses and hospitality move in there and we will support that process.
"We hope this will work as a catalyst for more significant public funding."
Targeting these two new areas fall under the Linen Quarter BID's five-year plan but they are also a number of other initiatives across the existing area and new areas they are hoping to continue including enhancing policing, a clean team and public realm projects.
Since 2018, the company has seen significant progress in the Linen Quarter that has benefited not only the businesses in the area but the public too - something Chris hopes reflects their determination to reimagine the city.
"If you take an area like Blackstaff Square behind the Crown Bar, whenever we started, that was an area that was well known for anti-social behaviour. It had really fallen into neglect," he said.
"Because we have put in intervention in the area, brought in additional police services and have a contract with Extern to engage with people that need help, the businesses are saying anti-social behaviour has gone down and lot and you can see yourself, there are people out enjoying the Square. It's a much more pleasant place to be.
"This is the type of difference that we are seeing and want to take to these other areas in the city."
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