Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : 2026 TeoTwawKi ... 2032 Darkest Interregnum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: 2MAR$ who wrote (89663)	5/1/2012 9:40:33 AM
From: Amelia Carhartt	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 219370

Unfortunately, if I read that right, it could be up or down.

To: 2MAR$ who wrote (89663)	5/2/2012 3:00:31 AM
From: TobagoJack	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 219370

unsure what constitutes a bubble, but maybe chinese palaces in central ireland qualifies in any case china did promise to help europe, and so china is :0) Chinese palaces, in central Ireland http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2012/05/01/982151/chinese-palaces-in-central-ireland/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter Posted by David Keohane on May 01 15:22. For anyone who’s ever looked at the Chinese property boom and had the phrase ‘Ireland of Asia’ cross your mind… this one’s for you. Here’s a computer-generated pic of a “Euro Chinese Trading Hub” which could be coming soon to the Irish town of Athlone (pop. 20,138): Computer generated image via The Irish Times Planning permission was granted by the Irish authorities on Tuesday. For those of you who don’t know Athlone, it is a mid-sized town in the centre of Ireland with a lovely castle… which may have some serious competition if the Chinese investors (whose identities are unknown) behind the development get their way. Although the first €175m phase of the plan is modest, the ultimate vision includes two five-star hotels, a Chinese palace, 445,000sq m of exhibition halls, a commercial zone of 264,000sq m and some 186,000sq m of serviced apartments. According to the Irish Times, it would also have a youth hostel, cinema, arts centre, recreation and massage centres, golf course, multipurpose entertainment hall, conference facility, medical centre, fire station, primary school, kindergarten, railway station, two bus stations and a “China Tower” 90m taller than the Dublin Spire. It’s best to cut to the planning order (with our emphasis): The development is to provide demonstration space for Chinese manufacturers and traders to display their products to European and international buyers with a view to generating bulk orders which will then be delivered from producers based in China to the recipient. The project would be the largest European source of Chinese branded goods… I note that the application is accompanied by a report by Goodbody Economic Consultants which states that it is not considered possible to validate the economic sustainability of the project based on sales, or communications with prospective customers, as yet, but that valid survey work carried out to date provides a robust estimate of the level of interest in the ECTH concept among small to medium Chinese exporting firms. There are, of course, objections: there don’t appear to have been many (or any?) customers lined up as of yet; transport could also pose a real problem and there is similar hub being built near Liverpool. From the Irish Independent: While discussions have taken place with some Chinese manufacturers,no companies have signed up to base themselves at the Athlone facility. And, finally, while this mildly ambitious plan may generate quite a few badly needed jobs (if it comes to fruition), we can’t help but feel sorry for the castle which might find its ancient glory dimmed by its new, shinier neighbour: