At the heart of redevelopment plans for the six inner-city areas of Dublin is a grand scheme to redevelop O'Connell Street to give it a status on a par with of the city", according to Dublin Corporation's O'Connell Street to give it a status on a par with other major civic thoroughfares in European capitals, such as the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

The redevelopment, which may represent the best chance for a makeover since the post-1916 rebuilding programme, envisages the re-emergence of a central quarter, "one of the most sought after areas of the city", according to Dublin Corporation's O'Connell Street Integrated Area Plan.

The plan encompasses an area from Marlborough Street in the west to Moore Street in the east, and from Parnell Square North to College Street in the south inner city.

The vision is to create a quality, largely pedestrianised area, with the help of public transport and - with more bad news for the car-commuter - traffic restrictions, reducing through traffic from the current four lanes in each direction to two lanes in each direction.

The main elements for O'Connell Street include a major redesign of with private owners, a targeted drive to force property developers to make progress with properties which they have been holding, compulsory purchase of derelict sites and new street furniture and paving.

A civic plaza is to be provided utilising the space outside the GPO. The space will be pedestrian-friendly and will be enclosed by a formal arrangement of trees. It will be complemented by a secondary space at the spine of Earl Street, Henry Street and O'Connell Street.

This spot, previously the site of Nelson's Pillar, will be distinguished by the controversial "Spike", for which the corporation is currently seeking a contractor.

For those who may have forgotten, the Spike is to be 120 metres high and made of rolled, stainless steel sheeting, with a luminous tip of 12 metres - at least 500mm of the tip being made of glass. The monument will stand on a circular base of black Kilkenny marble with a diameter of seven metres.

While the spike may have its detractors, and indeed they are many, it should be remembered that most bold architectural statements do, and that the notion of putting the Arc de Triomphe in Paris had been fiercely resisted. It is unlikely that such a project would go ahead now.

In the Marlborough Street area, another pedestrian-friendly precinct space is to be created with a "green link" form O'Connell Street to Gardiner Street through the grounds of the Department of Education. A new forecourt will be laid out in front of the Abbey Theatre and a link will be provided from Burgh Quay.

An architectural design for the Garden of Remembrance has been completed with a link to the Hugh Land Gallery on the north side of Parnell Square, which itself is being expanded and refurbished. The works are designed to draw the Gallery, the Writers' Museum and the Gate Theatre into a more active role with O'Connell Street.

As part of the scheme, Moore Street is to be upgraded, but will remain as a market area. A feature canopy is to be constructed between Sampson's Lane and O'Rahilly Parade.

The canopy is seen as a crucial element in generating pedestrian movement between O'Connell Street, the proposed new Millennium Mall and the Henry Street/Mary Street shopping area.

The corporation is using a "carrot and stick" approach to the rejuvenation, basically a mixture of compulsory purchase order, encouragement and Government-assisted tax breaks.

A structure has been organised between local hotel managers, employment agencies and enterprise and employment officers to target local unemployed people.