Although the road is beset with two development plans affecting half of the street's 22 art galleries, David Messum told ATG last week that he had signed an agreement to purchase 28 Cork Street, currently an exhibition gallery run by the company Premier Art Spaces.
Mr Messum plans to continue running the premises as an exhibition space available for hire at least until the fate of his current gallery at 8 Cork Street is resolved. The plans by Pollen Estates to redevelop the buildings at 5-9 Cork Street, which also encompasses four other dealers, means his lease will be terminated in January 2015.
However, the British art specialist remains hopeful of negotiating a space in the new plot since the planning application states that the developed retail units should only be let "for the purposes of Art Gallery/ Antique Gallery/Shop". Concerns remain, though, about whether the new accommodation will be available at rents that art dealers already resident in Cork Street will be able to afford.
