The group were speaking after it was announced the Roche's Stores building which formerly served as a Debenhams store is for sale.
The building has been idle since April 2020 when Debenhams wound down its Irish operation with the loss of 1,000 jobs.
A retail store is also set to move into the former Easons site across the road from the former Debenhams store, while the Savoy is currently being renovated with apartments and retail units.
Speaking to RedFM News, President of CBA Kevin Herlihy says the city could benefit hugely from people living in the city centre:
"The Council have an initiative going for a long time of getting people living over the shop and it really hasn't been as successful as they would have liked to have seen it. But I firmly believe that with these developments like the Savoy and potentially other developments down near the Marina of purpose built apartment blocks, that that's going to bring people back into the city centre. And that's going to engage with the 15 minute city that Cork City Council are trying to create where people can live work and do most of their everyday things within 15 minutes walk or cycle of the city centre."
