DCMetroRaleigh

The Wilson Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a special use permit last week to allow a new nightclub. The Station will be located in a former mechanic shop at 222 Barnes St. S. on a corner of Douglas Street. https://restorationnewsmedia.com/articles/wilsontimes/the-station-nightclub-gets-board-of-adjustment-approval/?pub=wilsontimes&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0BMQABHWq_Cw0TVkVgaaYD8akyDMNb4RxPyZxw04k54dqzGboA0fiJHy59mr0drw_aem_AVdCGwrmx6vPa3puBXv-jY_yYFq-iX0qrOm6HkKgYvBDfG0RZIWKlgQxzdJdd7w_ORY

No grocery store comes close to providing the amount and diversity of prepared foods and international cuisine Wegmans does. I don’t cook and have an international palate, and Wegmans is indispensable to satisfying my appetite. Moreover, the store has impeccable baked goods. The gold cake is superior.

The King is coming to the Queen City! https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/charlotte-is-getting-its-first-wegmans/BJEGHBZVTNEVRDHPB6R6ITY4V4/

Vester Auto Group to build new headquarters . Vester Auto Group is making way for a new vehicle servicing center and headquarters off U.S. Highway 264 Alternate East and across the road from Points East Veterinary Specialty Hospital.  “We’ve outgrown our three rooftops,” Vester Auto Group Chief Operating Officer Chris Vester said. “We started the search about two years ago. Moving our headquarters opens up space inside the dealership to serve our customers better.”

I wish Virginia shared North Carolina’s zeal for new interstates and freeways. If only the Commonwealth would construct a direct freeway/interstate between Danville and Northern Virginia, the Triad would have a quicker, more direct route to the DMV and Baltimore. US 29 would be a great candidate for such a route. Likewise, US 58 should be a freeway across the southern edge of the Commonwealth. At least, West Virginia and Michigan have expressed revived interest in making I-73 a true interstate.

He’s speaking to Congress now. Has he made the 600 job Fujifilm announcement in North Carolina yet?

Build the Wadesboro Bypass now!

Chatham County’s population growth has been robust, but not simmering at the same extent Franklin, Johnston, Brunswick, and Union Counties have experienced growth. I am eager to see if all the new industrial development in Chatham will change this.

Davidson County’s residential growth appears to be continuing with a 135-home project in Lexington by a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary that won approval from the city’s planning board and is headed to City Council. Clayton Properties Group, doing business as Mungo Homes, is seeking conditional zoning allowing the project at 313 Bill Medline Road. https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2024/03/22/lexington-nc-quail-ridge-homes-clayton-properties.html?csrc=6398&utm_campaign=trueAnthemTrendingContent&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0egV30ca9wi9PL_bHQF-7zHRF5CS1frSPWJEd-6_wIw662SnPCdN3_k6w_aem_Ac9wf96PltxDdxQthzfOAg2b-kS8uPhgQAf3IssFYwT6wJ1t4XhW3gC3HsX7jaCtXB0

I like Johnnie-O. Now, the region needs a Rhone apparel store.

The Wadesboro Bypass should begin in Marshville and connect to the Rockingham Bypass.

A new tenant is moving into the Heritage Crossing shopping center. Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, will move into the corner building beside Five Below in the coming months

Nice

Dang, Horry County is massive by East Coast standards. Over 1,200 square miles!

I still put Winston-Salem as #2.

The response to the new Rivian models has been massive though. The models look phenomenal

Plans have been filed with Graham’s planning department for a 19,600-square-foot strip shopping center at 1205 East Harden Street (NC 54).  Some of the 5.11-acre lot has been cleared, with a large mound of dirt prompting much curiosity beside the highway.  The lot is just beyond Ivey Road and across from the entrance into Raspberry Ridge subdivision.  According to the plans filed with the city, the center would have as many as 14 separate, 20′ x 70′ storefronts; the full length of the building is 280 x 70 feet.

Did you know that the Atlanta Braves are actually the FOURTH closest team to Raleigh, NC? That's right, the Nats, Orioles, and PHILLIES are closer to Raleigh than the Atlanta Braves. Of course we knew this, but others seem to not realize it.

I wonder how much ancillary development will be sparked at that interchange

Ranking L.A. that low greatly undermines the credibility of that ranking

In a move that has sparked curiosity and speculation, the North Carolina legislature has recently earmarked substantial funds for major water and sewage infrastructure upgrades in four communities. Interestingly, these communities are situated near areas where new casinos could potentially be established. While state leaders assert that these infrastructural developments are unrelated to the proposed casinos, the coincidence has not gone unnoticed. The focal point of this controversy revolves around the counties of Union, Rockingham, Nash, and Anson. Each of these counties has been allocated significant funding for water and sewage system enhancements. These upgrades are critical for supporting the growth and development of these communities, particularly in areas that have been experiencing stagnation for decades. For instance, Marshville in Union County, a region described as a 'water and sewer desert,' has seen very little growth, with no new housing developments in the last 30-40 years. This funding is viewed as a much-needed boost to revitalize these areas.  However, the proximity of these infrastructure projects to the proposed casino sites raises questions about the potential link between the two. The town manager of Marshville, addressing questions about the $8 million funding allocated over the past two years, firmly denied any connection with the casino.

Indeed. I was driving to NC from DC the other week and was surprised that I could see the Durham skyline moving south from Butner along I-85. It was about 11-14 miles north of downtown Durham.

Phenomenal pics

The Carolina Mudcats are officially on the hook to move to Wilson in 2026. Residents watched from a packed council chambers as Wilson City Council members voted unanimously Thursday night to pass four resolutions that combine to make Wilson’s proposed ballpark project into a reality. https://restorationnewsmedia.com/articles/wilsontimes/wilson-lands-mudcats-council-oks-downtown-stadium/?pub=wilsontimes

It may not be feasible to add lanes North of Quantico because of the sheer density of development and cost, but certainly is physically possible to do so South of there to Ashland. VDOT foolishly agreed to have Transurban build and profit from HOT lanes while forbidding Virginia from building general travel lanes where Transurban operates high-occupancy toll lanes. Those lanes now extend to Fredericksburg. And if NC, Georgia, and Florida can afford to expand roads, wealthy Virginia should be able to. The problem is the state has been unwilling to raise the gas tax since at least the 90s to keep up with transportation needs.