[NCSU's Centennial & Biotech Campuses]

 

[Photo credit NCSU]

[Triangle in the national media]

Durham has spurts of intense activity surrounding the Durham Bulls games and DPAC events. Other than that, it is usually pretty quiet. Raleigh seems to have a steady "crowd" that frequents the city on most days and nights. I personally would rather have the latter, but would enjoy some development activity in Raleigh that gives short spurts of massive crowds (Other than motorcycle weekend, convention center events, etc.). An addition of a decent downtown stadium would do wonders for Raleigh and now is the time to start planning. With rising land values throughout the core we cannot stand to wait much longer if we want this to become a reality. A mixed use sporting complex that primarily caters to soccer (NASL/MLS) with other uses would be nice connected to some sort of water feature (large pond/lake, or river walk). I have recently talked to a Railhawks employee who said, "We would jump at the chance to relocate to Raleigh".

 

One can dream.. but the talk and backing from citizens needs to start.

[2035 Triangle Regional Transit Vision Plan]

I'm delighted to see Union Station go forward. Even if it triggers no development in its vicinity, it will replace a bad station from 1950 -- and that's a step in the right direction. My main complaint about the project, aside from poor management of construction cost, is that it will have fewer parking spaces than the current station. That's insane. 

 

Light rail is dead dead dead. Accept it and move on. 

I am trying to accept the "dead" light rail.. you are correct.. it is a reality that there will not be enough supporters. As far as transportation options, are we to simply accept buses as the default? What other choices do we have and how can they fit into the "Raleigh" way of life (whatever that may be). I am not convinced buses are the answer. Maybe providing incentives for better taxi service to create competition and lower the rates? Not sure if Raleigh is ready to put down the keys and board a bus. Just my opinion though.

[2035 Triangle Regional Transit Vision Plan]

I personally am looking forward to the Union Station- Raleigh project. I think it will really bring a much needed revitalization to the area and provide a beautiful hub to showcase that end of town.

 

It is increasingly irritating and short-sighted to hear from the non-light rail advocates throughout Raleigh. The arguments always revolve around "not enough density' or "not cost effective as a transportation system." From my experience light-rail increases density dramatically and is far less expensive to build when density is lower in an area. It is also unrealistic to think that a government operated transportation system such as light rail will break even. It just will not happen. It will however provide an increase in tax revenue through development for the city providing funding to support. It comes down to proper management and the ability to see past the next 5, 10, or even 20 years. Buses will provide transportation, but they will also add insult to injury with traffic congestion. The decisions that are made today will ultimately decide what type of city we will be. The average person, with zero infrastructure background, has a difficult time relating to projects that cost $1 billion plus and throwing around numbers to "help" them decide can be a distracting factor, if not detrimental to the study.

 

just my 2 cents..

[Warehouse District]

Notified today that the Z-1-15 zoning request by Kane for the Dillion Supply development was deferred at request of applicant so they can address staff concerns. Not sure what these concerns are.

[Hillsborough Street - NCSU Area developments]

I wouldn't ever let the presence of an Applebees dictate anything. Ever. If anything these three cited retail places indicate an immediate area in decline from a livability point of view. Why cave to that? On the other hand...in the other direction actually...Lulu, Nehi and Wilmont were all rehabbed buildings that maintain the character of this part of Hillsborough St nicely. I could just as well argue that *those* projects dictate that historic, character filled Hillsborough St should be maintained along this stretch by way of preserving these three nice sized 1920-ish bricks homes in some manner. 

And I'm not like this in every situation though I often side with history and my own idea of character. For instance I could care less about Brothers/Two Guys 1940's one story brick boxes. Existing commercial strips with modern spec buildings should be built up. Converting a historic residential strip into chain hell is precisely what you want to avoid if you want your older, downtown areas to be well...attractive. The 100-500 blocks of Hillsborough St would like to share a story with you if you disagree...

 

It's not the Applebees or the cited retail places that dictate anything. It does however lend itself to an area of high volume traffic that will continue to use the neighborhoods between NCSU and Cameron Village as a pass through from one point to the other. The citizens are concerned about traffic increases in their neighborhood, which is extremely unfortunate based on the location (For some). I do not see the area decreasing traffic by limiting this development to their "standards." it would not surprise me if the city eventually decided to connect the two segments of Clark Avenue in the near future to increase the flow of traffic through the neighborhood - to Cameron Village - feeding into Peace Street. 

 

I have yet to see any rendering of proposed development on the site. All I have read is the concern from the community residents. What if the development compliments the Wilmont with architectural characteristics that fit? Will this change perception of the project? A development of sorts will most likely be built in this location. Not sure that the community residents will be completely satisfied, but rather adjust to the changing landscape of the city. For some, this is the worst path that Raleigh could take, for others it is a sign of prosperity and progressive action to satisfy the upcoming generation that will ultimately cause the city to be successful. 

 

I will agree to disagree. Especially regarding the "historic strip" comment. What makes the homes historic? The historic nature of the area comes from the University, which was in place 30+ years before the 3 "historic" homes were even built. 

 

Development will come in and around the neighborhood. No doubt about it. 

[Hillsborough Street - NCSU Area developments]

This is a historic and beautiful neighborhood and was a mile or more from the University when these houses were built starting in the 1920's. The frat house, at a glance, is a veritable mansion and dates from about 1915 or so based on its architecture. I am mad enough about losing that building. If I were an owner there that had to look at the back of some terrible chain hotel I'd be super flaming mad. You see proper urban form does not mean you have to erase previously existing stuff and make it denser in every situation. I have pointed to Alexandria VA before, and will again as a City that got it right....historic core is entirely intact. Over the years, new development was added to to an expanding street grid and built tall and dense in some places, but single family housing tracts in others. Just because College Park is now inside the beltline and between two colleges does not sentence them to encroachment. If anything, they should be treated as a valuable oasis from the head crushing tumult of a college campus and drone of 70mph semis in the distance.

To be sure....I am not a NIMBY....but there are two competing idealistic extremes in play here....one of nothing can ever change (NIMBY) and one of robotic-modern-dense-out-with-the-old-so-we-can-be-a-relevant-City no matter the impacts or resulting living environment. They both fail to see the whole picture or acknowledge that a great City can, and IMO, should have varying densities, modern and historic areas and so on. 

I am not out for total all out density all over the place, but the location for this proposed development project is KEY. We are talking about an intersection with 4-5 roads coming together 2 gas stations and an applebee's between two huge universities.. If the NIMBY folks in the "historic" neighborhood feel the need to pick a fight I am not sure this is the one. Development is good for this area and will continue. If the neighbors do not want this type of progress they need to sell ASAP because they are in the middle of a complete development frenzy. 

[Hillsborough Street - NCSU Area developments]

<p>

Hillsborough Street news last night from the City Council.

• APPROVED and moving forward: Phase 2 Road & Streetscape Project (roundabouts at Brooks, Dixie, & Shepard/Rosemary)
• APPROVED: Parking lots at Bell Tower Oberlin roundabout is rezoned to allow 4 floors/62 feet on the North side of Pullen Rd and 5 floors/75 feet on the large lot right at the main circle. (1912 Hillsborough, Z-31-14) Property Owner is NC State, and rezoning applicant is same developer as the Aloft Hotel in construction.
• HELD for 2 weeks: 2.2 acres on Hillsborough between Montgomery & Furches for 4-5 floors and 150 residential units. I believe residents have enough signatures against the rezoning that the council needs 6 of the 8 votes. Instead for just the regular 5 votes to pass. (Z-35-13)

I sure hope the council approves Z-35-13. I understand the "family home" aspect of the argument, but the area is right between NCSU and Meredith that continue to grow with a need for housing. These people live by the largest university in the state, what do they expect?? If the city council disapproves the zoning request it will set precedent for the area and give all of the non-progressive citizens more of a reason to show up for every single zoning request.

I hope they approve the request

[Dorothea Dix Property]

Many thanks....but isn't that the east side? Looks like they are using Western as their main entry...I had assumed Centennial would be....also the roundabout and road shown heading east connecting to Dix bodes well for future Dix park access. 

Yes, east side is correct. Typo on my part.

[Dorothea Dix Property]

How much of the connector? Just a little stub to access their property I assume? Is there a timeline for the rest of it? Man a straight connection from Hillsborough St to Centennial would be great. I hope Pullen would get sidewalks north of Western as part of a complete project too but perhaps I am outside the bounds of this project, whenever it's slated to happen...

Jones, I have tracked down plan for the 30 acre tract. You can see the connector on the east side probably will get 1/3 the way done. It would be a shame for NCSU to not finish the rest quickly. What a great bypass for traffic. 

 

[Dorothea Dix Property]

Good information. Thanks. The Cathedral looks impressive.

http://www.mccreryarchitects.com/portfolio/liturgical/cathedral-holy-name-jesus/

[Dorothea Dix Property]

Am I seeing development starting today around the Dorthea Dix property? Any ideas? Below I have added a photo of the area where I saw major clear cutting of trees today after work. Looks like a possible new pullen road extension through Dorthea Dix... hmm

 

[Dorothea Dix Property]

From the news I have received it looks as though Raleigh has acquired the Dix Park property. More news to follow tomorrow (1/11/15 @ Noon) via press conference. 

[Raleigh Skyline]

Great picture! Thank you! A shame that the Wells Fargo building couldn't have been squeezed in...but nice all the same. :-)

[Raleigh Skyline]