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NCpride

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Posts posted by NCpride

  1. Apologies if I missed this, but does anyone have details on the development adjacent to Morehead Place, specifically the vacant lot at the corner bounded by Morehead and Royal Court? 

    I understand construction of an office building is about to begin. Orange fencing is up and dirt has been turned towards the back of the lot.     

  2. Agreed these two buildings should go to make way for structures that will better utilize the space. I hate to hear a parking lot will take their place. In lieu of more surface lots/decks, folks that don't live in Plaza should just get a ride with Lyft or Uber, espeically if they're coming over to drink at one of the neighborhood bars.

     

    Veering off topic a bit, but still related to the best use of space in Plaza; my biggest wish for the neighborhood would be to doze everything in the Family Dollar shopping center and essentially turn that entire parcel into a Charlotte version of Dolores Park. A pipe dream I know, but wow would it add so much character to the area and create even more demand for urban-style retail and residential surrounding it.

     

    dolores_park_1920-900x562.jpg

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  3. My girlfriend and I are attending a wedding in Sunset, SC in a few weeks are were looking for a hotel to stay in Greenville Saturday night and maybe a place to eat brunch on Sunday (outside seating would be a plus). Can anybody help with some suggestions? We've never been to Greenville and wanted to check the area out on Sunday. Thanks!

  4. Big news: Gov Easley has proposed a new $173M DHHS office on Dix land to be built near Lake Wheeler Road.

    Well, this obviously isn't final as it muct be negotiated with the House (we'll see how new Speaker Joe Hackney deals with this) prior to approval, but that's alot of money, and it's a pretty clear sign that the state isn't just going to give up the land. It's also a signal that the talk about the property has gone on too long. I believe Easley is saying "it's time for action" with his plan.

    With all the effort and momentum we have going into downtown's redevelopment, what sense does it make to move thousands of state employees out to Dix? Maybe it's a cost issue, but with all the undeveloped surface lots downtown, can't the state develop one of those and help support our downtown's urban fabric?

  5. Has anyone heard anything new on the rumor that H&M was looking at a location downtown? I got a chance to shop at one over Christmas, and I think this store would be incredibly successful downtown. This is the type of store that would be a destination in itself for downtown Raleigh. I think it would be a major draw!

  6. I fly into a lot of airports around the world and from a business sense, it does matter. Maybe not to the "average joe" who is flying to see his parents or to get to Chicago for a weekend, but I have flown into airports that just screams "PO-DUNK". (Try Wichita). And then go to a sales meeting in that town where someone is telling you they have life changing technology (same as the last guy in that other city) and that you should do business and throw that $300M contract their way with them instead of other guys. It is all perception. It is not going to close the deal, but I have seen deals given the upper hand on location and perception.

    I hate to see so much money spent but they looked long and hard at refitted the terminal C or rebuilding it and they chose to rebuild it and that is good enough for me.

    RDU is a tired airport and needs something. And if it were just people going away for a weekend shopping trip or to get out of that dreg of a city---Raleigh, that might be OK.

    But Raleigh is one of the leading technology centers of the world and one way we can act like it and get that first perception is to upgrade the airport, knock it down or whatever. The right people made the decision and again, I am OK with that.

    The airport is the gateway to a city. Kind of like driving down Capital BLVD to a new comer

  7. I'm not a fan of RDU, though I wish I could be. I understand the issues that have contributed to outdated facilities, but I get the overall impression that the airport is poorly run.

    My biggest problem is baggage claim. I've flown out of RDU at least 15 times this year and I averaged about 30 minutes waiting for my bags. I'm talking 30 minutes when I arrived at the baggage claim, not when I got off the plane. Many times the electronic signs above the carousels are incorrect, or they don't even bother to put up what flight the bags belong to.

    I remember one time I got off a late flight and went to the restroom to find it completely disgusting with water all over the floor. It looked as if no one had attended it since that morning. One of the guys on my plane also went to the bathroom, and when he walked in and found that mess, his response was "Great first impression Raleigh!" That really upset me, because I felt that the airport was a reflection of me and where I live.

    I don't know why these things happen, or who is at fault for the bad service - I just know it affects me and my attitude towards the airport as a whole.

    There are big improvements coming in the future, and I hope they alleviate many of the aches and pains of dealing with the current situations at RDU - long lines, shortage of space, crowding, etc...

    Airports leave a lasting, not to mention a first, impression of travelers on the areas they visit. Bringing RDU up to speed would go a long way for this areas reputation.

  8. There is one big problem that I have with this new proposal and I'm interested in what others think.

    The information provided in the paper shows 2 lanes of traffic seperated by a brick median and parking on one side of the road. Is this going to be parallel parking or angled parking? How in the heck can one park in a parallel space or back out of an angled parking space with the amount of traffic volume anticipated? Sure, there will be no traffic signals, but having to stop for every person vying for a parking opportunity sounds like a huge traffic tie-up.

    Also, people will continure to circle the roundabouts to continually search the drag for a parking spot. The amount of people circling the roundabout can tie-up traffic on those progressing down Hillsborough Street too. Heck, it may be difficult to merge onto a roundabout from one of the roads just to get onto Hillsborough, especially during rush-hour.

    They would be better off doing some streetscaping, leaving it four lanes and adding some public parking areas.

    Those seem like legitimate concerns to me. I live off of Dixie and often go to Hillsborough to eat dinner. Parking is the biggest hassle for me. There are a few "go-to" places that I try to grab, but if they are being used - I have to do the whole up and down thing until something frees up. Throw in a few roundabouts and that will turn into a big enough head-ache to keep me from going down there all-together.

    Hillsborough Street needs a good, well-lit parking deck. That would help things immensely! I think the roundabout at the Oberlin intersection might be interesting and give the street some character. But to include all of these proposed roundabouts would be too much. The proposed median is also a waste of space that would be better served as a wider sidewalk.

  9. "I can't get over how reducing four lanes to two helps reduce congestion," council member Philip Isley said. "I may just be dense."

    "I don't think people know how to drive on roundabouts here," said Schlukbier at Buddha's Belly.

    There is a lot of confusion expressed in that article. People seem to be afraid of changing the street, and they ignore the fact that there has been a roundabout at Pullen Drive for about two years and people have adjusted fine. The bottom line is that you can't have a street that carries that much through traffic be a pedestrian-friendly roadway. There have to be some compromises, and if the businesses are ever going to recover along the street, something must be done to encourage businesses to locate there.

    I think roundabouts will help safety (no left turns, no signals), improve the pedestrian experience (lower speeds, shorter cross-walks), and siphon longer distance travelers off the road over to Western Blvd, which can handle significantly higher volumes of traffic.

    Also, I think we need to use Dr. Shoup's theory of charging a variable demand-based fee for parking (such that 15% of spaces are free at any one time) for this area. I know businesses will balk, but if you charge a nominal fee and use that money to finance additional improvements, it would likely generate enough revenue over time to pay for the entire road to be rebuilt, including burying the pricey--but unsightly--utilities, keeping the street clean, and even hiring security for those nasty bums :lol: .

    I for one am not ignoring the roudabout on Pullen. I just don't think that is a good comparison with Hillsborough.

    I'm very curious what the difference in volume is between Franklin in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Franklin is a very pedestrian friendly in my opinion, and serves as an example that you can have both. Franklin however, draws in development and business by default. In Raleigh, developers are going to go where the money is, and right now there is more to be made in other districts. I don't think reducing traffic or roundabouts on Hillsborough is going to make them change their minds. A parking deck and some streetscape improvements would be a start in my opinion.

  10. I'm weary of the all these roundabouts and reducing the street to two lanes. Hillsborough street isn't a "destination", and won't be for some time. In my opinion, slowing traffic and reducing volume will only hurt H. street businesses.

    I think building a parking deck or two and some streetscape work would make better use of the money. Eventually, developers will come back to Hillsborough street and we will see quality buildings and businesses. But until then, I think roundabouts will only make life worse.

    The bottom line is that revamping Hillsborough street will take money, investment and developer interest. Raleigh is only so big, and all the focus right now is on downtown and Glenwood South.

  11. This is where you lost me :D I agree that we will have new terminals, but given that the Airport Authority is running the show, they will be named "Terminal 1" and "Terminal C".

    Better yet, they'll probably scrap the current site and build a new one for the Triangle near Sanford :rofl:

    Yeah, I agree that the Chapel Hill numbers are way too inflated. Part of the identity of Chapel Hill is being a smaller college town, and I don't think we'll see that go anywhere. I would say the Garner numbers are low, especially with that mall going up close by, and easier access to a renewed downtown Raleigh.

    As for RDU, I would just like to ask the forum if others have as much trouble with luggage as I do. It seriously takes waaaay to long to pick up a checked bag - like 30 minutes minimum. Maybe it is just me, but I think RDU is one of the worst airports for waiting on baggage. Does anyone else have this problem, or know a reason for it?

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