Comments on: Downtown Raleigh 2010 Wishlist

By: hackles10

hackles10 — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:31:24 +0000

John, I would like you to run for mayor.

Good thoughts, if 1/3 of those things get done in the next 5-7 years I will be ecstatic.

By: John

John — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:04:09 +0000

I know I am really late to the game with my wish list but here it goes…
1.) An urban mixed use project to the East of Glenwood
South to include rental housing, some condos, small retail spaces for local independent businesses along with some mid sized “national” anchors like Apple and Urban Outfitters. Included in the project would be a multilevel cinema and a Lucky Strike bowling alley.
2.) Something, anything to happen to the empty Dillon warehouses in the district. Something really needs to happen there. It’s becoming an eyesore.
3.) Serious plans to move the nursing home tower on Glenwood and replace it with mixed use and more rental housing.
4.) A parking garage right off of Capital and near Harrington St. so that visitors to Glenwood South can arrive and park and then venture on foot instead of cruising Glenwood to find parking.
5.) Serious plans to redevelop the old Devereaux Meadows field inclusive of a mini river walk experience.
6.) Mid rise housing on West St. to the North of Peace St. (up that little hill). This is one of the best DT views in the city!
7.) More casual dining variety in DT including a place that serves good, reasonable entree salads. At this point, I’d even take some sort of make-your-own salad bar.
8.) Less parking on Glenwood South and wider sidewalks for more outdoor activity.
9.) More small neighborhood parks in underutilized land surrounded by high density housing.
okay…that’s enough for now.

By: boidair

boidair — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:52:20 +0000

I agree ScottyM, we do need some type of sports venue in or near downtown. People fail to realize the potential the it has. I can more than guarantee that businesses will thrive off of it. The whole point is to bring business to downtown and it will help. I amphitheater is a start, but not enough for what the city needs.

I would also love to see a grocery store and movie theater in the center city. All of which a sports venue can desperately help.

By: ScottyM

ScottyM — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:47:58 +0000

Hey Rob,

Good points all. I’m talking about venues that draw thousands, not a few hundred here or there. We need consistent movement of people from the suburbs to downtown for something other than food or drink, because that only happens in mass on the weekends.

Memorial Aud is one example. They’ve certainly had to step up their game with DPAC … and have done so drawing a few more concerts and non-Broadway entertainment options. But DPAC is exploding it over in Durham. Their lineup is more in line with a mid-to-large city’s offering.

The new outdoor Amp is a move in the right direction, though it will cannibilize Koko Booth. All the festivals, art events, beer events, etc., are also strong ideas. But they’re fleeting. A ballfield downtown would bring 5,000+ for 50 or so nights a summer.

By: Ernest

Ernest — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:35:09 +0000

I agree with RaleighRob. Downtown Raleigh has a good amount of events and entertainment venues. Sure, we expected to see some of the momentum DT Raleigh had gained in the recent years to continue, but until we get more downtown residents we cannot raise our expectations any higher, IMO. Times are tough for all cities and I am sure we are doing good, relatively speaking.