South Street Closed, Amphitheater Construction Up Next

South Street, between McDowell and Dawson, is now closed. I think this is a pretty big deal as it marks the start of a second wave of the “Convention Center District”. That’s not a thing I’m embracing but something that I think we’re becoming more and more; a convention center downtown. That’s probably a topic for another day.

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Pic of the Week

There’s a lot to watch over on the state government campus these days. We’ve posted before about the ongoing Education Campus that’s taking place across from the Nature Research Center but now we’ll be watching a long-time office building come down. The Bath Building, on the corner of Wilmington and Lane Streets, is being slowly chipped away. It’s probably cheaper to demolish and remove all that liability rather than renovate at this point but I’m not an accountant.

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Pic of the Week

Lichtin Plaza, or the space in front of the performing arts center, will soon get a remake. Aimed at making the space more accessible, the plaza will make way for a drop-off lane and you can see what that might look like in the rendering below. This seems to make sense as South Street is jammed before large events at the performing arts center and an improved drop-off process helps groups access the area more easily.

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Municipography: Public Safety and Downtown Update

Last week’s City Council meeting (watch on YouTube here) featured an important update on downtown Raleigh, covering public safety and ongoing improvements to our public spaces. The primary focus was on Fayetteville Street and security enhancements at GoRaleigh Station. There were some great takeaways, and overall, things seem to be moving in a positive direction.

What’s Been Done or Coming Soon

  • Downtown Businesses Holding Strong – Contrary to some concerns, (and TV news) more businesses are opening than closing. Get out there and support them.
  • Fayetteville Street Tree Lighting – Expect some fresh ambiance in May/June when new lighting is installed on the trees along Fayetteville Street.
  • City Plaza Enhancements – New shade structures, planter boxes, and “lookout” tables, all aimed at making the area more inviting, are coming this Summer.
  • GoRaleigh Station Security Upgrades – The city has hired its first-ever safety director to oversee security at the transit hub.
  • Crime Trends – Violent crime in downtown is down 3%, while property crime has seen a significant 29% decrease.
  • More Active Patrols – Expect to see increased foot and e-bike patrols to improve visibility and safety. Also, Raleigh’s ACORNS unit is fully staffed.

On the Glenwood South front, Raleigh Police Department (RPD) is satisfied with its current strategy, and we’ve shifted from focusing on violent crime to managing noise issues. That, in itself, is a positive sign.

Looking further ahead, the Fayetteville Street Streetscape Plan is expected to be officially adopted by Winter 2026. What does that mean? I take it to mean that the plan is agreed upon and when looking into my crystal ball, I hope the following takes place:

  • Winter 2026: Plan adoption and cost estimation
  • Spring 2026: Budgeting process begins
  • Summer/Fall 2026: Procurement and request process
  • Beyond that: Implementation—hopefully aligning with the opening of major downtown developments like the Omni Hotel, Convention Center Expansion, and Red Hat renovations.

Pic of the Week

Opening this month is downtown’s newest apartment tower, Maeve Raleigh. It’s been fun watching this one go up and I prefer these towers where the parking deck is detached. Optimistically, (hopelessly?) I feel like the deck can be repurposed one day or even built on top of but that’ll probably be decades if that ever happens. Either way, we should be welcoming new residents and you want to be friendly to these residents in hopes they invite you over. Maeve has some high-end amenities, according to their website.

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