by Leo Suarez

The Oakline Could One Day Offer a Park-like Connection From DTR to Dix Park

Rendering of The Oakline elevated walkway, 2026.

I heard about the announcement of The Oakline at the 2026 State of Downtown Raleigh meeting that took place in August. It’s quite a concept, and that’s got me pretty excited. The idea is to build a bridge alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard that creates a pedestrian and bicycle-only connection from the southern end of downtown to Dix Park. Now sure, you can walk from a variety of points in downtown to Dix Park today but there’s nothing special about it. While direction apps may say it’s only a 15-20 minute walk, I guarantee you it’ll feel longer in our warmer months. This is why a thoughtfully designed trail, embedded in and around our urban fabric, has the potential to make The Oakline a destination in and of itself.

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by Leo Suarez

Hotel Indigo Is Now Open

Photo of the Hotel Indigo on Hillsborough Street, October 2026.

The “hair curler” lives on. The round hotel on Hillsborough Street, a long time Holiday Inn, is now up and running as a Hotel Indigo. What originally started as a demolition and complete rebuild project has turned into a renovation. I know people have opinions on this one but I’m a fan of the building and am so glad to see this restored and renovated. It’s a more unique offering in the growing list of hotels that we have in downtown.

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by Leo Suarez

Pic of the Week

West Cabarrus Street is looking a little fresher these days as the construction at Oldham and Worth is complete and welcoming new neighbors. It’s crazy to think back that this area used to be such a low-rise industrial area and now there are more than 500 homes with retail. Plans for more have certainly been proposed so West Cabarrus may get a break until another ground breaking takes place.

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by Leo Suarez

Fourth Ward Entertainment District Created to Honor The Historic Raleigh Neighborhood

Photo of a sign of the Fourth Ward Entertainment District, September 2026

Looks like we’ve got a new district. The area at the southern side of downtown Raleigh, including our convention center, performing arts center, and amphitheater, is now named the Fourth Ward Entertainment District. The district includes everything from South to Cabarrus Street and from Dawson to Wilmington Street. (see map below) With the help and guidance from community members, the process to create the branding was inclusive and led to the creation of the visual elements that you see in the signs that are already placed around the district. More branding elements are sure to come as the area is poised to change over the next few years.

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by Leo Suarez

Pic of the Week

Photo of the corner of Lenoir and McDowell Streets and the construction of the Red Hat Amphitheater, September 2026

The intersection of Lenoir and McDowell Streets are typically quiet. I mean, you don’t see many pedestrians here and just car traffic rolling through on a typical day. However, on the night that Red Hat Amphitheater has a show, the atmosphere is quite different. The photo above shows the view across the intersection as the new Red Hat is still under construction. On show nights, I propose a pedestrian scramble at this intersection, allowing pedestrians to go to whichever corner they want and all the cars have to stop during that light interval.

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