Year / 2007

by Leo Suarez

Atrium Renovation

The Atrium consists of 112 and 114 Fayetteville St. Plans for this building are to expand the Fayetteville St. Tavern and renovate the top two floors into condos. There are six condos total at the two addresses; not much but they offer a more historical style compared to the newer condo buildings around downtown.

This project has been a slow one. Construction has been on-going all year and little progress has been seen until recently. The white bricks have been coming down and are being replaced with red bricks with the intention to match the adjacent building facade. There is still a lot to be done but here is what the building looks like so far.

Old white brick is being replaced by new red brick

by Leo Suarez

Bloomsbury Progress Summer ’07

Bloomsbury Estates has slowed down a bit lately. The floors were put up at a pretty normal pace but once they topped out, not much progress has been made. I went out there to take a look and it seems they have the metal siding put up. Hopefully soon they will have the walls up, giving us a good idea of what the building will look like. Although with its particular style, we may have to wait until its finished to see what this one will look like. By the way, I’m a big fan of the view down Hargett St.

by Leo Suarez

Residential News

I’ve got some random info that I’m compiling into this one post about a couple residential projects. The Hue condominium project on the corner of Dawson and Hargett St. has shown some activity recently. The old Realty building that was on the lot has been demolished and construction fencing has been set up. I received an e-mail about the current progress of the project:

The development company, Trammel Crow Residential, closed on the purchase of the property on July 31st. As of August, our building and floor plans were submitted to the City of Raleigh for approval. Upon approval, our floor plans and pricing will be made available to you and will be added to our www.hueraleigh.com website.

We plan to hold our reservation event in Fall, 2007. As we move forward we will be able to provide you with specific dates and times. This information will also be added to our website.

According to their website, RBC Plaza claims that all the condos have sold out. This sounds like a great accomplishment for downtown Raleigh but I’m not going out celebrating just yet. I’m really hoping that the people who bought these condos do intend to live in them. I would hate to hear that most of the buyers of the high rise condos are ones that do not plan to move in and thought that investing in these properties would make them a quick buck when they flip it late next year. Only time will tell.

I have not posted this one yet but 222 Glenwood has a webcam set up on their website. The building has taken shape and walls are being put up. I’m anxious to see this one built and am curious as to what shops or restaurants will occupy the ground floor spaces. Glenwwod is feeling more like a canyon as these buildings go up, just great!

by Leo Suarez

222 Glenwood Rising Up

If any of you have driven or walked down Glenwood Ave. recently you may have felt the canyon effect given off by the presence of 222 Glenwood. This seven story condo building was slow to take off when the area was demolished but has made significant progress in recent months. The building shell should be complete soon and downtown will lose another crane. Residents will be able to move in next spring, 2008. No word yet on any of the retail going in on the bottom floor.

by Leo Suarez

New Signage To Help Out The College Kids

Well not just for the college kids but I guarantee you if you ask a bunch of them on a Wednesday night at Rum Runners, they will have no idea how to get home. There is even a facebook group entitled “Been to Rum Runners a million times and still don’t know how to get there”.

Anyway, so I have heard people complain about how driving around downtown is confusing and that they always get lost. The city wants to try and change that by helping people navigate their way to attractions and parking decks. RalCon is here for that also and I’ve got plans for a nice interactive map showing you where the hot spots are but that project is still in the works. The N&O has got the scoop here. Some quotes:

The city paid a consulting firm $200,000 to come up with recommendations and design signs for its “way-finding” capital improvement project. The firm, Corbin Design of Traverse City, Mich., proposed navy blue and white signs with an oak leaf motif to guide people — in cars and on foot — to downtown attractions and parking.

City officials hope to have many of the new signs in place by the time the new convention center opens late next summer and are eager for public input, said Elizabeth Alley, the city planner who is managing the way-finding project.

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Downtown’s system of one-way streets can intimidate newcomers, the consultant said, recommending that Blount, Person, Edenton and Morgan/New Bern be converted to two-way.

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Altogether, the city has budgeted $1 million for the way-finding project, spread over three years. The biggest chunk, $500,000, is included in the 2007-08 budget.