by Leo Suarez

Rendering Bonus, Green Square and SECU Tower


click for a larger gallery of renderings.

Sure Green Square is nothing new and we’ve been watching construction on this baby for over two years now. But the overlooked SECU tower, a separate project from Green Square is starting to rise out of the ground so renderings help give us a nice look at the future.

Enjoy some of these renderings of the SECU tower, now under construction, as well as some more of Green Square that you may not have seen already. Click on the image above for a gallery.

Thanks to Tom at preVision and O’Brien/Atkins Associates, PA for the wonderful renderings.

(reading RalCon in an e-mail? See the gallery on the site, go here)

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42 Comments

  1. Ok maybe I’m just now paying attention, but that’s pretty tall for something only a block from the capital. Cool!

  2. Argh… What is that bicycle doing on the sidewalk (image 3)!? Sorry, off topic, but that really annoys me. Also in that same image, isn’t that McDowell St with the traffic going the wrong way? (Maybe I just got turned around)

  6. Great renderings! I am really excited for this project to finish up. I didn’t know about the roof top garden/open space and the corner cafe on McDowell looks good too! Curious as to what the Globe is going to be…will I be able to go inside? I also really like the design of the SECU building. Very modern with clean lines!

  7. hackles10, I heard the globe is going to be a small theater for nature films and things like that, as part of the museum.

  8. This would have been a great locaton for more retail, coffee shop, deli, etc. I like the design of the complex, but missed the boat again with the lack of retail.

  9. Thomas, there’s more than enough vacant retail space downtown. There isn’t enough consumer demand to fill the retail space, yet. When there’s enough demand (people living downtown), then retail will follow the money. It’s still a bit premature to expect to see significant retail in the center of downtown Raleigh.

    Another thing to consider is that due to millions of individuals’ shopping habits, there will never be as much retail in modern downtowns as there used to be. No record/CD stores, no video rental, no book stores, no computer stores, no movie theaters, etc.

  10. Besides, most of the street level frontage of the SECU building will be a branch. So that’s “sorta” retail…in the sense that it’ll have customers coming in and out.

  11. I think this project has a decent amount to offer at the street level. Its by no means a shopping district, but its not just blank frontage either. There will be a branch on the ground level of SECU, the globe will be a cool piece of art and it appears that there will be an open area to congregate, eat lunch, etc. around the globe, and the other corner appears to be offering some sort of cafe/lunch area, etc that will be outdoors and partly covered.

  12. A SECU branch downtown would be great. Currently, all of the Cash Points machines for those of us using credit unions (at least that I’ve found) are inside the government buildings, and obviously, tough to get to outside of traditional working hours. The closest SECU to downtown is on Hillsborough street right now.

  15. Joe,

    There are already two branches of SECU downtown. One on New Bern Place between the church and the apartments and one on Halifax Mall between the Capitol and the Legislature (which will be replaced by the SECU building when it opens)

  17. Thomas, I have to agree with you on the ground level destinations. As a state employee, who works right across from Green Square, I can confirm that many of us would love to have a nice variety of eateries a little closer. There are places to eat, but nothing exceptional. A NY-style deli, or an oriental restaurant would work fine. Also, a restaurant heavy on salads would do well, too, because as of late state employees have become more concerned about their weight – there are presentations and ongoing sessions that deal with balanced diets.

    As for the NC SECU Building, it will be a breath of fresh air in that area. Enough with all those 4-6 story buildings and all that beige/green. Hopefully, the exterior will be blue glass, as the renderings show.

  18. Green Square and Office Tower..Well…Its a start. Now Focus On the rest of Downtown.

  19. Actually, IMO, the only thing keeping more people from moving downtown is a lack of a grocery store. The CVS doesn’t count. If I’m going to live downtown, I want to be able to LIVE downtown. I can’t do that if I can’t get food.

  20. You’re right David…A grocery store would be great, Two or three..maybe more.I much rather live in Downtown myself. I’m from NYC and Im used to just walking a few blocks to the grocery store rather than driving almost cross town just to buy food.Don’t get me wrong, I do love Raleigh,but it lacks so much,in spite of the so-called growth and renew downtown as city officals are calling it.Growth…..Where..!!

  21. The grocery store argument certainly has been going on for a long time but you can’t fit suburban style shopping models into an urban area and those that want the big box grocery store experience will never get it in downtown Raleigh. There just isn’t the space for it.

    At the same time, business owners can’t justify setting up a grocery store because of the lack of residents. So how do you crack this chicken or egg scenario?

    The grocery store “requirement” for moving downtown is getting tiring. At this moment, you can have urban living, only having to drive for a few things around Raleigh, or you can stay in the suburbs and drive everywhere for all your needs. The choice is yours.

  22. Here’s an idea. Whatever Happen to that Project that was suppose to be built near Crabtree Mall.. Solei Center. Hope I spelled it right. Anyway Why can’t they build it downtown.Another Hotel..for one…Office/Condo..two.There you go.I believe that developers have this thing that downtown is not too atractive enough,or Crime infested,but crime is everwhere. Im just putting this out there guys.Raleigh needs more Offices…Retail…etc…etc..It’s just that development is just way too slow. What a shame.

  23. There are two grocery stores in Cameron Village. I don’t understand why people keep asking for more grocery stores downtown.

  24. Joe…Have you ever stop to think that there maybe senior citizens that do not own cars or may not want to walk all the way to Cameron Village to go to the grocery store to shop. they can only go as far as downtown to buy what they need at the grocery store.Not everyone has the advantage of going as far as Cameron Village to shop.Not to mention the Disabled. The need for a few more Grocery Stores Downtown would help.

  25. There aren’t going to be any more grocery stores until density increases. We’re at least several years away from having enough density for another grocery store to make financial sense.

  26. Yeah I don’t think anyone is opposed to putting one downtown (in downtown proper, I understand the point that CV is very close, walking distance for some, but it isn’t technically downtown). The same argument can be made for a lot of things, especially a movie theater, there just isn’t the population density to support it. With only a few thousand people living there, it just simply isn’t enough to support a grocery store. Downtown’s population is growing and when projects like the Edison and Charter Square go up and if/when their residential aspects are filled up it will add hundreds of people and hopefully continue to expand the number and diversity of services and businesses within walking distance, thus increasing housing and so on until there’s enough people to support a grocery store w/o a huge parking lot.

  27. I agree with you on that Joe.And Steve,I also agree too,Its just a matter of having Corporations Invest into Downtown and make it more livable. Restucture the warehouse district to include a few offices and a Hotel,and affordable apartments.Or Even make the warehouse district into a retail area.If Downtown’s population continues to grow,Hopefully we can see some vibrant life in Downtown Raleigh.

  28. Oh..I forgot..Does anyone know about any developments of the Edison and Charter Square Projects?

  30. I just can’t understand the infrastructure here in the Raleigh/Durham area. It’s so Complex and “Stone Age” in a matter of speaking that this should of been planned twenty years ago. Already Ten years into the 21st Century and the city can’t come up with any decent means of Mass transit.And I’m not even going to get started with the CAT buses in Raleigh, that’s another story in its self.Yes,I know government redtape and delays.Budget cuts here budget cuts there. Yada..yada….yada.The same song that gets old real quick.Progress…Yeah. My grandkids will have grandkids when any new projects for downtown get done.

  31. @Mark: I can easily answer the question about Soleil Center – now a project is serious trouble if the new owners do not finish it. There were three issues: 1) the developers didn’t own any land downtown and couldn’t acquire any that could fit their needs, 2) the original plan was to convert the hotel they had purchased, and 3) Westin Hotels didn’t want to place a hotel in DT Raleigh.

    There is a lot we can say about retail and grocery stores, but nobody has the deep pockets to make this happen. Let’s face it, even in downtowns with many more residents (i.e. Uptown Charlotte), grocery stores are losing money. I will sound like a broken record, but I will say it again: Without corporate relocations and thousands of new employees in the core of the city, DT Raleigh will face an uphill battle.

    You mentioned public transit, and the answer is the same like above: density. Along with the point you mentioned: infrastructure (or lack thereof). The uphill battle is more than guaranteed in every aspect of Raleigh’s life. The problem is also that the current leadership is trying to do too many things at once, without considering the financial impact on our city. Before we move to public transit, we should take care of our debt, currently above $1.2 billion. A good credit rating could provide us the funds to accomplish more than a decent public transportation system. But, without a few major corporations taking the lead in the area, the city will have to carry the cross for a lot longer.

    Regarding Charter Square and The Edison, Jeff answered already, but I will add this: a lot depends on Red Hat’s final decision. If they decide to move downtown, the two projects you mentioned will be at the top of the list of Red Hat, you can rest assured. Unfortunately, with Progress Energy leaving and RBC Bank nearing an acquisition, things will be even more complicated.

  32. Thank You Ernest,You have hit all the right points, dont get me wrong I do adore Raleigh very much,I could of moved back to NYC or some other city.But my gut is saying that Raleigh has so much to offer and alot of promise,Downtown and surrounding areas.Developers willing to invest,Corporations willing to do business downtown,Raleigh has a chance.

  33. Having moved from NYC, myself, I can see how tough it is to overlook some of that city’s strong areas, such as urbanity, transportation and other simple amenities. Unfortunately, Raleigh isn’t going to get those soon enough for us to enjoy, but the progress will not only be steady, but also evident to the eyes of most skeptics. We certainly have other things to be proud of and I would not go back to NYC for any reason.

    The toughest part is to imagine DT Raleigh back in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and even during the 60’s. It was bustling with life, like a mini-NYC (very tiny NYC, of course). Unfortunately, the suburban lifestyle lured most of the population to the outskirts and will continue to do so. It is funny how Levittown (Long Island, NY) defined suburbia, near a city that defined urbanity. This model was copied over and over, by developers across the nation, as if it provided solutions other than cheap housing, but it was more about location and less about housing and amenities that kept the prices low.

    Anyway, back to the topic, it is truly nice to see Green Square and the NC SECU Bldg progressing by the day. I work right across from there and I can see the progress almost daily, particularly at the NC SECU site. Those elevator shafts have made a huge impact, and I can’t wait until they are wrapped around by the rest of the building. Architecturally, it will be a great addition to the area and hopefully a departure from the typical beige-green buildings we are accustomed to.

  34. Have no Plans of going back to NYC myself.Too much of everything is going on,Plus the old neighborhood that I knew has changed dramaticlly.Also its not safe for my mother to live after I helped her moved out of the city.She hates it here in NC,but she is adjusting.It was very tough for her to leave after 45 Years of living in Brooklyn.I have been Downtown last weekend just for a walk around downtown and saw the Green Square/SECU site. Very Impresive I must say.An Added addition to downtown.Looking forward for its completion.Yes,Progress is indeed slow going,but I think that folks will see more possible “High Rise” buildings but not right away plus much needed Hotels for DT.

  35. I agree with you Mark. The domino effect will definitely work to DT Raleigh’s favor. I think that the Hampton Inn at Glenwood South will encourage more hotel projects in the downtown area, particularly since the Marriott Hotel – a pathetic excuse of a convention hotel – is simply too small to accommodate larger crowds. The R Line is also a huge plus for hotels that want to serve the convention center without being next door. Visitors can hop on the R Line bus and get to the convention hotel within a few minutes.

    I would love to see a hotel closer to the Government Complex and Green Square. I know that the Powerhouse Plaza is already approved and a Hyatt hotel is planned for it, but I would like to see more.

  36. Me too…I never been down by the Powerhouse Plaza,not sure where that is located. Nice to know that Hyatt is planned to be built. Hoping a High Rise..At least 20 stories not six or seven. You need more hotel rooms. Hampton Inn/Hyatt. its a start.

  38. Wow..real nice looking.Like I said Slow going,but slow is good. what about the Hampton Inn Hotel?

  40. Not bad..But Im sure some developer wil come along and design a awesome high rise hotel that other cities will be envy.Maybe,….just dreaming here.

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