by Leo Suarez

Red Hat Amphitheater Stays in Downtown Raleigh

Above is the Raleigh City Council meeting (watch on YouTube) that included a presentation, public comments, and a vote on the plan to rebuild the Red Hat Amphitheater just south of its current location, resulting in the closure of South Street between Dawson and McDowell Streets. It’s worth watching, as you can really see the council’s thoughtful deliberation on this issue. I encourage readers to give it a view.

We’ve covered the details of the move in a previous post, which you can revisit [here], but this marks the first major phase of the Raleigh Convention Center Expansion. Along with the new hotel, I’ve always imagined that over the next few years, the “Convention Center District” (my own term) will bring some exciting developments. In fact, this slide from the meeting outlines a new project appearing each year between 2026 and 2028.

What I’m particularly interested in following is the Chavis to Dix Strollway. This could be an amazing addition to downtown, or it could end up being implemented cheaply. I tend to be skeptical when plans involve taking space away from cars to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, especially as there were strong voices advocating to keep South Street open to traffic. Still, the potential here is significant, so I’m cautiously optimistic. Perhaps this project will be completed in 2029, capping off a decade of new downtown amenities for everyone.

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