10 Comments

1. 

   Though I may not be a fan of the height on this hotel or it’s design, I can say that I am pleased to have the front of this ugly parking deck finally covered. ?

2. 

   Yep, it’s an underwhelming building for such a high profile site. But I appreciate it will have a rootop bar accessible to the public. There’s really only a few downtown, so this will be nice.

3. 

   The views from the rooftop bar are going to be pretty sweet! This will be something people in outlying rural towns will enjoy year round.

4. 

   Something to ponder. If a hotel developer were going to be build a hotel for the Raleigh brand, what would it look like? How would you describe the Raleigh brand?

5. 

   @John, I’ve long thought that a fusing of mod architecture and tech would represent us well. We of course have a wonderful history of mid century architecture (mostly residential, and ‘urban renewal’ damage notwithstanding) and a flourishing tech culture. So say, the hotel version of Hunt Library. That’s my perfect world. The competing vision for defining Raleigh’s ‘style’ looks more like Paramount or West condos. Alternating brick and off-white elements…please make it stop.

6. 

   @Mark, I completely agree that Raleigh has a rich history in modern architecture. However, is the city embracing it? The Catalano House was torn down. Our mid-century office buildings are torn down slowly but surely. We have done nothing to distinguish ourselves as a city to embrace that past. Likewise, we have a terrific collection of Victorian homes in Oakwood and wonderful restored storefronts along DT’s main grid. While all lovely, who actually knows about this stuff outside of the area? My guess is not too many. If you were to ask people the question: Raleigh is?________ I’d be curious to see how that would be answered. I suspect that most would not know what to say. Frankly, Charlotte has the same problem IMO.
   The city wants to be known as the city of the arts in the South but look at our recent past history. 2 decades ago, we got all pissy about the Time+Light Tower by world renowned sculpture Dale Eldred. More recently we shunned world renowned Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa because we didn’t want to “block the view” from the Capitol to the Performing Arts Center. Speaking of the Performing Arts Center, we “gave away that farm” to Durham by not staying on top of our game. Certainly we’ve done some nice things that are great for the size the city used to be but we have been resting on our laurels for way too long. We have to step it up. We have to purposefully create our brand and vision and then use it as a filter for decision making. Why do you suppose that Durham got two cool new hotels while we have gotten generic chains? Why do you suppose that it’s Nashville that is emerging as the next “it” city in the South instead of us? Why do you suppose all the millenials want to move to Austin instead of the Triangle? I mean, really, Raleigh is himming and hawing about a bike share? That’s a no brainer. Just freaking do it!
   Certainly there is a lot of growth and development happening in DT Raleigh but how much of it is really interesting and compelling? When I wrack my brain to think of something, I coincidentally think of the modern homes that are being built on infill lots on the east side of DT and the Nature Research Center. I say coincidentally because these at least harken to our strong mid-century design history. Some of our other most compelling projects have not been in the city center, namely the Hunt Library and the new wing of the Museum of Art. Imagine if they were in the center of the city. sigh….
   It’s time for the city to stand up and claim its place and not stand like a wallflower at the dance.

7. 

   Raleigh is that awkward teenager still growing into his own body, taking business & technology courses at Wake tech. He occasionally enjoys a taco at a local food truck before heading to Fayetteville street for a martini and strolls back to his condo at Skyhouse…

   So where does young Sir Walter Raleigh head to next??? How does he grow and what does he ultimately look like???
   Stay tuned…lol

8. 

   Raleigh growth motto = tear down decades old oak trees and put up mixed use development!

9. 

   @Jordan, I’d rather they put up mixed use rather than single family housing out in the fringes of the city. Also much of the mixed use is in-fill development filling up parking lots and warehouses, not stuff we should cry about

10. 

    All development is putting something new over trees or crap. No growth is sustainable but counter to the human spirit.

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