A sunny, winter day along Hillsborough Street.
The rotund building on Hillsborough Street that we all either love or hate has some news this week. The former Clarion hotel has now changed back to a Holiday Inn. This coincides with some renovations to the lobby, rooms, and front entrance including a new sidewalk plaza out front.
It’s been a colder winter compared to last year. It only takes rain or the occasional snow to slow things in downtown Raleigh. This season, we have new coffees and a few eats worth trying.
For a complete list of eats, drinks, and coffees in and around downtown, make sure to bookmark the DT Eats page. Try something new.
From my inbox to yours:
Intersection of West and Jones Streets, January 2014.
It was practically a year ago that we heard that the on-hold Powerhouse Plaza, an 11-story tower with hotel and office space, switched to an apartment project. The rest of 2013 was pretty quiet about this upcoming residential building but now, according to this TBJ article, Grubb properties wants to break ground sometime this Spring.
Snooping around the internets for more information, Cline Design has a rendering of the building that will sit at the northeast corner of West and Jones Streets. Named “The Link at Glenwood,” this project infuses even more residents to Glenwood South. See their rendering below along with description.
This 203-unit, wood-framed, multi-family project is part of Grubb Properties’ Link apartment brand, and located in the vibrant Glenwood South district, a growing urban living community in the heart of Downtown Raleigh. Within walking distance to several shops, restaurants, and clubs, situated on a two-acre infill site, a density of over 101.5 units per acre is achieved with and integrated below and above grade parking deck for approximately 187 cars. Six floors contain a diverse mix of studio, one and two-bedroom units. An integral Clubhouse & Leasing center contains ample space for resident gatherings, a complete fitness center, and a large outdoor pool & terrace area with a summer kitchen pavilion. The architectural design blends contemporary forms with durable, traditional materials such as stone veneer, cementitious siding and stucco, creating a well-balanced transition between the commercial and residential uses on Glenwood, Jones, Harrington, and West Streets as well as the immediate surrounding contextual area. Jones Street will be maintained as a “green street” by providing new tress and pervious paving along portions of the sidewalk. In addition, new trees will be provided along West and Harrington Streets.
*Cline Design – The Link at Glenwood
Maybe a few power lines could stand to be buried, you think?
Salisbury Street in the government district
As part of a federal grant, the City of Raleigh is receiving funds to apply marked bicycle facilities around the city. From the city’s website to the blog:
The City of Raleigh received a $1.1 million dollar grant from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program to construct at least 27 miles of marked, on-road bicycle facilities. A proposed list of twenty-two bicycle projects have been selected in order of adopted bicycle plan priority and previously adopted CIP projects. The design of these projects is currently underway and the lead consultant is Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. joined by Alta Planning + Greenways, Inc. and Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
*Bicycle Pavement Marking Design Project
We’ll have to wait for the designs to see what kind of “marked, on-road bicycle facilities” will be created but $1.1 million dollars spread across 27 miles doesn’t sound like much. I expect a mix of bike lanes and sharrows.
Here are the streets being looked at within downtown.
See the link to the city’s website for more information.
A crane for the Skyhouse Raleigh project towers over City Market.
Under gray skies on the day before New Year’s Eve, there was activity on the Skyhouse Raleigh site. The tower crane was being put together, showing positive signs for active construction at the corner of Blount and Martin Streets in the new year.
Here’s hoping for more cranes in 2014. Happy New Year!
The beer flows in Raleigh. The flow has many flavors and venues.
Adding to that list of beer drinking venues is the Raleigh Beer Garden which will be situated at 614 Glenwood Avenue. The office building already on the site is up for a makeover and the beer garden will take over.
The new place comes from the folks behind Hibernian Irish Pub, Solas, and The Station. Posted here are some renderings of the new place that show the direction that New City Design Group are going with this project.
It looks like there will be a ton of outdoor space with a splash of greenery around various nooks and crannies. The two-floor design offers a few balconies as well, great for people watching. (and the view!)
Is there a term for a restaurant that has a ton of beer taps? The Raleigh Beer Garden plans to have over 100 so that makes it an extreme multi-tap restaurant with only The Flying Saucer able to come close within downtown Raleigh.
Here’s the current building as of December 2013. We could see movement on this project in Spring 2014.
As 2013 wraps up, there were plenty of things to look back on. Instead of the typical ‘Year in Review’ post, I’ve listed the five most visited 2013 articles. A lot of these we’ll be tracking in the new year so expect to hear more soon. Here’s the list.
#5 Trophy and Crank Arm Bring New Breweries To Downtown Raleigh
Raleighites like their beer. In 2013, downtown Raleigh saw two great additions in Trophy Brewing and Crank Arm Brewing. Throughout the year, the two places have come alive and expanded. There was a lot of buzz about these places and if you’ve gone all year without tasting these brews, you’ve got a few days to get one or two in before 2014.
#4 Parklets Could be Popping Up In Downtown Raleigh
Divisadero Parklet – SF Pavement to Parks by jeremyashaw, on Flickr
Approved in November, the parklets pilot program could help businesses bring new urban “mini” parks to downtown Raleigh. Targeting “underutilized parking spaces,” the program attempts to help bring this new, innovative concept to Raleigh.
As of today, there hasn’t been one built yet so here’s hoping that some pop up in time for Spring 2014.
#3 The Lincoln Will Bring 224 Apartments To Emo Raleigh
The bulk of the apartment boom is happening within and to the west of downtown Raleigh but The Lincoln defies that trend. East Raleigh is ripe for new developments and The Lincoln may start a new trend as it sits one block to the east of Moore Square.
#2 Innovate Raleigh Opens Up 227 Fayetteville Street, Renovations Underway
Announced in January, 227 Fayetteville Street has been under renovation all year. Paired with a makeover for adjacent Exchange and Market plazas, this section of the 200 block of Fayetteville Street should be even more active when this project is open.
This area already sees the highest pedestrian counts in downtown Raleigh and is starting to be the natural activity hub for all that is urban Raleigh.
#1 Edison Office Shows Site Plan For 225′ Tower
Edison block conceptual drawing by JDavis Architects.
The most viewed post of the year was this one about the upcoming Edison Office tower at the corner of Martin and Wilmington Streets. Gaining attention under the entire Edison project umbrella, the office component is still in the planning phases while next door a 23-story apartment tower, Skyhouse Raleigh, is currently under construction.
The Edison project includes this entire block, with buildings wrapping the mid-block parking deck. It clearly has a lot of buzz around it as a 2012 article about Skyhouse still gets hits constantly from readers.