From this post on October 17th, 2007.
Today.
View from Cabarrus St. Notice the LED lights, a new initiative by the city for all new parking decks.
Category / New Construction
City Plaza Work Beginning
The groundbreaking of city plaza will be very soon and there are signs of work happening just beyond the planters that dead end Fayetteville Street’s 400 block.
Construction fencing around the area
Temporary pedestrian walkways are being put in place
The plaza will finally finish off Fayetteville Street and car traffic will freely flow from Morgan to Lenoir. The plans on the city’s website do not show any parking on this block and that will help create a lively area with pedestrians. I’m hoping that the street is also flush with the sidewalks as that will also make the area feel like it is more for foot traffic.
I find it interesting that plans for street concerts are still being considered for city plaza. Is this really needed after it is completed? I propose that concerts on Fayetteville St. be moved up one more block to what is referred to as Sites 2 and 3; the parking lots between Lenoir and South St. in front of the Performing Arts Center. Are the couple hundred spaces here really needed when, upon completion, the 1500+ spaces underneath the Marriott and Charter Square will be available soon? Do not forget the convention center parking deck and Progress Energy parking deck too.
Project Highlight: Charter Square
Charter Square will consist of two towers located on the southern end of Fayetteville St. across from the new Marriott Hotel. You can thank Craig Davis Properties for these beauties as they will have, from their website [Update: Broken link]:
…two towers, constructed of natural stone and glass. Building One will consist of approximately 405,000 square feet of office, retail and residential space on 21 floors. Building Two will consist of 30,000 square feet of retail space with 120 residential units above the retail. The buildings will sit atop a 690 space underground, city operated parking deck and approximately 600 spaces will be reserved for the building’s office tenants. The towers will be adjacent to Raleigh’s new convention center, as well as numerous restaurants, retail and cultural venues.
The underground parking deck is currently under construction so until then we can enjoy these renderings of Raleigh’s front row.
North tower
South tower
Shimmer Wall Video
The shimmer wall was officially turned on last night and there was a party held on Cabarrus St. to see the lighting. I’m, for the most part, always pretty positive about things in downtown Raleigh but I was disappointed in what I saw.
I later found out that the shimmer wall looks great if you are close up. Walking down McDowell St. you can really see the lights pop. However, if you walk one block west, for example, the colors are faded and it also looks like there is a dead zone near the top.
We still love Cree for the donation but from talking to people out at the event last night, the consensus was disappointment.
Thanks to Proactive Busybody and The Kitch for contributing.
Lots of RTN Video For Your Labor Day Staycation
For those of you leaving town this weekend, you are excused from this exercise. For the rest of the DT Raleigh staycationers that want more online Raleigh material, there are lots of videos on the Raleigh city website for your viewing pleasure. The video of the month contains lots of videos for the month of August. You can get some information about the convention center, Raleigh Wide Open, and the shimmer wall to name a few topics. This will prepare you for the week ahead. I’m sure you can guess what we will be talking about in the coming days right?
Video of the month page – RaleighNC.gov
Note: Videos work much better in Internet Explorer.
West at North Before and After
From parking lot to tower in about 18 months, the West at North tower will add more residents to the Glenwood South area. I’m hoping that talk about the potential retail on the ground floor will start soon.
February 2007
August 2007
August 2008
Finishing Touches Around The Convention Center
Have you checked your calendars? We are three weeks away from Raleigh Wide Open 3 and the opening of the Raleigh Convention Center. The final details outside the center are now being smoothed over and will be ready for your eyes and feet soon.
Paving Salisbury, planting trees, laying bricks and more at the plaza entrance. Click for bigger picture.
After almost three years, McDowell is now walkable again.
Shimmer wall installed, new street/pedestrian lights are up and working.
Installing sidewalk lights in front of the entrance on Salisbury St.
Cabarrus St. will soon have flowing traffic, cars and people.
Cool Pictures On The Side of The New Marriott
If you are in the area, there is some very cool artwork up on the side of the new Marriott facing Lenoir St that is worth seeing. The pictures make references to some of Raleigh’s history and landmark locations.
This view should look better at night right?