Category / Planning DT Raleigh

by Leo Suarez

Bigger, Bolder Signs In Downtown

I finally made it through the Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s analysis and strategy report on retail, read the whole thing here, and there are lots of topics to go over. I thought their recommendations on signage was something I hadn’t thought of since I can’t view downtown through a first-time visitors’ eyes. The report suggests:

If the Downtown core is to become a truly alluring and exciting visitor destination, one that, for example, beckons conventioneers to head northward on Fayetteville Street, the City Council will need to be willing to accept bolder, more dynamic signage appropriate to this goal, as recommend in the Comprehensive Plan. Indeed, this will be critical to the fate of Fayetteville Street as a retail location, which rests partly on its ability to lure conference attendees and daytime workers from its southern end.

The report mentions that the 100 block of Fayetteville Streeet is not as active as the higher ones and that signs could attract visitors from the convention center and hotels down towards it. I always thought the grand capitol building standing right at the end in plain sight was reason enough for people to walk all the way down but maybe not. On a walk yesterday I made a point to look out for the signage along Fayetteville Street to see what our current situation is like.

From a pedestrian view, Fayetteville Street does lack some signage. As you walk down the street, it is a mystery as to what the next shop may be. I think some may still like this approach, it would be like exploring the street to see what it can offer you. However, with signs coming out over the sidewalks, a pedestrian could view many options and possibly make a better decision on where to go.


A pedestrian looking down the street here can’t see much.

It’s kind of like the difference between ordering the buffet or ordering off the menu. At a buffet, most new people look around to see what is available then decide what to eat. A menu shows you everything available easily, then you decide what you want. Signs that can be easily seen by pedestrians can be the “menu” along Fayetteville Street.

But presenting this “menu” is probably the real touchy part of this conversation. They definitely don’t make signs like they used to (see the Mecca picture) and in my opinion, you’ll hear a big outcry against anything that’s too bright and bold. If left unchecked, a busy street would be overwhelmed with large, bright signs competing with each other to get your attention. So we need to reach a balance here. At the bottom of the Downtown Raleigh section of the comprehensive plan are some suggested guidelines for signage: (page 49)

Signage should be compatible in scale, style, and composition with the building or storefront design as a whole.

Diverse graphic solutions are encouraged to help create the sense of uniqueness and discovery found in an urban, mixed-use environment.

All mechanical and electrical mechanisms should be concealed.

Signs should not obscure a building’s important architectural features, particularly in the case of historic buildings.

Signs should be constructed with durable materials and quality manufacturing.

Sign bands above transom and on awnings are preferred signage locations.

Only the business name, street address, building name, and logo should be on an awning or canopy. The lettering should not exceed 40 percent of the awning area.

Illuminated signs should avoid the colors red, yellow, and green when adjacent to a signal controlled vehicular intersection.

Allowed sign types: channel letter signs, silhouette signs (reverse channel), individualized letter signs, projecting signs, canopy/marquee signs, logo signs, awning signs, and interior window signs.

Discouraged sign types: signs constructed of paper, cardboard, styrofoam-typematerials, formed plastic, injected molded plastic, or other such materials that do not provide a sense of permanence or quality; signs attached with suction cups or tape; signs constructed of luminous vacuum-formed plastic letters; signs with smoke-emitting components. Changeable copy signs are prohibited.

I’m sure these guidelines can be interpreted in many ways. Too restrictive? You be the judge.

I believe that word of mouth is still more powerful then an attractive sign that lures someone in but thinking about new visitors to downtown, proper signage is important for Fayetteville Street. New visitors may feel more comfortable knowing about all the options in downtown and it only helps to land repeat visits in the future.

by Leo Suarez

Baseball In Downtown, Devereux Meadow Meets Progress In Raleigh


Courtesy of the North Carolina State Archives

It’s no secret but most people don’t know about the baseball stadium that once stood near downtown. That’s right, at one point in time, minor league sluggers were blasting home runs onto what would eventually become Capital Blvd. The ballpark once sat in the area highlighted in the map below and this is where I’d like to focus the conversation today.


Click image for wider view.

Raleigh’s Team
The Raleigh Capitals once played at Devereux Meadow Ballpark which was located along present day Peace Street between West Street and Capital Blvd. The stadium was built in 1938 and baseball had its up and downs here until the site was cleared in 1979. In the name of “progress”, the area was then used for city services, a parking lot for waste disposal vehicles really. I want to highlight two articles I found that mention the stadium meeting the wrecking ball, written around that time.

Sentiment Surrounds Wrecking Of Park – The Time-News June 27, 1979.

Wrecker’s Ball Puts End To Ballpark – The Tuscaloosa News June 27th, 1979.


Courtesy of the North Carolina State Archives

What is there now?
The area today contains few offices or very little of anything representing density or urbanity. The city has been using the lots for parking waste services trucks and other utility vehicles. A few businesses reside off West Street in “off the beaten path” office space with very little car and pedestrian traffic on West Street.

However, the more important resource in this area is the Pigeon House Branch Creek that snakes through the Devereux Meadow site and hides underneath certain streets in downtown. Here’s an excellent blog post tracking the creek through the site. Last I checked, the creek was on the state’s list of impaired waterways and the city is trying to remedy this. One example of a fix has been the water garden at nearby Fred Fletcher park. I bet most readers have driven or walked through this area and never knew that a creek was flowing underneath.

The Future
As far as I know, there are no plans for Devereux Meadow at this moment. Ideas of a river walk have come up but nothing has materialized from that. It’s all talk at this point but that allows the online peanut gallery here to dream up ideas for this large piece of property on the edge of downtown.

More on that later….

by Leo Suarez

Hacking Meters: How To Use The New Pay Stations

So the new parking pay stations are coming, a topic we have touched on a couple of times, and they are actually pretty simple to use. Sometime in April, everyone will be required to drop off some loose change for that space out in front of CVS and the experience will be much easier. The city has some of the new parking pay stations set up along the Nash Square side of Hargett Street. Over the next two months, the rest of the 173 total parking meter swarm will be installed.

I’ve created this title, Hacking Meters, to talk about the pay station use and parking in downtown this year as a way to follow this re-addition of parking meters back into downtown. You might actually learn something. I’ll start out with some key links below for those that want additional reading.

  • City Demos New On-Street Parking Stations
  • Using Raleigh’s New Parking Meters

And now I can contribute by listing off the important things you need to know.

It’s really just a three step process. (click for larger)

  • Enforcement is from 8am to 5pm, Mon-Fri
  • Pay stations accept nickels, dimes, and quarters. Plastic options include Visa and Mastercard.
  • You can pre-pay for your spot starting at 6am and time won’t take effect until 8am
  • No receipts
  • Minimum amount you can charge is $1
  • You can pay in 15 minute increments
  • The green time zone signs will be replaced with blue metered signs with paying information
  • Maximum parking time allowed is the same as the currently allowed time on each block
  • There will be a two week grace period after the pay stations are installed and operating
  • Cars with handicap placards follow the same rules as everyone else except they can park for unlimited time, and will pay just the same
by Leo Suarez

Downtown Raleigh 2010 Wishlist

We did this last year so why not do it again. After reviewing the wishlist for 2009, some commented about things they would like to see in 2010. I have added the best and a few more to the list below.

Bookstore

A downtown bookstore has been mentioned on this blog and in many conversations I have. One of the larger stores like Barnes & Nobles or Borders could easily fill the retail spaces on Fayetteville Street. Right now, they would have to be located here because the high foot traffic justifies it. A partnership between them and the Raleigh City Museum or another museum would be a good idea. With their many resources, they could pull in lots of North Carolina based literature and photography related items that I think would be a big draw to its store and downtown.

A small, used bookstore located in the warehouse district or close to Moore Square would be good too. While thinking about this one I had an idea. Ten or so people need to get together and gather a couple thousand used books and start a bookstore with no building. In the beginning, it could start on First Fridays, setting up in spaces that would allow them. (and appreciate the added traffic and exposure) The upstairs lounge at Morning Times, the empty warehouse spaces along Martin Street, or a tent in Moore Square are all cool places to open up the bookstore one night at a time. If it is successful, the incentive for it to open more often is there with it maybe moving into its own space after the support has been proven. Think about it.

Raleigh Wide Open 5 on Hillsborough Street

Its not Downtown Raleigh Wide Open. With no big projects planned to be complete in downtown this year, I think that Raleigh Wide Open 5 should move to Hillsborough Street. They are projected to finish the construction in September but last I read, they are ahead of schedule. What better way to flood the streets, and stores, with people who need to see the street completed and come back to support the struggling businesses. NC State should open up the entire campus to handle the parking.

Bus Shelters

I once made a list of suggestions, that are a little on the cheaper side, in order to help people try transit. The idea was to make things more convenient and to improve the experience. Doing it the right way with trains and more buses is too costly and will take 185 years so we’ll have to take baby steps. Bus shelters for major stops in downtown would go a long way. This is for CAT and the R-Line. Waiting for a bus in July at 1:00pm is not fun especially when there is no place to sit. The bus shelters along a dead and buildingless Centennial Parkway should be moved to downtown. OK, I don’t mean to be drastic but Cameron Village has built bus shelters and the downtown stops deserve them too.

More jobs

One way for the area to recover from this bad economy is to create more jobs. That is obvious but in 2010, if the jobs come back to the triangle, there is a big opportunity for them to come to downtown. More jobs mean more leased office space and the more people in downtown can only help bring a variety of things.

Specialized retail

Its easy to say that we need/want more shops in downtown. What is not easy is to make this actually happen. Possibly the biggest wish on the list is for more unique shops to open in downtown. More boutique clothing stores or a shoe store would be great. Stitch has proven that this recipe can be successful so I’m hoping someone else takes a crack at it.

by Leo Suarez

Downtown Raleigh 2009 In Review

Another year, another Raleigh Wide Open, and another Beerfest are in the books. Back in January, I wrote a post about realistic goals that could happen within a year’s time for downtown Raleigh and I would like to re-visit that list. Read the 2009 Downtown Wishlist first.

Grocery Store

I’ll start out by saying what we all are thinking already. The economy has greatly affected each of these items and anything new in the future. A grocery store has been talked about on the blogs and in the mainstream media but it still has not happened for downtown. The closest thing to one was Capital City Grocery located in Seaboard Station but that closed last year in November 2008 and a replacement never came this year.

I think this will actually take more time then most people think. The big box style of grocery store requires lots of nearby residents and with a big parking lot in front so more people can come with their cars. An urban grocery store needs support by lots of residents close by and downtown does not have that density at all. Downtown’s population is not growing much so we’ll have to revisit this as the economy bounces back and people are buying downtown.

Music Venue

This month, the city council approved the amphitheater for the lot to the west of the convention center. Wish granted!

24 Hour Food

I’ll quote myself from the post back in January:

My dream would be some kind of diner that is always open, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner 24 hours a day.

It is possible that The Diner could be the one. Internet chatter can’t seem to agree whether it will actually be open for 24 hours or not. Since this place has not opened yet, we’ll wait and see for ourselves.

By the slice pizza and delivery

Sauced opened this year and I’m very satisfied with what they have to offer. Now if we can get delivery or maybe quicker service…you know what I’m not going to ask for too much. Wish granted!

At least one corporate re-location to downtown

I’m not even going to research this one because I am out of touch with the downtown corporate scene. RBC Plaza opened in late 2008 and the bank filled some floors as well as others signing leases in the rest of the building. If anyone can elaborate on the rest of the office space in downtown and how it is fairing, I’m sure readers would appreciate the information.

You could argue that Campbell Law’s move to downtown is similar to a corporate relocation. I’ll take it!

Online Raleigh scene

There have been some new additions to the online blog options this year, most with a very focused topic. There’s still a lacking in podcasting or video but that may take awhile to get going.

What would you like on your 2010 wishlist?

by Leo Suarez

Parking Available At City Plaza?

I took this picture on Saturday while walking on Fayetteville Street and enjoying the great weather. Cars were parking on City Plaza!

The plaza had a little activity that day because of the Home Show that was at the Raleigh Convention Center. Also, the Krispy Kreme was getting some good business and customers were sitting outside on the plaza or playing with the interactive fountain. I’m a big fan of City Plaza and would like to see more urban spaces like it for pedestrians as downtown Raleigh grows. But the fact that cars were parking on this block irked me a little. This should be a space for pedestrians, not cars.

I people watched a little while sitting at one of the several tables that have been put out on the plaza for anyone to use. I guess you could say I was car watching as well. Some cars slowed as if confused, figuring out if they could park here or not. Others parked for two minutes as they ran into Krispy Kreme for a coffee then drove off. Some were there longer then my thirty or so minute stay so its possible they used the spots for long term parking. We asked a group of downtown Raleigh Ambassadors if parking was allowed on the plaza and three of them had no idea and also don’t enforce it. I may be making this a bigger deal then it is but if cars start to park on City Plaza, in my opinion, we have ruined the intent of the entire project.

Now maybe this is a different case because it is a Saturday with slow traffic and no enforcement so why not let a few people park here, right? The work week is much busier and parking on all downtown streets are enforced so City Plaza is kept car free during those hours. I’m assuming this cause I still have not seen it for myself during a weekday. But for those that visit downtown on the weekends and are in town for a convention, why should their visit to the plaza be different?

I’m romanticizing a little and imagine the plaza to be a gathering space for downtown visitors and residents without the parking lot severing the two sides from each other. Some may not mind it but it makes a stronger statement by the city that they back the Livable Streets policy they wanted for Fayetteville Street by prohibiting parking on this block and making pedestrians come first. It may be too early to really criticize as the plaza is still brand spanking new. Either way, I’ll take notice as to how people use the plaza, in and out of their cars.


The area plan calls for forty feet between the row of bollards separating the pedestrian area and the street for cars. This is plenty of space for two way traffic and parallel parking on each side. Was this done on purpose? This may be too much room for a through street. Click for a larger view.

by Leo Suarez

Parking Meters For An Improved Pedestrian Experience

This is the last week to vote in our October Poll about the upcoming parking meters in downtown. Cast your vote in the poll located in the sidebar of the blog.

Parking always seems to be a huge complaint for a number of people who visit downtown Raleigh. I’ve become very interested in the city’s push for new parking meters in select downtown areas. I’ve become even more interested in the reactions out of citizens and how it may change their behavior or view of downtown. Is the city trying to squeeze more money out of current visitors or is the city trying to help boost its economy? Opinions are all over the place on this so I’d like to talk about a few ideas in favor of the parking meters. However, my opinion could change based on how the city plans to use this new revenue stream and what programs they put it toward. In my opinion, I feel that the parking meter revenue, after maintaining itself, should be put back into the sidewalks of downtown Raleigh.

The most used transportation option in downtown Raleigh are the sidewalks. Tens of thousands of people walk on them every day; along Fayetteville Street and from Moore Square to Nash Square. To encourage more foot traffic, attractive sidewalks should be built and maintained in order to encourage businesses to open along the sidewalks where people are walking. If the money from the parking meters were put into creating attractive sidewalks, the business community will take notice. The money should be used to repair cracks, clean the area, plant trees, install bike racks, paint light posts, install attractive lighting, etc. Improving the pedestrian experience will keep people walking around and browsing the many shops and restaurants that downtown has to offer. Fayetteville Street is nice but I’m sure all of you can name a couple of sidewalks that desperately need repair and therefore have no shops near them.

If the city made plans to improve the sidewalks using the parking meter revenue then this strategy would be supported by the business community and the general public. Seeing the money being spent in the sidewalks would please a lot of people because it can easily be tracked. Internet commenters are notorious for accusing the city of keeping similar revenue in a vault somewhere in city hall. All kidding aside, people will support the parking meters more if results are in plain sight, not if the money is spread out between many other public services.

Also, if there were no visual improvements in downtown, then recruiting businesses to sign leases on our numerous empty retail spaces would be even more difficult. This may be the reason that downtown Raleigh lacks a decent supply of outdoor seating or really anything more then just a bunch of tables on the sidewalks. Sidewalks that are clean, maintained, and have an established flow of cash for improvements will tempt developers to invest more in their building and business owners to raise the bar, knowing that their “front lawn” is taken care of.

The end goal is to improve the pedestrian experience in downtown Raleigh. Fayetteville Street had a makeover a few years ago and still looks great. However, the metered zone is well outside the main street and improvements should occur along those sidewalks as well.

by Leo Suarez

Fayetteville Street Art Renaissance?

The News & Observer has an article describing the the new art pieces coming to City Plaza and the ones that will be on display for Raleigh Wide Open 4 this Saturday. Craig Jarvis writes:

The most significant additions will be the unveiling of two new pieces of interactive art and the launching of three new sculptures in City Plaza, all along Fayetteville Street. In addition, a gallery will open in one of the four new pavilions in the new plaza and the latest round of art on the sides of city buses will be exhibited.

If you have been following the Fayetteville Street renaissance throughout the last couple of years, you may have noticed that public art for the street has been proposed a few times, each bringing with it its own drama and controversy.

In 2006, “chandeliers” were proposed for the street but were never approved because of a lack of community acceptance. The vista between the Capitol and the Performing Arts Center was seen as too grand to intrude on and talk of Las Vegas style lighting was frowned upon by the community. The privately funded chandeliers were voted down.

That same year, the Raleigh arts community was deep in another controversy, the Jaume Plensa Plaza proposal for the space that is City Plaza today. In early 2006, reports of his hiring to design a public plaza here in Raleigh were circulating. His design, shown below, for the space was bright with LED lights, moving with a wall of water, and open with a grassy field. Again, the grand vista of Fayetteville Street took priority and after the city council paid to create a mock up to see it for themselves, the project still was not going anywhere. Finally, the generous donation by Jim Goodmon of $2.5 million was pulled and that was the end of that. Read this article for a nice wrapup of the “fiasco”.


Click for larger, via newsobserver.com

Was Raleigh lacking vision in these two situations or does public art not have the support of citizens and therefore turned down because of that non-acceptance? Lots of private funds were being collected for these pieces so use of tax money could not have been the issue here. I’ll admit, I was a huge fan of the Plensa Plaza in its early days but looking back that was only because I supported something new for Raleigh from someone with a big name. But should we really just approve everything that is proposed without taking careful consideration of it? Lots of commenters on this blog say that they are tired of the city council approving every “weak” development project that is presented to them. In my opinion, I now support the the current City Plaza design better then the Plensa Plaza. (even if Jim Goodmon thinks I’m stupid, video below) We all have our different opinions and I respect those that have a valid argument, for or against mine.

The art on City Plaza is a step up from what we had before on Fayetteville Street and the discussion on the “lost opportunity” of the chandeliers and Plensa Plaza could go on forever. Check out the art installations after the grand opening this weekend and make up your own mind.



Durham’s unveiling of Plensa’s light tower for the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) via GinnySkal