by Leo Suarez

City Plaza to crown downtown – Local & State – News & Observer


City officials are also trying to figure out what to do in the near-term with the slab of concrete directly south of the Bank of America building. That is the future site of Charter Square, a two-tower project that has been delayed by the credit crunch…………..

Diaz wants to turn a portion of the Charter Square site into an ice rink for two months this winter. He’s hoping to find corporate sponsorship to cover two-thirds of the cost, a tough task in this economic climate.

via City Plaza to crown downtown – Local & State – News & Observer.

by Leo Suarez

The Forgotten Wayfinding Sign

In the picture above, there is a downtown Raleigh relic. An old sign that has been in its place for many years, standing the test of time. Actually, I have no idea how long this sign has been here but from the looks of it, it was put up long ago and now completely forgotten. I’m talking about the sign on the Capitol Blvd. bridge over Peace St. that can be seen when heading west. It points towards Cameron Village and leads cars in the ‘up’ direction. It is old, rusty, faded and needs to be replaced. It’s too bad we did not get another one along with the many others placed around downtown as part of the wayfinding system. Perhaps no one is heading towards Cameron Village when on Peace St. or maybe we don’t need it at all?

I’m sure many of you have driven under the bridge many times and have never noticed it. Come on, you can admit it.

by Leo Suarez

Pic of the Week

Assembly of the four City Plaza light towers is underway. From the city’s press release:

The 50-foot light towers are the centerpiece art work for City Plaza, that also serve a practical application. Created by renowned Greensboro artist Jim Gallucci, the light towers will allow for varying levels of lights for a myriad of uses in the City’s celebration plaza.

The tower design integrates LED lights, stainless steel oak leaves and a hidden area at the base of the towers that contain electrical panels to be used for various plaza events. The towers also offer a granite bumper seat to accommodate visitors to the plaza in need of a break.

by Leo Suarez

City of Raleigh | Art Will Be Part Of Plaza, RWO4 Celebration


As the City Plaza project nears its completion, three City-commissioned art projects are also being developed. At Tuesday’s Raleigh City Council meeting, Raleigh Arts Commission chair Laura Raynor described each project and said that each work will make a unique mark on Downtown Raleigh, just in time for Raleigh Wide Open 4, Oct. 24

via City of Raleigh | Art Will Be Part Of Plaza, RWO4 Celebration.

by Leo Suarez

Picture: Heck-Andrews House

Heck-Andrews House on Flickr (via DTRaleigh)

Among the first grand residences built in Raleigh after the Civil War, the Heck-Andrews House set the tone for the subsequent development of North Blount Street as an enclave of the well-to-do. Industrialist Jonathan McGee Heck had the towering Second Empire house constructed for his wife Mattie in 1869 on what was then the edge of town.

continue reading at Raleigh: A Capital City | National Park Service