by Leo Suarez

Transit And Downtown A Big Topic In The Comprehensive Plan

I’m slowly reading through some of the plan but the quick guides are keeping me busy for now. They help get the idea across pretty easily so I would start with those first. Downtown Raleigh is heavily involved in the document and if all goes according to plan downtown will grow larger and become the transit hub of the region.

Jump right into the online material

I was first interested in the “What will Raleigh look like in 2030 and how will the plan affect me?” guide. Here are some interesting bullet points.

The size of the downtown will grow in size southward toward I-40 with new office buildings, residential buildings, shops, parks and entertainment venues.

Raleigh will have public transit such as high-speed rail, commuter rail, streetcars, bus and express bus routes that connect the entire city and region. Getting around the region without a car will be much easier.

The City will hold itself accountable by updating the public on the plan’s progress annually.

The southward growth of downtown makes sense since I-40 has the heaviest traffic and is probably the easiest route to take when heading downtown. There is also a lot of room along South Saunders for more office and residential towers. I’d like to see the side streets to South Saunders, Hammond, and Wilmington become a north/south grid and extend the current grid of downtown. The side streets can become neighborhoods with mass transit moving along the major roads to move people in and out.

“Getting around the region without a car will be much easier”

What a great quote. If you look at the “What places may change over the next 20 years?” guide, you will see a list of areas that are planning to change as well as some roads that may become huge transit corridors. Downtown is all over this list and many of the roads mentioned go through or near downtown. Connecting these high-growth centers is very important so it is good to see that there are plans for transit between these areas.

The plan does a great job pushing urban values all over Raleigh. It is still important for everyone to realize that it is just a plan or guideline and not what WILL happen in Raleigh’s future. If you support this comprehensive plan, or have any input at all, please leave feedback for the city. The city is taking input through January and only by commenting can we let the city council know what aspects are important for Raleighites. If you support it, so will the city decision-makers.

by Leo Suarez

Planning Raleigh Events

There are two events Wednesday night related to urban revitalization and transportation choices. The first, organized by the Sierra Club, is a showing of the movie “Sprawling from Grace: Driven to Madness” at Colony Theatre from 7-9pm. The second is the City of Raleigh’s open house for the draft Raleigh 2030 Comprehensive Plan at the new Convention Center also from 7-9pm (registration begins at 6:30pm.)

Since both of these events occur at the same time, I would say the movie showing is better for people you know who are more interested in “why” urban planning is important, while the Comprehensive Plan event is better for people who are more interested in “how” urban planning can be improved in Raleigh specifically.

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WED 12/3. 7 – 9pm. Sierra Club sponsored Film Sprawling from Grace: Driven to Madness

Colony Theatre, Six Forks and Millbrook, Raleigh

The film is a documentary feature film about the unintended consequences of suburban sprawl. The suburbs, while being an integral part of our nation’s maturation over the past half-century, contribute substantially to air and water pollution, increasing health risks, and decreasing quality of life. Suburbia has trapped Americans behind the wheels of their automobiles as they commute longer distances to find good paying jobs. Given the inevitable depletion of non-renewable fossil fuels, it’s clear that we will have to find solutions if we want a sustainable future in a post-fossil-fuel world. For more info see http://www.jashaw.com/film.html and http://www.nc.sierraclub.org/capital/

WED 12/3. 7 – 9pm Raleigh Comprehensive Plan Roll Out and Public Meeting

Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh.(Registration begins at 6:30pm)

You are invited to the official release of Raleigh’s updated draft Comprehensive Plan at the Raleigh Convention Center. The program will include short presentations and an open house. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet and talk with members of the City Council, Planning Commission, city planning staff, and other city boards and commissions. The project consultants also will be in attendance. Summaries of key elements of the updated Comprehensive Plan will be available. Important policy maps from the plan will be on display, including a new land use plan. The draft Comprehensive Plan will be available for review and comment both on-line and at City of Raleigh offices and Wake County public libraries. A special website will allow anyone with an internet connection to comment on every policy and action statement in the plan. ( Comments will also be accepted in any form that citizens may wish to use, from letters to phone calls. The comment period will be open from Dec. 1 through Jan. 31, 2009. For more information and to register to attend, see:http://www.planningraleigh2030.com/

Thanks Steven.

by Leo Suarez

Pic of the Week


Pic taken at 7:30 pm.

BB&T, why do you hate downtown? Why can’t you turn on your lights when it gets dark? You spent all that money on upgrading your signage recently and now you want to stay in the shadows while tons of people roam downtown during dinner time. Stop showing up late to the party and flip the switch before the sun sets, ok? Thanks!

(total joke but seriously they kind of do turn the lights on a bit too late)

by Leo Suarez

Another Rooftop Bar For Glenwood South

Last week, the Triangle Business Journal had an article claiming that new restaurants are on the way to Glenwood South. 500 Glenwood Ave., a two story office building, will be getting a makeover and will house three new restaurants. A Carolina Ale house will be thrown onto the roof and Solas’s title of ‘Only Rooftop Bar In Town’ will disappear.

With Ale House and Tobacco Road Sports Café opening up soon, Glenwood South’s sports watching appeal will start increasing. Carolina Ale House has pretty much become the ‘official’ place to watch Hurricanes hockey so perhaps it will help build a fanbase of caniacs around downtown (I usually have to ask for the game rather then it being on by default). Also, Tobacco Road will house a remote broadcasting station for 99.9 The Fan. Live radio broadcasts can draw a crowd especially if local coaches or players are being interviewed.

Lots of room for outdoor seating in the back

by Leo Suarez

Downtown Thoughts Over A Pint

There is an article on WRAL about the predicted population growth of the city. City Planner Mitchell Silver says that downtown should be the central hub of the region.

It’s about choices, and we believe we can capture some of those firms that want to be in an urban setting.

Mitchell Silver

The article also says that for downtown to become a destination it needs an outdoor concert venue, a sports arena, and a better transit system. I have no idea how the city is planning to accomplish this but while they plan it out we can discuss each point for downtown.

The city will have to lure new companies that are outside the typical tech sector that this area is known for. Software and web companies simply need space for cubes and offices but the more high tech companies that are out in RTP need to work in large campuses. They have labs, manufacturing, and other tech that will not work in a high-rise building. From what I can see, the triangle’s reputation as a tech hub does not lead to tall skyscrapers and density. Diversifying Raleigh’s workforce would be key in helping downtown land more companies and, for you skyline freaks, build taller structures.

The outdoor concert venue is planned for the block west of the convention center. The old warehouses were recently torn down to make room for the venue. I have actually changed my thoughts on this topic. I was originally against it because it will be a dead zone for most of the year. However, the large tent that will go here will not be permanent at all. This is actually a good way to use the space until a larger development comes along in the future or the convention center needs to expand. It is kind of a way to save some valuable space for the future.

The sports arena topic is a tough one. In my opinion, we would need another sports team or need to wait awhile for the Hurricanes fanbase to grow. There is no point in replacing the RBC Center so fast, we should wait until it really needs to be demolished. It is only six miles away from downtown, why can’t a clever transit system link the two together? A transit system would be needed IF we built one in downtown so either way, we need to think outside of our cars.

The transit topic is also a hot one. I do not think this is just something for downtown to become a destination but to link all of Raleigh and the triangle together. I’m not going to speculate much on this because of the upcoming Open House for the comprehensive plan. Let’s see what they have to say about this one.

I like to hear about things that are coming downtown that are open all of the time. Not 24 hours a day but things that are accessible almost every day. The Fayetteville St. revitalization or restaurants open seven days a week, right now, contribute so much to downtown and creating its character. An arena or concert venue are ‘planned occasion’ kind of places so they add to my weekends, maybe after work plans but do nothing for me while closed. I’d like to see more examples of ‘always open’ activities; some public art, an urban park on the Dix property, leave the capitol building open for public viewing would be great examples of things to do. I’d also like to see the Raleigh City Museum be open every day with extended hours. I’m sure funding is an issue currently but it could use a little facelift in the near future, especially since the visitor’s center is located here too.

Any thoughts?