by Leo Suarez

Pencil In Full Funding For Safety Center

On Tuesday, May 20th, city manager Russell Allen proposed his budget for fiscal year 2008-2009. The entire proposal with details can be read here. There are some elements to the budget that affect downtown Raleigh and one of the major ones was for full funding on the Clarence Lightner Public Safety Center. There are other projects listed but the safety center is planned to gobble up $226.1 million over the next five years. The addition of more space and consolidation of current safety related services can only be a good thing for the city.

The new tower will sit on the corner of McDowell and Hargett St. This will require the demolition of the current Raleigh Police Department. We are getting a major upgrade and what should be a building built right up to the sidewalk compared to the current building with parking out front. Little details have popped up but this is from an older RalCon post:

The 15-story, 260,000-square-foot facility will enhance the City’s ability to consolidate public safety operations and other local government offices and functions at one location, including the City’s police and fire departments. The public safety center is named in honor of Clarence E. Lightner, who served as mayor of Raleigh from 1973-75.



15 stories will easily fill this gap.

by Leo Suarez

Moore Square Movies

Just like last year, Moore Square will be the stage for a handful of cinematic experiences this summer. When the sun sets, bring your favorite lounge chair or blanket to this free event. You can look forward to a new movie every other Saturday. Here are the movie listings and dates.

June 7: “Alvin and the Chipmunks”
June 21: “Shrek the Third”
July 5: “Close Encounters”
July 19: “Charlie Wilson’s War”
August 2: “The Bourne Identity”
August 16: “Bucket List”
August 30: “Nims Island”
September 6: “Transformers”

Event website via Downtown Raleigh Alliance

by Leo Suarez

Support Your Local Music


Chris Suiter playing Sunday night at The Hibernian

Downtown weekend activity has been soaring. It feels like there are more events going on now that the weather has been playing nicely. It might be safe to say that we can expect a sizeable event every Saturday from here on out until the temperature starts going down this winter. This means more traffic and more people walking around. No doubt we all love the weekend, but there are also pockets of activity forming during the week. I think the music scene goes hand in hand with these weekday gatherings at the bar or at your local venue.

I want to ask the community what their favorite spot for weekday music is in downtown and get conversation going on the topic. Do you like seeing an acoustic cover act at the pub or a local band create chaos on stage? Is there not enough of it downtown?

Comment.

by Leo Suarez

BeerCon: Alibi Bar

Alibi is a cool, hidden spot that is truly just around the corner. The downstairs bar has set its ways underneath the future Martin St. Pizza and former Downtown Events Center. All the beverage essentials are served here so the party never stops. Alibi is a reliable bar and you can always count on them being open until 2 am. Stop by with a group and open ears because you’ll be sure to hear something new through the speakers when you go.

Pool table
Darts
No TV’s
No wifi
No BS

Website: http://www.myspace.com/alibibarraleigh

14 W Martin St
Raleigh, NC 27601

(919) 834-4792

by Leo Suarez

RBC Deck Update

While we’ve all been watching the crown and spire rise up on RBC Plaza, its parking deck accomplice has been slowly cleaning up. On Blount St., the sidewalk should open up soon as brick and concrete have been laid. There are still more touches needed to the façade but for the most part, we can see what this end will look like. The Wilmington St. side needs a little more work as the façade is still bare and the sidewalk is all clay with a huge hole in one area.

It looks like each side mirrors the other. There is space for one, maybe two retail spaces on each end. This is sandwiched in between the entrance/exit for cars and the stairwell/elevators.

Blount St.

Wilmington St.