by Leo Suarez

Hinsdale Row Nestles Into The Neighborhood

The Hinsdale Row project is on the edge of our downtown but is still important none the less. It borders Glenwood South and if built, will no doubt influence the area around the Peace and Glenwood intersection. For those that like to dive right into a huge pile of details, click here for links on the Glenwood/Brooklyn neighborhood website.

The original plan, according to this presentation, will consist of 29-31 townhouses with pedestrian entrances street side and a garage in the rear. There will be a mix of 2 ½ and 3 ½ story townhouses which will blend in with the surroundings. The Peace St. side will have some retail to stay in tune with the Streetscape Plan. Offices and residential units are planned for the spaces above the retail. The inner space of the block will also have a raised courtyard.

A rezoning proposal on the lots on Hinsdale St. is currently being pursued. If approved, it will allow a reduction of the setbacks. The data is in the presentation, page 14, and clearly shows how this change would continue to blend in with the neighborhood.

More key points to highlight:

  • New sidewalks will be built and trees planted
  • New street lights will be installed, matching the ones currently on Glenwood South
  • Streetscape will also creep down Boylan Ave.
  • There will be no parking in front of buildings on Hinsdale St.
  • Materials will predominantly be brick, no vinyl siding
  • All residents will have a covered porch or entranceway
  • At least 5 commercial spaces will be available

To further the developer’s point that this project will play nice with the neighborhood, two key items were highlighted in the Standards for site plan approval document:

(4) The plan contains adequate measures to mitigate the impact of the development on nearby residential neighborhoods from incompatible characteristics such as:
a. Building scale;
b. Architectural character;
c. landscaping;
d. amount and placement of impervious surfaces;
e. placement of structures and vehicular surface areas; and
f. orientation of uses and entranceways.

(6) The plan provides for a unified development within the site and with adjoining properties when such properties are either:
a. under similar ownership as the site,
b. are being developed in a coordinated manner with the site, or,
c. the site shares a common relationship with the surrounding properties, where establishing similar architectural elements, landscaping, shared access or signage will promote good order, convenience and safety.

So while this project gets tweaked to satisfy the neighborhood and the city council let’s take a look at what is currently on the block. Here is the list of the nine properties that will be affected by this project. I did not see any plans for relocation, sustainable demolition, etc. so their fate is yet to be determined.





I am very impressed with the extreme attention to detail that the developer has taken with making this project blend in with the neighborhood. This is certainly a quality development we have on the horizon.

by Leo Suarez

Site One Is Now Charter Square

I want to link you over to Gogoraleigh’s post about Site One, now called Charter Square. There, you will find a great write up on what is to come on the south end of Fayetteville St.

Please note the label change from Site One to Charter Square.

Along with Gogoraleigh, I want to encourage everyone to check out the other local blogs and websites highlighted in the links section in the right sidebar. Ever since I have started following the Raleigh online scene about three years ago, a lot of good content has come out since then so make sure and support your “other” local media!

by Leo Suarez

St. Paddy’s Day in DTR

The St. Patrick’s Day events this past Saturday were very entertaining. The temperature was great but some rain in the late afternoon made it quite ‘salty’ outside. I was out all day and was able to see most that downtown had to offer. Today is officially the day but anyone would have been convinced that Saturday was it. I’ll see you at the pub tonight!


2008 Downtown Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade from Leo on Vimeo.
by Leo Suarez

Murals In Downtown

Do you like murals? Downtown Raleigh has a couple that most visitors overlook. I want to highlight them so that next time you are close, you might remember to walk a block over and take a look at the cool building art. Click on the pics below to get a larger view and go here for a map.

Two Butterflies

You can find the two huge butterflies plastered on a white wall across the street from Café Luna and Marbles Museum. Head toward the intersection of Blount and Hargett St. to see it.

Lincoln in a Lincoln

It is very appropriate for this mural of Abe in a Lincoln car to be on the side of Lincoln Theatre. Drive safe and twist that rubber neck of yours to the right when driving on Wilmington St. before Cabaruss St.

Johnson St. mural

I’m not quite sure how to name this one. I guess it is open for your interpretation. You can find this one on Johnson St, across from Hi 5.

Farmer’s Market

This mural on the edge of City Market looks like a tribute to the farmer’s market. Notice the faces drawn into the fruits and vegetables. Go to the lot at the intersection of Davie and Person St.

Last, I want to show a spot that I think needs a mural. It is the 222 Glenwood parking deck. The blank wall facing Jones St. desperately needs some color.

by Leo Suarez

I’m Declaring The Glen On Peace Project Dead

For all of those who have been waiting for the glenonpeace.com domain to free up, now is your chance to buy it. I also think Network Solutions needs to re-do their search algorithms.

Their website is gone and with absolutely no announcements or signs of progress I declare this project dead. Does anyone think this may be coming back? Have some info that I do not? This boring 18 condo project is really not much of a loss and something better could occupy that space.

by Leo Suarez

Triangle Segway Moving Into City Market

This was an interesting find. Thanks goes out to Ginny From The Blog, a fellow blogeague, for letting me use her camera that night.

It looks like a Segway shop is opening up in City Market. I’ve seen similar shops in urban areas around the country and their main service is to rent out these two-wheeled contraptions. There currently are officers on segways in downtown and you can usually see them during large events. Are these the replacements for the horses?

I have never ridden one but I’m sure curiosity will take over, especially on a nice spring day, and I’ll give one a ride. Maybe one day we’ll have downtown segway tours like the one I saw in Washington DC.