by Leo Suarez

Moore Square Redesign Chugs Along Towards Construction

Views across Moore Square from the northeast

Views across Moore Square from the northeast

It has certainly been quite a few years in the making but while the movement may be slow, it’s always forward on this project. The design around a new Moore Square should be at around 40% in March of this year with construction starting this summer.

In December of 2015, the 15% schematic design was presented to council and approval was given to start permitting and getting construction documents made. Screenshots in this post are from that 15% design with the full document available on the city’s website.

Views across Moore Square to the northeast

Views across Moore Square to the northeast

For those that are not aware, Moore Square falls into the State’s territory so they need to give the nod before Raleigh goes ahead with their plans. All seems positive as earlier this year the North Carolina Council of State approved a partnership with the city.

As part of Governor Pat McCrory’s “Project Phoenix” initiative, the North Carolina Council of State has approved a partnership with the City of Raleigh to improve Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. While the State of North Carolina owns the property, the City of Raleigh is responsible for its upkeep. In recent years, the park has been in need of improvements, and today’s vote will start the process for that to happen.

*Improvements to Raleigh’s Moore Square Approved as Part of Governor McCrory’s Project Phoenix Initiative

We should also see strong commitment from our council on getting this project done as it was a major work item from their latest retreat.

Current plan

Current plan. Click for larger.

Even with much discussion, discussion against in my opinion, the presence of the kiosk and restrooms are still shown here in the square designs. (which this blogger supports) The location has changed slightly and the new building incorporates both amenities in a smaller footprint versus the former plan.

Expect the new Moore Square to open in Summer/Fall 2017. Will Moore Square continue to house the giant acorn? That is yet to be determined.

by Leo Suarez

Pic of the Week

This past weekend, the Levin-Tarlton house was moved from it’s home at 208 North Harrington Street to it’s new home at 414 New Bern Avenue. The good folks at Monarch Property Co. were behind the move. This makes way for the upcoming Greyhound Apartments that are planned for the Harrington Street site.

Below, I’ve embedded some of the Instagram videos from the move taken by Monarch that I thought were very shareworthy. Enjoy!

 

Round Two.

A video posted by Jason Queen (@monarchpropco) on


The Levin-Tarlton house is moved in front of the North Carolina Legislature. Source.

 

Almost there!

A video posted by Jason Queen (@monarchpropco) on


The Levin-Tarlton house is moved down Morgan Street. Source.

 

New home for an old house. Welcome home!

A video posted by Jason Queen (@monarchpropco) on


The Levin-Tarlton house is backed into its new home on New Bern Avenue. Source.

by Leo Suarez

Council Discusses Bikeshare in Raleigh

Denver Bike Share Station by David McSpadden

Denver Bike Share Station by Mikeshoup

During last week’s city council meeting, discussions about a possible bike share system in Raleigh took place. A presentation by Eric Lamb, the Transportation Planning Manager, took the council through a brief recap of what has been done so far, for the benefit of the newer council members, and where we stand today. The presentation and council discussion can be seen in the video below.


If the embedded video does not load for you, see it here.

No decision was made and the converation will continue at a March 15 work session.

The scenario we’re in includes an April 1, 2016 deadline to accept a federal grant. The council just needs to endorse accepting it as the grant is approved and ready to go. The grant would cover $1.6 million of the $2 million total cost to launch the proposed bike share system.

Covering the rest of the cost as well as annual maintenance could be covered by interested sponsors but that isn’t set in stone. This is where the council, with the exception of a minority of members, have expressed concern.

Councilors Thompson, Crowder, and Cox seem to be most concerned about operating costs and that accepting this grant puts the city on the hook for propping up the bike share system.

Crowder states “I don’t want the city to be in the bike business.” She used Seattle as an example where the local bike share system is asking for the City of Seattle to bail them out.

Councilor Gaylord stated that there was local interest to help sponsor the system. He’s worked to get this lined up and the totals from the private sector could be around $250,000 annually. The only companies that have publicly come out to support the bike share system were Citrix and Rex Healthcare.

The proposed system does not have station locations set yet but would include 30 stations between the neighborhoods around Downtown, NC State, and the NC Museum of Art. The recommended plan was done in 2014, before the Dix Park deal so reevaluating a few stations may take place.

For me, I’m torn with my support with bike share.

On one hand, I want Raleigh to roll out this 30 station system, no less. With 80% of the launch cost covered by a federal grant and a good portion of the operating cost covered by private companies, I feel it is worth investing in and seeing if it sticks.

There’s so much talk of transit going on right now and I disagree with Councilor Crowder’s statement. The city IS in the bike business only it’s called something different.

The city is in the mobility business. The city does have an interest in allowing people to move around our city in the healthiest, safest, easiest way possible. A bike share system today could expand in the future creating more trips that support sustainable neighborhoods and communities.

Then, the other side of me kicks in.

We do have quite a bit of projects going on. I want to see the city get Dix Park right. I want to see them get this Transit Referendum passed this year. I want to see Union Station become a great success. I want to see the expansion of the bicycle network. Aren’t these projects predecessors for a bike share system?

A part of me wants to see transit, the network, and downtown become a little more mature before we try this bike share.

In the end though, perhaps juggling even more projects at the same time is how a bigger city operates. The city did in fact pay a consultant that told us a bike share system in Raleigh is feasible. Plus, it is a recommended action item in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan.

I’d like to see us take that risk. If it doesn’t work, lesson learned and move on.

by Leo Suarez

Downtown’s Premier Smartphone App is Ready for Download

(If you can’t see the embedded video, click here.)

This week, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance has launched a smartphone app for Downtown Raleigh. It is ready for your consumption on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

The app brings together a variety of features. In addition to listing downtown retail and restaurants, the app is helpful in navigation. The app is one of the best guides on parking and getting directions to and from destinations. It can also alert you about street closures.

This is fantastic to see in the wild and I hope it becomes a companion to all downtowners and visitors.

by Leo Suarez

Pic of the Week

The Gramercy Apartments February 2016

The Gramercy Apartments in Glenwood South is taking shape for their projected Spring 2016 opening. There isn’t much info posted yet but their website, as of today, allows you to sign up for future emails.

It’s not confirmed but I’m putting my money that the reported Glenwood South pharmacy (see tweet below or here if you can’t see it) is going here. Just a guess though.


by Leo Suarez

GoRaleigh Station Renovation Groundbreaking on Feb. 19

From my inbox to yours.

Mayor Nancy McFarlane is the featured speaker for the GoRaleigh Station renovation groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19, at Moore Square Transit Mall, 214 S. Blount St. She will be joined by City Council member Corey Branch who is also the Raleigh Transit Authority’s Council liaison, and by Raleigh Transit Authority Chairman Jason Horne.

Formerly named Moore Square Station, the GoRaleigh Station renovation is scheduled to take nine to 12 months to complete. Renovations will improve the transit experience for riders in several ways, including expanded passenger waiting areas; new restroom facilities; a new information booth; Wi-Fi; real time passenger information; aesthetic improvements to the reconstructed courtyard and more. Visuals will be on-site to display the final project.

The new GoRaleigh station will be reflective of the new GoRaleigh brand. The goal is to enhance the future of transit in Raleigh and the Triangle by building a positive impression, not only with daily riders and commuters, but with the many visitors who frequent the city.

*Mayor McFarlane to Kick-off GoRaleigh Station Renovation Groundbreaking on Feb. 19

by Leo Suarez

Chavis Park Master Plan Meeting on February 16

Downtown Raleigh and Chavis Park, photo by Lift Aerial

Downtown Raleigh and Chavis Park, photo by Lift Aerial

One could argue that Chavis Park is basically downtown Raleigh’s main park. A new master plan for the historic park that sits to the southeast of the city’s center has been in the works for most of last year and the final meeting on the phase 1 improvements is next week.

Park development steps, beginning with Phase 1 design plans, will be underway in the summer of 2016 when there will be a follow-up public review session. Construction documentation, engineering, and permitting, will then follow, preparing for Phase 1 construction in late 2017.

We’ll take a look at John Chavis Memorial Park and how it currently ties into the fabric of downtown later but to dive into it now, take a look at these links and get over to the meeting.

  • John Chavis Memorial Park Master Plan Implementation
  • John Chavis Memorial Park Master Plan Strategic Implementation Study
John Chavis Memorial Park Master Plan Implementation

Date/Time: Tuesday, February 16 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
3:30 pm Presentation* 4-6:30 pm Open House 6:30 pm Presentation (repeated)*
*The presentations at 3:30 and 6:30 will be the same, so you can choose which works best for your schedule.
John Chavis Community Center
505 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Raleigh, NC 27601

by Leo Suarez

Winter 2016 Restaurant Roundup

Provenance

Peaking through the window at Provenance

For a complete list of eats, drinks, and coffees in and around downtown, make sure to bookmark the DT Eats page. Try something new!

  • We’ll start in Glenwood South where Lou Moshakos’s Mediterranean restaurant, called Vidrio, is still being worked on. I saw that they planned for an early 2016 opening so perhaps they will announce an opening soon. It’ll be located at the corner of Tucker Street and Glenwood, underneath the Carolina Ale House.
  • Work continues on the brewery and market concept, called Little City Brewing and Provisions Company, coming to the West building. The new restaurant is located at the corner of West and Harrington and is being done by those behind The Level Up Kitchen and Linus and Pepper’s.
  • more. kitchen & bar has now opened on West Street in the former Mantra location.
  • The second location of My Way Tavern is now open where Ciago’s was formerly located on St. Mary’s Street.
  • Crisp Bar and Restaurant is now open in the 222 Building. They took over the two spaces where Zaky and Tutti Frutti used to be.
  • In the 510 building, Big Boom closed but quickly reopened as the 510 Tavern.
  • Café Helios has reopened under new ownership and with new style. It’s located in the same building along Glenwood.
  • Napper Tandy’s has changed over to Tremor Bar and Grill
  • Babylon has sort of split inside of themselves between two new menus that is worth mentioning. Inside, there will be Moroccan style food and outside, a menu with more casual Mediterranean dishes will be served. Expect this to be official in the next month or two.
  • Dram and Draught on Hillsborough Street got their permits recently to continue working on the new pub. You can follow their progress through their Facebook page.
  • Jumping over to Fayetteville Street, there isn’t much work taking place for Haymaker, a bar in the Charter Square south tower.
  • The other space inside Charter Square will be a B Good restaurant which looks to be in the middle of their construction phase.
  • Plans for a taco shop called Virgil’s Original Taqueria will be coming to Salisbury Street in the building where The Level Up Kitchen and Linus and Pepper’s is located.
  • ZPizza has added self-pour beer taps.
  • Raleigh Raw wants to open up a cafe at 7 West Hargett Street and according to their recently completed Kickstarter they should open this month. (if on schedule) The new cafe will offer “healthy grab and go food, local organic coffee, kombucha and smoothies.”
  • The Hive was closed but quickly turned over to become Mash and Lauter, a Belgian beer bar, that is now open.
  • Pizza Guerra is planned for the space next to Fox Lounge. If you ever went to Bella Mia in Cary, this place is by the same folks.
  • Near Moore Square, Provenance has removed the paper window coverings and could open very soon. They are located in the Skyhouse Apartments building.
  • Nearby in the same building, the Larry’s Beans shop and Oak City Market, run by Taz, are still being worked on.
  • Tir Na Nog has closed but out of it the folks behind Bida Manda plan to open Plenty. This will incorporate a mix of uses including a Brewery, Dim Sum, florist shop and bookstore. We hope to see some of the doors open this summer.
  • I heard that Rum Runners serves food now. The menu was made by Brian Battistella whose restaurant nearby was closed recently.
  • According to a line in the posted permit in the former Zydeco space, a bakery could be being worked on here. There’s still a lot of work to be done in this space.
  • Over in the warehouse district, the art and wine bar called Vita Vite is now open.
  • A night club called Venū has opened at the end of West Street.
  • The Borough has closed and will become Hadley’s, a 1920s-inspired restaurant. This is by the same folks behind Dram and Draught.
  • Heading north, a brewpub called Oak & Dagger Public House is planned to take over the former Tyler’s space in Seaboard Station. In addition to the pub, the bottle shop will also be reopened.
  • Until then, you can go to Pelagic Beer and Wine for your bottle needs. They opened recently on Pace Street.