The August poll has now come to a close. It looks like the results show that most are in favor of the Moore Square redesign with 65% saying that a facelift is needed. Let’s hope some really creative and unique designs were submitted.
The September poll will be up in a few days.
Along with a couple other site tweaks, I’m also going to have a poll up for readers to participate in. It is displayed on the site’s sidebar so make sure and check back on the current voting progress. I’ll also update everyone with the start and end of a new poll. I plan to do this at most twice a month.
The first question I ask relates to the Moore Square redesign. Its actually a very simple question; do we need to redesign the square at all? Currently, the city is having a design competition where groups will submit their plans for a new Moore Square. Upgrades are great but we first must identify a reason for this redesign. In my opinion, I do not see a problem with the current setup and feel that the real focus should be elsewhere in downtown. However, there is some real talent in this area and if a world class design comes forward, it may be worth considering.
The poll will be open through August 31st so cast your vote and leave your comments below.
In an effort to spruce up the Moore Square area, city officials are considering holding an open competition to solicit design ideas.
Raleigh eyes public competition to revamp Moore Square :: WRAL.com.
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
While downtown Raleigh continues to go through a sort of ‘urban renaissance’, there may be some elements that are overlooked. We all love tall buildings and the convenience of being close to everything but, where in all this density is there any room for parks and open spaces for us to relax in? Moore and Nash square are our tickets for just that, but as downtown changes I believe that the squares need to change as well.
Moore Square
Nash Square
To get more people to spend time inside our open spaces they need to be more inviting and currently Nash and Moore are not quite the best hosts to visitors, Nash especially. At a comprehensive plan presentation I went to a couple weeks ago, they touched on the layout of the two squares. A big detail that was mentioned that I never thought of before was that there are too many trees. Sounds odd right? If you think about it though a public square is more inviting if you can see all the way through it. It is even better if you can see buildings above the trees and street activity while being anywhere inside the space.
I went to visit Philadelphia in March 2007 and when recalling the trip, I remember that we spent some time around Rittenhouse Square, one of the city’s urban parks. (map) It has become one of the city’s most desirable areas and the park is a great example of what Raleigh should strive for. There is a great combination of pedestrian elements, like benches, wide sidewalks, statues, and fountains, mixed with nature. The trees do not overpower visitors or give anyone a slight sense of claustrophobia. Sunlight still comes through during the day while city and building lights brighten the space at night. Here is a picture I took during the trip.
Wintertime, so no leaves, but use your imagination
I really believe that Nash and Moore need to get a haircut. Even with the leaves gone, Nash square is still a rat’s nest of vegetation. The picture above will show you that you cannot see through the square and being inside can feel a bit crowded. Moore square does a better job but could still use some work. This may be a touchy subject but in the end, I believe it will get a lot of support because of the idea of preserving open spaces. Our two downtown spaces need a makeover and I’m not afraid to say it but many branches and some trees may have to get the ax.