The Raleigh Connoisseur

Urban Design Center Survey For Next Downtown Raleigh Plan

2013-06-13T04:00:39-07:00

I shared this on Twitter recently but wanted to drop it here since the deadline is this weekend. Raleigh’s Urban Design Center (UDC) is conducting a survey. The Downtown Perception survey asks you point blank what do you like about downtown Raleigh and what are ways to improve it. Click the link below to share your thoughts with the city.

The UDC in collaboration with the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) will use the results towards the newest downtown Raleigh plan that should be taking place later this year.

Oh and I guess I can’t forget to mention that respondents who provide their email could also win a $200 downtown gift card. Get your answers in by June 16.

The L Shows Off Updated Renderings

2013-06-06T04:00:25-07:00

There’s lots of momentum behind one of downtown Raleigh’s longest stalled projects and The L may finally break ground.

Above is the latest rendering of The L, not the final but pretty close, and it shows how it will wrap the Wake County parking deck at the corner of Davie and Cabarrus Streets. This mixed-use project will consist of 93 studio, 1, and 2 bedroom apartments and 8,000 square feet of office space above 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail.

Ground breaking is planned for this Fall with a project completion around Fall 2014.

Raleigh Industrial Bank Renovation On Salisbury Street

2013-06-04T04:00:09-07:00

If you haven’t been following along in the news and other blogs, there’s a fantastic building renovation, more like restoration, going on at the intersection of Salisbury and Hargett Streets. The modern facade that glossed over 200 South Salisbury Street is coming down and look what was underneath all this time.

I didn’t have a photo of my own but here’s the Google Streetview image dated April 2012 followed by my own similar view taken in May 2013.

In addition to the corner building there is another smaller one on West Hargett that has been restored, shown in this photo.

What once was a small office building will now have ground floor restaurant space with renovated office space above. Cheers to developer James Goodnight and his team for making this happen in downtown Raleigh.

Pic of the Week

2013-05-31T04:00:13-07:00

The St. Mary’s Square apartments will be partially opening to their first residents this weekend. The entire building should be completed and ready to move-in by mid-August.

City of Raleigh Museum Celebrates 20 Years With Time Warp 2013

2013-05-29T10:52:08-07:00

Last year, the city museum on Fayetteville Street went through a few changes. The Raleigh City Museum is now the City of Raleigh Museum, with a whole new ‘COR’ branding scheme. They are in the process of upgrading and this weekend, the folks behind the COR Museum are having a fundraiser, not just to help pay for future additions but to also celebrate the 20 year anniversary.

If you can make it, it sounds like a great event.

Time Warp 2013

Date/Time: Sat., June 1 2013 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
220 Fayetteville Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
919.996.3775
Buy tickets

From the press release:

The Museum will unveil plans for its new space and programs at Time Warp. Museum staff look forward to inviting the community into an updated space for guided tours, student engagement and private and public events. Last year, over 22,000 people visited the museum or participated in its programs. To continue the effort of engaging the community with Raleigh’s past, present and future, the Museum plans to

Install new interactive physical and digital exhibits over the next two years.
Enhance programming and events for public and community participation including an updated Raleigh Timeline, First Friday features, smart phone scavenger hunts and guided walking tours of the city.
And expand engagement into schools through new elementary and high school educational programs.