Parking downtown really isn't that bad these days with the amount of parking decks they've built over the years. I think the only people that bitch are ones that think walking more than two blocks to get anywhere is a travesty.

8/29/2011 8:15:51 AM

^amen...anyone who complains about parking in raleigh hasn't ever done the big city thing. Tons of decks, tons of spaces, no fines after 5pm and on weekends, and easy to use kiosks all over the place.

8/29/2011 8:51:51 AM

But you didn't address the economy situation.

8/29/2011 9:39:42 AM

Well no shit the economy's bad but it won't stay that way forever. Anyone that thinks downtown Raleigh has ceased developing full stop is a fool.

8/29/2011 10:35:01 AM

They should build a skyscraper for like 200 Ashley Christensen-owned and operated restaurants, supported on the beams of social media commentary and hype.

8/29/2011 11:03:04 AM

How much fun is it to troll lounge threads?

8/29/2011 11:14:33 AM

I was thinking the same thing

8/29/2011 11:28:35 AM

I feel as though I'm the one being trolled.

8/29/2011 12:34:27 PM

Quote :

"They should build a skyscraper for like 200 Ashley Christensen-owned and operated restaurants, supported on the beams of social media commentary and hype."

8/29/2011 5:49:18 PM

^

8/29/2011 6:41:27 PM

The new raleigh AIA building is really starting to look nice, too. Like someone said earlier, I wish I was younger so I could take advantage of all the new growth. When I first moved downtown in 2005 things were just starting to take off and then the economy brought everything to a halt.

Raleigh is waiting to boom again and it will once there is funding available for the projects required for healthy growth. There are a lot of educated people, with refined tastes and plenty of discretionary income who will flock to downtown raleigh for both living and entertainment.

My only true concern is the infrastructure. We need to get roads built right.

8/29/2011 7:12:05 PM

In the long run I think the downturn is good for downtown Raleigh. Compared to other cities on the east coast the cost of living is considerably lower, which will aid growth in this economy.

8/29/2011 7:40:23 PM

Little blurb about the Green Square/NRC Globe:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/08/29/1443777/what-is-it-a-giant-peach.html

8/29/2011 10:19:20 PM

Quote :

"The research center is scheduled to open in April. "

I've been wondering when they were finishing that thing.

8/29/2011 10:23:25 PM

Quote :

"Raleigh is waiting to boom again and it will once there is funding available for the projects required for healthy growth."

Didn't realize you were around for downtown Raleigh's first boom in the early 20th century. I mean, what the fuck is this? Are you some sort of Raleigh Totalitarian?

8/29/2011 11:32:09 PM

But in all seriousness, I think spending 54 million dollars on a revolving planet and a "nature research center" for kids is part of the reason why the state doesn't have any money.

[Edited on August 29, 2011 at 11:38 PM. Reason : f]

8/29/2011 11:35:44 PM

HEAR HEAR! BURN THE MUSEUMS!

8/29/2011 11:46:43 PM

I'm sorry. I take it all back. I'm living such a lie.

...

Look, I could go on about this forever, and it's not going to change the way you love to slob a Raleigh knob, so go ahead.

8/29/2011 11:59:51 PM

Sick burn, brah!

8/30/2011 12:03:12 AM

I guess we shouldn't discuss anything when you get back from a night of cocktails at Beasley's, because I don't even know how to respond now...

8/30/2011 12:07:06 AM

BURN THE RESTAURANTS TOO! THAT'S HOW YOU REDEVELOP DOWNTOWN!

8/30/2011 12:11:19 AM

dude, you can really be insufferable sometimes. i'm not even sure what your rant is directed at. yes the twitter masturbation to AC is annoying. who cares.

8/30/2011 8:26:36 AM

Quote :

"I think spending 54 million dollars on a revolving planet and a "nature research center" for kids is part of the reason why the state doesn't have any money."

Good thing SECU is footing most of the bill for that project.

8/30/2011 8:42:16 AM

demolition of buildings started yesterday at johnston st in glenwood south area.. i had heard there would be a hampton inn going up there, will see.

8/30/2011 9:06:33 AM

Quote :

"Plans for a six-story hotel above shops and restaurants in downtown Raleigh's Glenwood South district are advancing through the city's planning department. Officials say the issue could go to the Planning Commission for approval as early as February. Investors submitted plans for the 126-room Hampton Inn & Suites to the city Nov. 19. Planners scrutinized the plan and asked for revisions, the most significant of which involved changes to a sidewalk in front of the hotel, which would be above the 510 Glenwood building at Glenwood Avenue and Johnson Street. "

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/30/888735/glenwood-south-hotel-advances.html#ixzz1WW9O1Lun

Looks to be the case.

8/30/2011 9:11:56 AM

^^^Where do you see that SECU is funding "the majority" of that 54 mill? I'm getting figures in the $4 mill range, but I can't find any other stuff. Serious question, not trying to troll here.

8/30/2011 10:51:33 AM

I am thinking the $54million is just what the government had to fund for the project. SECUs tower is likely additional cost. (I am guessing 30-40million more/maybe higher I'm not an expert).

Although 54 million isn't all that bad, especially when you consider the new courthouse is around 300 million, and the proposed lightner public safety center was 150-200 million!

8/30/2011 12:15:17 PM

Yeah there's no way that SECU tower is only costing them $4m They had a huge writeup on the project in the N&O awhile back, including how the funding works, but I can't seem to find it

8/30/2011 12:31:58 PM

http://dtraleigh.com/2011/08/triangle-glides-upgrading-their-digs-moves-to-blount-street/

anyone ever taken the segway tour. I think this is the empty space next to El Rodeo.

8/30/2011 1:18:46 PM

I've seen people on the tours but never been on one. Maybe if they do a groupon I'll try it out lol.

8/30/2011 1:29:38 PM

I'd maybe consider taking one if they didn't make you wear a helmet

8/30/2011 1:49:59 PM

the helmet is the reason to take one

duck duck goose

8/30/2011 2:34:26 PM

demo started on Glenwood South hotel

8/30/2011 2:57:52 PM

Chick Fil A at Cameron Village has the metal frame up.

8/30/2011 3:17:17 PM

^i bet that thing will go up fast

^^no matter how much I look at that pic I still can't tell where it's taken from. I need to take a drive down glenwood south on the way to work one day this week.

8/30/2011 9:39:55 PM

Well there's really not much in the way of context clues in that pic. Unless you have an intimate knowledge of specific trees in the area.

8/30/2011 9:44:15 PM

oh, my rant, I guess, would be towards Raleigh, tommy wiseau. Really can't stand the place.

8/31/2011 12:57:52 AM

You should move to Jacksonville, NC. Sounds about more your speed.






Also, delayed reaction to the parking complaints earlier on this page, but really? Downtown Raleigh has probably some of the best city parking anywhere. Tons of parking decks that are often free, tons of street space, well planned out and never completely full. Coming from a small town and not being used to downtown areas, it's been nice not having to get stressed out every time I just want to go out at night.

8/31/2011 11:50:44 AM

better perspective in this one

^and yes...I couldn't agree more. I laugh at people that complain about downtown Raleigh parking, laugh and then get angry as they are the cause of all of our irresponsible sprawl.

8/31/2011 12:07:05 PM

See, this is what I'm talking about. Pretty sure I've just been trolled twice here.

Not gonna to sit here and go through every reason why downtown Raleigh is pretty terrible, but it goes way beyond parking and Ashley Christensen. I'm sorry I mentioned those two things in a, what I'd hoped you'd understand, pretty sarcastic tone, but you go on and enjoy yourself some downtown. Don't really give a fuck.

8/31/2011 12:13:48 PM

I don't really know how it can be classified as terrible. Sure it isn't the best, but I certainly wouldn't call it terrible. Now if we were talking about the downtown Raleigh in the 80s and 90s, I would agree with you 100%.

8/31/2011 12:26:25 PM

^^that was a cop out....please go through every reason, we have the time.

8/31/2011 12:30:23 PM

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/09/01/1451509/red-hats-move-downtown-could-ripple.html

9/1/2011 7:00:55 AM

Quote :

" yes the twitter masturbation to AC is annoying. who cares."

That is hilarity...

9/1/2011 7:15:20 AM

Quote :

"The city sold the Charter Square development group its 1.75-acre site in November 2008, and the group has five years from the sale date to build two towers valued at $100 million. If the group doesn't complete the project within five years, the city must buy back the property. Thanks to a state law passed in 2009, the city can extend the deadline two years until 2015 if necessary. "

wtf. I would hope we'd be buying it for pennies on the dollar since they didn't hold up their end of the deal.

9/1/2011 8:55:42 AM

^I think they would buy it back for market value. Its not as if it will effect the city's balance sheet though, the assumption would be that they would sell it soon after to the highest bidder, its a very desirable location.

and this:

Quote :

"Busy downtown Raleigh streets to be repaved Date: Wednesday, August 31, 2011, 2:50pm EDT NCDOT Secretary Gene Conti has awarded a contract to repave streets in downtown Raleigh. Related News Chris Baysden Web Editor - Triangle Business Journal Email Triangle Grading and Paving Inc. Triangle Grading and Paving Inc. Latest from The Business Journals State awards Triad roadwork contractsDOT awards M in road work deals Follow this company has won a $1.5 million contract to resurface sections of Blount and Person streets in downtown Raleigh. The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced the deal Wednesday, saying that the Burlington-based firm will improve 1.2 miles of both roads between south of Edenton Street and north of Hoke Street. Blount and Person are each one-way streets going in opposite directions and running parallel to each other, one block apart. Because these are busy commuter routes for downtown workers, NCDOT says that there won’t be any lane closures on Monday through Friday between 6 and 9 a.m., and 4 and 7 p.m. Work is expected to begin in about a month. The Blount Street section between Cabarrus Street and Hoke Street is scheduled to be finished by Nov. 22. The remainder of the project will be completed by July 20, 2012. The deal was one of seven contracts totaling $34.5 million awarded by Transportation Secretary Gene Conti for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina. The bids received on the projects awarded came in 6.4 percent, or about $12 million, below NCDOT estimates."

9/1/2011 2:01:24 PM

Quote :

"Blount Street section between Cabarrus Street and Hoke Street"

is like fucking serbia, and has been for years

i assumed they would never repave it unless the neighborhood got gentrified

9/1/2011 2:09:59 PM

Regarding Blount and Person. The streets desperately need the paving, but north of Edenton is IMO worse than south of it and it sounds like they're not going to touch it.

I hope they don't just do the standard "grind the surface and slap down another layer of asphalt." Seriously, the asphalt on that street must be at least two feet thick, and the crowning is so severe that anybody driving a Suzuki Samurai should stay the hell out of the outside lanes, since their vehicle might flip over onto its side.

Really, both streets need to be completley ground up down to the dirt, have their roadbed rebuilt and the old streetcar tracks removed, and then repaved with a nice smoother, flatter surface. Rebuild the curb where needed which is quite a lot, and lastly stripe Person to be TWO lanes instead of three.

9/1/2011 2:30:12 PM

New Turkish restaurant downtown:
http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/turkish-eatery-troy-mezze-spices-up-raleighs-city-market/Content?oid=2645398

9/1/2011 2:56:32 PM

Whoops...

Quote :

"Breaking News: Progress Energy will shift 700 to 1,000 jobs from Raleigh once its merger with Duke Energy is complete, officials said Thursday. "

9/1/2011 3:01:00 PM