http://www.innovationraleigh.com/go/index.php/blogging/279-two-triangle-startup-spaces-announce-expansions-in-raleigh

American Underground and HQ Raleigh (formerly the Hub) both announce downtown expansions today.

8/7/2013 7:45:27 PM

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/morning_call/2013/08/two-downtown-raleigh-streets-to-get.html

City to do some work on Blount/Person streets

8/12/2013 8:50:56 AM

Widen travel lanes AND add sidewalk space? What're they gonna do, knock down Marbles?

8/15/2013 2:38:34 AM

they already have a sidewalk in that part

8/15/2013 9:12:58 AM

The full plan is here and it is an excellent document: http://www.raleighnc.gov/content/PlanUrbanDesign/Documents/BlountPerson/BlountPersonPRD.pdf I know a few folks from one of the firms that had a hand in this and they do outstanding work.

There is no lane widening that I can see. Most of the changes involve reducing the number of lanes, adding center turn lanes, bike lanes, better defining the travel lanes and parking lanes with striping, etc.



[Edited on August 15, 2013 at 11:23 AM. Reason : .]

8/15/2013 11:21:59 AM

the sidewalks was the potential phase 2

8/15/2013 11:32:58 AM

I really hope the use of roundabouts continues. It's unique and good for traffic.

8/15/2013 1:54:50 PM

Roundabouts aren't really unique in the global sense, but they are a far superior intersection design and have the ability to add to the overall aesthetic of the roadway.

But yes, more roundabouts please!

8/15/2013 8:47:50 PM

Quote :

" -Downtown Raleigh’s The Rockford, is new...and expanded...and the same (thank goodness!). After closing in early July for much needed renovations, the popular downtown destination opened again last week with a larger kitchen and other improvements, but also holding onto what folks love so much about “The Rock.” -It was announced last week that Ashley Christensen’s newest venture and the much-anticipated Joule Coffee (which is in the former Wilmoore Café spot at 223 S. Wilmington Street) will swing open their doors on August 28th. Check out all of Ashley's restaurants here. -Both New Raleigh and Triangle Explorer turned me onto the fact that a new bakery is just days away from opening in downtown Raleigh. It looks like Yellow Dog Bakery (to be located at 219 E. Franklin Street) will be churning out handmade artisan breads and southern influenced pastries. There was a hint on Facebook that they may be opening around August 19th. We’ll keep an eye on it, but check them out here. -New Raleigh reported last week that the former Ruben’s Downtown location (100 N. Person Street) will become a taqueria. While still a rumor, it seems to be pretty solid. We’ll keep up with this as it unfolds -The first is a closing, and a reopening. After a nine-year run, Zely & Ritz on Glenwood South in downtown Raleigh is closing. That is the bad news. The good news is that they sold the restaurant to Steve Day, a former banquet chef at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. He plans to open Plates by early October. -The second is a closing and a reopening as well. We learned this week that jibarra, a Mexican restaurant on Davie Street in downtown Raleigh, will have one last week (next week) of operation, before they close with plans to reopen in September with a new concept dedicated to their father, Jose. We’ll keep an eye on it, but get out to Jibarra next week! Check them out here. -The fifth annual Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week will happen next week - August 19-25th. Plan your outings for next week now! And get reservations! You know the drill by now, but in case you forgot or are new to this event, restaurants feature 3 course prix-fixe dinners for $20 or $30 all week. It is a great chance to check out some new restaurants, or visit your old favorite! Check out their new site here for all the details. -Here is an event you probably want to get on your calendar - the Wide Open Bluegrass festival September 27 & 28 at Raleigh's Red Hat Amphitheater. In addition to the amazing music line-up (with Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickel) there is a massive two-day street festival which will be highlighted by the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship. Get all the details here."

http://trianglefoodguy.blogspot.com/2013/08/friday-fun-food-facts-august-16-2013.html

8/16/2013 9:10:55 AM

Quote :

"Widen travel lanes AND add sidewalk space? What're they gonna do, knock down Marbles?"

Maybe they're going to make it two slightly wider lanes instead of 3 narrow ones?

[Edited on August 16, 2013 at 10:58 AM. Reason : nm I'm too slow]

8/16/2013 10:57:56 AM

I missed this

Quote :

"As for the parking space comment, the average cost of a surface level parking space is anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000 per space. A parklet is often as simple as a raised platform with some tables and chairs and maybe a planter or two on it. "

My understanding of parklets are they are semi-permanant. They are placed on in-tact parkings spaces, and removed if there is a need for it to be (security, snow removal, street festivals, other special events). The parking space is already there.

8/16/2013 5:29:34 PM

Lots of downtown raleigh-centric news today:

Quote :

"After a 10 year run, Porter’s City Tavern on Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street has been sold and will reopen as an Irish pub called McDaid’s. This will be the newest venture by Robert Beebe who is a partner in the two locations of Trali (Raleigh & Morrisville) as well as Doolin’s in Durham. Beebe plans to keep much of the Porter’s menu (and key staff) but will add a few Irish dishes. Look for a mid-September opening. Look for Ashley Christensen’s newest venture and the much-anticipated Joule Coffee (which is in the former Wilmoore Café spot at 223 S. Wilmington Street) to swing open their doors next Wednesday, August 28th. Check out all of Ashley’s restaurants here. We got word this week that Yellow Dog Bakery which will be located at 219 E. Franklin Street (think handmade artisan breads and southern influenced pastries) will “officially” open on August 26th and will hold their grand opening on Sept. 6th from 6-9 p.m. Get all the details on Facebook here. Keeping with the good news coming out of downtown Raleigh, we were excited to learn from the N&O that the lease of the Wilmington Street location of Pop Up Ice Cream Parlour has been extended (originally to end at the end of this month) until the end of October. Bring on the pumpkin spice ice cream! And speaking of Pop Up Ice Cream Palour, they have just launched a kick-starter campaign to secure funding for a more permanent location. Get all the details and support them here. The N&O is also reporting that the Berkeley Café will close on October 1 for a three-month renovation that will expand the kitchen and add an outdoor patio, among other things. We will let you know when the plan on reopening (right now, looking at early January). Check them out here. Got a note this week from Charlie Ibarra confirming that Jibarra will close this Sunday and will reopen Sept. 2 as Jose and Sons, a Mexican restaurant with a Southern twist. They are located at 327 W. Davie Street. Got word this week from Craig Heffley that he will be bringing his popular Durham store concept of Wine Authorities to Raleigh and opening a second location. The new store will be located in downtown Raleigh’s Person Street Plaza, a new development at 211 E. Franklin St. Look for a fall opening. We will keep you posted. Get a peek at his Durham store here. Well this is interesting, but not terribly surprising. According to the N&O, downtown Raleigh’s two “clubs” are coming together as one club, with one location. The Capital City Club (top of the Progress Energy building) will close and the Cardinal Club (top of the Wells Fargo building) will expand. The $2 million renovation will be complete next June. Until then, both clubs will continue to operate. No name for the new club has been announced. We are lobbying for the Oak City Club. "

http://trianglefoodguy.blogspot.com/

8/23/2013 9:11:12 AM

oh they back

8/23/2013 11:10:19 PM

^ Ugh.. those damn digital signs are so blinding at night. I hate everything about them.

8/24/2013 9:31:56 AM

This article is getting a lot of shares:

http://lovewins.info/2013/08/feeding-homeless-apparently-illegal-in-raleigh-nc/

Frankly, I don't know much about the recent laws that were passed relating to Moore Square. This comment on /r/Raleigh makes it seem like this came as a result of local complaints:

Quote :

"This is in place because the residents and businesses around Moore Square got fed up with Moore Square being the city's homeless services park. If they want to help the homeless, they can draw the homeless to the parks in their own neighborhoods and quit abusing Moore Square and its non-homeless residents. People want to come to Moore Square, feel good about themselves for a couple of hours, and then leave. They have no interest in what happens after they have attracted the city's homeless to Moore Square/City Market as the homeless then fan out to the neighborhood's businesses to panhandle. Scores of wasted and unstable homeless people are then free to harass businesses, patrons and residents. One of the things about existing homeless shelters is that services are provided only if their patrons are sober and off the street by 10pm. Free-for-all feedings in Moore Square breaks what is a well functioning system that actually helps address homelessness beyond a no-strings-attached food drive. Furthermore, these groups are more interested in themselves and their pet projects and have zero interest in the impact on the neighborhood, it's businesses, their employees and patrons and residents and what is essentially an unusable park. Prior to the long awaited renovation of Moore Square, rules had to be made to reclaim the park for residents and visitors, lest the city pour money into the renovation only to spruce it up for homeless people. Feel free to host any of these types of events in any other park in the city, but as a resident, we've been forced to bear the brunt of homeless services for 20 years. This law was made because many people think that it is someone elses turn."

Replies/context: http://www.reddit.com/r/raleigh/comments/1l0v91/feeding_homeless_apparently_illegal_in_raleigh_nc/cbumvsl

8/25/2013 12:34:06 PM

I'm sure those same people have been complaining for 20 years and the local government didn't give a shit. I'd bet this is more about the big $$$ some people are going to make when Moore Square development/improvement happens. Can't sell/rent luxury condos if there are 100 homeless people running around your front door.

8/25/2013 12:40:56 PM

http://www.indyweek.com/citizen/archives/2013/08/25/feeding-the-homeless-in-moore-square-barred-by-raleigh-cops-mayor-and-council-scrambling-to-find-out-why

Quote :

"Everyone wants to know why the Raleigh City Council is doing this. The short answer is, this is the Raleigh city administration at work, not the Council. Right now, Council members and Mayor McFarlane are working the phones trying to figure out what the administration is doing .. and why."

Quote :

"On the Moore Square/food distribution issue, I just spoke with Mayor Nancy McFarlane and have been in contact with other City Council members as well. (Mary-Ann Baldwin, Russ Stephenson, Bonner Gaylord, Thomas Crowder.) They're all scrambling to get information about why the police are suddenly barring church groups from giving out food to the homeless. There's more than one side to this — and meetings have been going on about it for some time between city agencies and the churches — but without the Council's involvement or, apparently, awareness. (It's yet another example of a part-time council trying to oversee a city administration that doesn't really welcome oversight.)"

8/25/2013 4:49:25 PM

There's a whole thread about that issue: message_topic.aspx?topic=638620

8/25/2013 5:30:22 PM

i just noticed that there is a subway at the belltower roundabout

8/25/2013 7:06:33 PM

Wrong thread, amac

http://www.brentroad.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=416339

8/26/2013 6:57:19 AM

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2013/08/why-this-man-is-betting-40-million-on.html

8/26/2013 9:56:33 AM

http://www.wral.com/review-jimmy-v-s-osteria-and-bar/12823945/

8/28/2013 11:31:14 AM

^nice! has the sheraton finished the rest of their renovations? were they renovating rooms or just the bottom floor/hospitality/event space?

Also, speaking of hotels...anyone know anyting about the Clarion renovation?

8/28/2013 1:18:21 PM

Also: joule coffee is open/details online at ac-restaurants.com

http://www.ac-restaurants.com/joule/

8/28/2013 1:25:48 PM

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/09/04/3163641/raleigh-gets-10-million-federal.html

9/4/2013 3:04:10 PM

[Edited on September 11, 2013 at 9:06 PM. Reason : .]

9/11/2013 9:04:27 PM

the worst filter on Instagram

but seriously, the new Hibernian looks super nice

9/11/2013 10:54:16 PM

^agreed, not my instagram "doings" just thought it was cool to see the reinforcemnts for the rooftop deck/addition going in

9/12/2013 5:44:14 PM

I want to know how the jimmy vs place "has a menu inspired by Jim valvano".... what the fuck foes that even mean.

9/12/2013 9:50:36 PM

I think it's really large portions of whatever you order and its on the house if you never give up.

9/13/2013 12:01:57 AM

Lol

9/13/2013 9:46:04 AM

DWI squad will focus on downtown Raleigh

Quote :

"Starting next month, folks in downtown Raleigh who have had one drink too many should think twice before getting behind the wheel: Raleigh police plan to deploy a squad of officers whose sole purpose is to detect and arrest impaired drivers in the city, particularly downtown. The Raleigh Police Department will soon receive a $525,270 federal grant for DWI enforcement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The cash will fund the creation of a unit that will include four officers and one sergeant outfitted with new vehicles, uniforms and portable breath testers. Federal money also will pay for salaries, training and additional equipment for three additional years, police spokesman Jim Sughrue said."

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/09/11/3186571/raleigh-police-dwi-squad-may-be.html

[Edited on September 13, 2013 at 8:05 PM. Reason : ]

9/13/2013 8:05:12 PM

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2013/09/16/city-of-raleigh-gets-another-55m-for.html

9/16/2013 6:10:31 PM

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2013/09/17/the-high-rises-that-werent-raleigh.html

1/2 of the original Charter Square parcel to start construction in November (11 story building) with 1/2 bought back by the C.O.R. Hopefully someone comes forward with a solid proposal...would suck to see this parcel turn into a 4 story apartment complex.

9/18/2013 10:25:28 AM

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2013/09/30/raleigh-union-station-project-gets-15.html

Time to start the thing already!!!

9/30/2013 5:43:42 PM

I am guessing this is a portion of the defunct Blount St. Commons projects. Sounds like more apartments for downtown raleigh. If this keeps up, 90% of downtown residents will be renters.

Quote :

"A 2-acre site on the north side of downtown Raleigh has been sold to a South Carolina firm planning a multimillion-dollar apartment project near the North Carolina chapter headquarters of the American Institute of Architects. Greystone Real Estate Partners of Charleston, S.C., paid $4.7 million for the land, according to Wake County deed records, but site plans for the project have not yet been filed with the city. Greystone purchased the land from LNR Property Corp., which had owned the land since 2008 when it was purchased from the state as part of the Blount Street Commons redevelopment project. LNR in 2011 started marketing the land for multifamily development. According to a proposal that was circulating at the time, the property had been conceptually designed for 186 units, although density up to 495 units could be achieved by transferring units from other parts of the Blount Street Commons property. The proposal didn’t list a price for the land, but Wake County tax records value the site at $2.4 million. Greystar was also the developer of the 328-unit Artisan at Brightleaf apartment community that opened in 2012 on U.S. 70 in east Durham and was sold in July to an investor group from Los Angeles for $43.8 million, or $133,536 per unit. Greystar continues to manage the Brightleaf property. The downtown Raleigh project will likely be designed up to the standards of the Artisan at Brightleaf, which falls under Greystone’s luxury-style Elan brand. Greystone has built – or has plans to build – more than 20 Elan apartment communities in 12 states, so far. "

10/1/2013 9:10:12 AM

so how long will that new record store next to the Borough last?

3 weeks?

10/1/2013 11:24:08 AM

i'll give it 4...minutes

10/1/2013 10:36:46 PM

Charlotte official named Raleigh city manager
http://www.wral.com/charlotte-official-named-raleigh-city-manager/12958839/

Well, so much for downtown Raleigh revitalization.

10/4/2013 1:03:07 PM

WNF IV is not amused

10/4/2013 1:14:15 PM

If you want to be a part of the Blount / Person area improvements you could buy my house. Free DTR sticker included if I can figure out where people get them.

Keep the revitalization going and all. I'm sure there's a grant or something for that sort of thing.

39 infill net zero (supposedly) houses going in across the street starting next year in "Oakwood North." Buy now before the suckers drive up the prices.

10/5/2013 1:43:27 AM

We're (probably) selling too, buy ours!

10/5/2013 7:55:18 PM

If you're looking to stay downtown after that possible sale and happen to be looking for 3,550 sq ft newer construction with 5 bedrooms and a two car garage I'm willing to cut a deal.

[Edited on October 6, 2013 at 5:40 PM. Reason : S]

10/6/2013 5:39:47 PM

We already made an offer, also in the downtown area for a house that's in a nicer neighborhood and is a little newer (that's probably a lot more house than I want anyways, my preference is around 2,000 sq ft). Where we are is a great street and we got in early with some people fixing up houses, but the neighborhood still needs some more revitalization. Our street is kinda on the southeast edge, so our street is nice but not too many blocks away you can see prostitutes and drug dealers hanging out almost 24/7. We've been working with the city and the police but the stings and increased patrols have only done so much, we'll need some more gentrification to do the rest and we don't think we want to wait that long.

10/6/2013 8:53:47 PM

Yeah, that's a little more legit than my downtown experience. We're more in the babies, dogs, and strollers on both sides of the road all weekend over here on the NE end. Once a car got "broken into" although the lady left it unlocked with a wallet full of old credit cards on the seat. In fairness that's hard to call a break in. And my 60-70 year old neighbors that our street backs on to who haven't sold to a 20 something pay too much for a renovation couple are all original homeowners from the 1960s.

10/7/2013 7:45:17 PM

Seems like it might be finally happening. At least the old building will be demolished....thats a start!

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2013/10/15/demolition-in-glenwood-south-marks-the.html

10/15/2013 4:15:34 PM

I really like that building. I hope alehouse fails after a year or two, and something I like will move in.

10/15/2013 9:42:18 PM

I like it too, although it looks like an extension of the DBAP

10/16/2013 10:00:49 PM

looks almost like an exact copy of the one they put in downtown Greenville, SC

10/16/2013 10:29:14 PM

Quote :

"I like it too, although it looks like an extension of the DBAP "

It really does, doesn't it?

10/17/2013 11:30:08 AM