Book Sharers

My idea is to encourage readers to leave books they’ve finished reading tucked away in public places for others to find. This might be in coffee shops, the bus station, the lobby of a condo building… Inside the front cover will be a note that tells the finder to take the book and read it if it appeals, and pass it on with a book of his own when the opportunity presents itself.

I like how this lends a feeling of friendly connection between downtowners and even visitors to downtown.

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Miniature Urban Art

I love the idea of artists creating small art, for instance little people appearing to rappel down city steps. This would provide smiles and surprises for those who live, work and play downtown.

This could be done individually or as a group working in an afternoon. The benefit to the community would be encouraging people to look more closely at their environment, as well as providing connection through art.

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Downtown Walkability rating by block

Create a rating scheme for the walkability of each block in downtown Raleigh. Criteria will go beyond “Walk Score” which focuses mainly on what’s nearby.

Each block will be rated according to how useful, safe, comfortable and interesting, with the results given to the DRA and City Planning Department for use in prioritizing streetscape improvements and to identify the best locations for new pedestrian friendly development.

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Make Walk Raleigh Signs Permanent

Matt Tomasulo is already working with Blue Cross Blue Shield to find the funding. It should come at minimal cost to the city and would only require finding appropriate locations for the signs. We already have the purple directional signs that point cars to points of interest – I’d love to see a matching set for pedestrians with walking times to those destinations.

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Water fountains in downtown

This is an idea to try and get water fountains installed at key locations around downtown Raleigh.

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Defining outdoor eating space

Give restaurants the ability to define their outdoor eating spaces (space that is on the public sidewalk) to give a better buffer of privacy between the public and the restaurant patrons and a more clear path for which way the public is to walk.

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Full Grocery Store in downtown

I would love a full grocery in downtown, maybe in the warehouse district or Glenwood South.

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Train Station Jogging/Walking Path Mezzanine

Our new train station should include an indoor, mid-level (mezzanine) walk and jog path. It would attract users from early am to late pm and benefit from adjacent bakery, coffee, train and bus access.

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