James Borden / Raleigh Public Record
The future site of a used-car dealership on Glenwood Avenue
A controversial used car dealership run by the sales arm of Enterprise Rent-A-Car to be built at 5800 Glenwood Avenue was issued permits on September 30. The site is the former home of a Ragazzi’s restaurant, which was demolished in January 2013.
When City Council held a public hearing on the project back in April of this year, the dealership was met with fierce resistance from local residents. The neighbors had banded together and hired an attorney, Scott Lasso. At the hearing, Lasso said of the project: “You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.”
James Borden / Raleigh Public Record
The future site of an Eagle Convenience Store and gas station.
Speaking of cars, permits were issued September 29 for a new gas station on Tryon Road near the border of Cary, next to the former site of the Putt-Putt Fun Center. The center was tragically demolished in January of this year.
The site will include a 4,200 square-foot Eagles Convenience Store and a 1,680 square-foot car wash. In an appalling disregard of the site’s storied history, the development will not, unfortunately, include a go-kart racetrack, a mini-golf course or an indoor arcade. Which is weird, as most new gas stations tend to include these most basic of amenities.
Fayetteville Street – itself only recently re-opened for vehicular traffic – is the site of two permits issued last week, one for what will likely be another bar, and another for a new office space.
James Borden / Raleigh Public Record
Permits were recently issued for a “Muddle N’ Shake” at this Fayetteville Street address
At 207 Fayetteville Street, permits were issued September 29 for a 1,180 square-foot fit-out for a tenant named “Muddle N Shake.” According to Google, this is also the name of a specialty cocktail. The total cost listed on the permits for the project is $75,000.
Down the street and less than a block away at 227 Fayetteville, permits were issued October 2 for more than $1.6 million worth of work on nearly 20,000 square feet of interior space. The building will soon be the new home of digital textbook company Vital Source Technologies, which is currently housed across the street at 234 Fayetteville.
James Borden / Raleigh Public Record
Vital Source Technologies will be moving across the street to 227 Fayetteville
Vital Source wasn’t the only downtown Raleigh tech company to receive office fit-out permits last week, as October 3 saw the issuance of a $1.2 million permit for the interior completion of Citrix’ fourth floor. Of course, there is still plenty of construction going on outside the building there as well – including on the adjoining parking garage, but even given all that plus the lack of a completed fourth floor, the company has reportedly moved all of its existing workers into the new building.
James Borden / Raleigh Public Record
Interior work to the fourth floor of Citrix\’ new office building is now underway
A former First Citizens Bank on North Person Street will soon be home to City Vet, as permits for the $220,000 renovation were issued to McKenna Construction on October 1.
James Borden / Raleigh Public Record
A former bank is being turned into a veterinarian’s office
As it stands, the building, constructed in 1974, is clearly a former bank – it includes a both a drive through teller and a night depository, which will hopefully not be transformed into a drop-off for unwanted pets.
Although downtown Raleigh has seen a number of new breweries open in recent years, a space just outside of downtown off Atlantic Avenue on Whitaker Mill Road will soon be home to Blackjack Brewing Company.
The company’s web site promises the location will open in late 2014 and feature “Hand crafted beer of the finest quality” and a “Huge taproom and outdoor beer garden.” It also claims the location is in “the heart of Raleigh,” which is debatable.
Either way, anyone fascinated by the construction process can check out photo and even video coverage of the project on the company’s Facebook page.
James Borden / Raleigh Public Record
Black Jack Brewery will be opening soon at this location off Atlantic Avenue
