Category: Fayetteville Street (Page 1 of 5)

In responding to Hatem’s approach to Amplified Outdoor Entertainment permitting, let’s expand the conversation.

Post by Donna Belt

(Donna is an Executive Board Member of the Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative and leads the neighborhood’s public art.)

200fayetteville1On the morning of January 26, headlines in the N&O – Downtown developer Hatem raises alarm as Raleigh weighs noisier Fayetteville Street – reignited a conversation that has been taking place in Raleigh over the past few years.  And now, it’s come to the forefront as City Councillors weigh Hatem’s argument against Outdoor Amplified Entertainment permits for bars and restaurants along Fayetteville Street.

 

First, I’d like to say that Hatem is right.  He does need to move to Oakwood, if he finds Fayetteville Street “unlivable”.  Families with young children are often happy for a lifestyle with controls in place that ensure quiet homogeneity.

As a prime developer of downtown properties, Greg Hatem has contributed a lot to our city.  But the argument he makes negating the approval of these permits is based on a self-limiting premise, that it’s EITHER happy residents with restrictions placed on late night businesses, OR miserable residents suffering with unlivable noise and mess.

Glenwood South – with 5 times more residents than the Fayetteville Street District and 75 businesses (many open late night) – has embraced moving the conversation from an assumption of Either-Or to Both-And.

BOTH late night businesses have Amplified Outdoor Entertainment permits, AND residents have a process in place for working with business owners and a City appointed noise ordinance officer until concerns are resolved.

BOTH late night businesses are encouraged, AND the vitality of daytime restaurants and shops is supported by the Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative, DLA, DRA and Shop Local Raleigh.

We believe that what is good for business is also good for residents, when both are working together for the empowerment of all.  And certainly happy residents make good customers.

We believe that Raleigh cannot develop the vitality that entices residents to move into the downtown if we continue to stay stuck in an Either-Or discussion.

We believe that downtown life is MORE engaging and alive because of diverse interests considering creative resolutions for solving the issues that inevitably arise with thousands of residents living in mixed use districts.

If you’re an Either-Or kind of person, then the suburbs will suit you fine.  But if you welcome the opportunity to create community around models that are inclusive, adaptable and innovative, then downtown life is a great choice.  That is, as long as  arguments like Hatem’s are seen for what they are: show stoppers, rather than invitations for the kind of collaboration that defines an alive, vital downtown.

Around Downtown Raleigh with Ernest A. Dollar, COR Museum Director

Interview with Ernest A. Dollar, Director of the City of Raleigh (COR) Museum:  By Anne Fahim RA AIA

Background: Ernest Dollar, Director of the City of Raleigh (COR) Museum sat down with DLA Core Group Member Anne Fahim, RA AIA to discuss the new identity for the museum formerly known as the Raleigh City Museum, and what’s going on in the coming months at the Museum on the Downtown Mall, now known as the COR Museum. They met at Zinda, the New Asian restaurant on Fayetteville Street.

Ernest Dollar, Director City of Raleigh Museum

Ernest Dollar, Director City of Raleigh Museum

Q: What are you doing that resonates with Downtown folks?

A: What I am planning is to turn the city into the museum. The COR Museum and my vision for its direction supports showing the history all around us in Downtown Raleigh, and learning about that history.

Q: You mentioned you have in mind some high tech ways of accomplishing this?

A: Yes, our mantra is Then, Now and Next, we hope to have each of our exhibits address the past, the present, and what is yet to come. We hope to use the latest technology not only inside the museum for the exhibits, but also, out in the city to connect the knowledge about history to passersby, using their smartphones or devices. We are also looking into participatory exhibits and other ways to access information, such as pop-up exhibits.

Q: How can the DLA and its members help?

A: We are always looking for volunteers to do everything from helping with museum walking tours (currently every Saturday 10 am of Fayetteville St, but would like to expand) …to working with artifacts. At the moment, we are starting a PR Committee with volunteers to find out from folks how they would like to use their museum because the COR museum belongs to the residents of Raleigh. If you are interested, please contact me at raleighcitymuseum@raleighnc.gov.

Q: What’s coming up in the coming months that might interest our members?

A: Coming up in September the first phase of our new permanent exhibit will be opening on September 28. “Raleigh Then” is part our major core exhibit scheduled for completion in 2018. Also in September we’ll be mounting an exhibit on Raleigh’s role in helping to create Bluegrass. We’ve also started a program to link children with history through literature in a program called Raleigh Reads. And don’t forget, every Saturday we offer a free walking tour of Fayetteville Street at 10 am.

Q:We will look forward to seeing those new exhibits! Is there anything else you wanted to say to our members?

A: Thanks again for all your help. It is greatly appreciated! See you at the museum!

Time Warp 2013: Raleigh City Museum celebrates their 20th anniversary

Time-Warp-Electronic-Save-the-Date

Saturday, June 1st from 6 – 10 pm

 

Time Warp is the annual fundraiser for the COR Museum, that celebrates the City of Raleigh, it’s people and the museum that captures Raleigh’s story. Time Warp 2013 is hosted by the Friends of the COR Museum and is co-chaired by Heather Allen and Lauren Eney. This year, Time Warp also celebrates the 20th anniversary of the COR Museum. All proceeds benefit the programs and exhibits of the museum.

 

 

Make it a big night out with friends downtown

There will be live music outdoors under the big tent featuring the Southern String Band and indoors featuring Little Raleigh Radio. There will also be appetizers from favorite downtown Raleigh restaurants (Buku, Beasley’s, Capital Club 16, Busy Bee, Cameron Bar and Grill, ORO, Babylon), along with specialty cocktails, wine, and beer from Trophy Brewing Co.

In addition to celebrating Raleigh’s past, present and future with the unveiling of plans for the museum’s new exhibit design, you’ll also have the opportunity to bid on auction items, and support the museum.

The website to buy tickets is here:  www.cortimewarp.com/buy-tickets/

If you’re going to miss out on the fun but still want to support the museum, please consider donating an auction item!

For more information visit www.CORTimewarp.com or call (919) 996-3775.

 

Your Face Here! Step into history at the Virginia Dare Ballroom in the Sir Walter Raleigh in the heart of downtown

DancersPicture yourself in this 1930’s scene, waltzing across a ballroom floor, greeting legislators and lobbyists who have ambled here from their customary hotel rooms, winning this hotel the affectionate title of the “Third House of the Legislature.” Where are you?  You’re in the Sir Walter Raleigh, which remains to this day downtown Raleigh’s oldest surviving hotel building.

From its opening in 1924, this setting was Raleigh’s premiere hotel for nearly four decades.  Updated in 1938, the 400-room facility became the largest in the state at that time.

Located at 400 Fayetteville Street, the privately owned building was converted in 1979 to an income based senior apartment community.

CurrentBallroom

 

Rent the ballroom today!

The Sir Walter is still home to the Historic Virginia Dare Ballroom, where it has been host to First Night Raleigh Events for the past decade.   The ballroom is available for rent to the public for special events and is located inside the apartment complex.  Contact the on-site event coordinator to plan your special event at 919-832-1300.

Do you want to walk among the echoes of deals being made and where Who’s Who in NC politics slept?   Sir Walter Apartments will be holding an event in the ballroom for all DRA members on September 19, 2013 from 5pm – 7pm, when you can do just that..  RSVP to Felise Knight at feliseswa@earthlink.net or William Lucas at williamswa@earthlink.net by July 31, 2013

Affordable Apartment Living in the heart of downtown Raleigh:  For information about the senior living apartment community contact Property Manager- Felise M. Knight (feliseswa@earthlink.net) or Assistant Property Manager-William Lucas (williamswa@earthlink.net) at 919.832.1300 or go to SirWalterApts.com for more information.

 

North Carolina State Archives photo

North Carolina State Archives photo

 

« Older posts