Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

Category: Glenwood South (Page 6 of 14)

510 Glenwood: It’s Comin’ Back

June 16, 2014 /
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510 Glenwood

My wife and I have owned our condo at 510 Glenwood from the beginning, when it was built 13 years ago.  We were excited then to live in downtown Raleigh’s first mixed use building.  For years, we used the shorthand – “above Bogarts” – when telling new friends where we lived.  Then it became “where Bogarts used to be.”  That became the front of a long tale, as it was joined by other Rocky Top Hospitality closings: Draft and Red Room.  Cantina South and Krave (Bogarts and Red Room replacements) both had short stays.

But now we’re getting ready to tell a new story.

Of course everyone knows that Carolina Ale House will be holding down the south end next door.  With the departure of Oryx, the north corner of the building will feature an Italian restaurant owned by Vincent Barressi, the owner of Vincent’s on Creedmoor Road.  As for my wife and me, we’ll now be able to say that we live about Shuckers Oyster Bar and Grill that will be moving shortly into the former Cantina South space. Rounding out the building is The Oakz in what was formerly Draft Restaurant.

A Glenwood South turning point

2014 seems to be a turning point for all of Glenwood South.  The rebirth of the popular Hibernian Pub and the much anticipated completion of the Carolina Ale House restaurant complex has sparked renewed confidence in downtown Raleigh’s first “entertainment district”.

My wife and I have always been happy to live here and we’ve loved having Hampton Inn & Suites as new neighbors.  We’re excited at the influx of residents and visitors to the street and thrilled that they’ll now have four new reasons to come.

Tree Sweaters Blankets Add New Warmth to Glenwood South

May 16, 2014 /

If you drove down Glenwood Avenue in February of this year, you may have been charmed or even confused by the sight of 150 trees dressed in colorful, made to order, rectangular sweaters. This public art installation represented the work of more than 50 knitters, aged 7 – 70 who gathered to stitch during the fall at SpiritWorks Studio in The Carter Building. Sponsored by the Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative, these Tree Sweaters did just what was intended. They inspired conversation, brought neighbors together, delivered smiles to people going by, and even empowered kids who could see first hand the effects of their art on the community.

But all those things were just a preamble to a tea held May 15 at St. Saviour’s Center (616 Tucker St.) when again neighbors from Glenwood South – both residents and business owners – got together to distribute 15 patchwork blankets created from the Tree Sweaters to residents of Glenwood Towers. Dan Lovenheim (Cornerstone Tavern) was at the microphone to call out raffle numbers as Alex Amra (Tobacco Road) distributed hugs, along with blankets to winners. Patricia Privilege (Tuscan Blu) served as translator to Spanish speakers, while Liz Johnson (Revolver), Ann Conlon Smith, Manjiri Lall (Carter Building artist), Donna and Jim Belt joined in serving cupcakes donated by Sara Coleman Fitzpatrick at the Cupcake Shoppe.

“I collected a pocket full of e-mails from Glenwood Tower residents,” Jim Belt commented after introducing activities sponsored by the GSNC. “They all wanted to help with sidewalk clean up, planting and anything else we plan to do in the neighborhood.” St. Saviour’s Center also offers a variety of ongoing opportunities for community service including Wake Relief Food Pantry, Community Music School, Meals on Wheels and a Diaper Train that is part of the Healthy Baby program.

I extend my sincere THANK YOU to all who knitted, donated yarn, and sewed blankets together, allowing this serial project to morph from temporary tree art to blankets that will warm newly made friends for a long time to come.

Written by Donna Belt

Volunteerism on Glenwood South: Tree Sweater blankets are just the beginning

April 22, 2014 /

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead

Glenwood South is a neighborhood where volunteerism is literally adding to the colors and designs on the street, bringing better lit and safer-feeling sidewalks, and knitting friendships that strengthen cooperation.  When Sue Glennon (Hampton Inn and Suites), Liz Johnson (Revolver) and Donna Belt (SpiritWorks) met with Sharon Hayes, Executive Director of St. Saviour’s Center (616 Tucker Ave) this week to arrange a neighborhood tea for donating Tree Sweater blankets to the residents of Glenwood Towers, the surprise was on them.  Melissa Brigman, Property Manager of the Towers wondered out loud how residents could volunteer to help the neighborhood.  As thrilled as they were to receive the blankets, they were equally happy with a donation of yarn that allows them to knit items to donate to a charity they select.

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Tree Sweater Blankets

Our changing of the world has already launched, right here in our neighborhood.  St. Saviours Center offers a variety of volunteer opportunities from serving seniors through Meals on Wheels, helping distribute food at the Wake Relief Food Pantry, supporting  the Community Music School (offering music lessons to disadvantaged children for $1/lesson), or even donating disposable diapers and children’s books to the Diaper Train that is part of the Healthy Baby program.

Whether you offer a morning per month or seek more regular service, come out and meet other neighbors who are helping to create a network that enhances us all.

  • For more information about volunteering, please contact Sharon Hayes 919-833-6400, ext 201, shayes@saintsaviourcenter.org.
  • Contact Linda Frenette, Executive Director of the Community Music School to support their fundraiser on May 3 when they’ll be raffling guitars painted by local artists. executivedirector@cmsraleigh.org.

And of course, please join us for a neighborhood tea at St. Saviours on May 15 at 10:30 when we’ll be raffling our Tree Sweater blankets to residents of Glenwood Towers.  Thanks to Sara Coleman Fitzpatrick for supplying cupcakes from the Cupcake Shoppe!

Written by Donna Belt 

A Bridge to Raleigh’s Future: The Decision is Now!

April 11, 2014 /

Here’s a quiz:  Guess where this is?

  • You rarely see people walking here.
  • It’s located just a few blocks from a commercial center and downtown entertainment district.
  • It’s within the downtown improvement district.
  • The area is huge, with lots of potential

Answer – see map

As the downtown revitalization has continued to move forward, an area like this could be expected to have attracted a lot of attention, yet developers avoid it.

cap_blvd2

 

A favorable bridge redesign offers to spark redevelopment

With the bridge over Peace Street at its useful life, a forward-friendly redesign of the bridge could be a catalyst to redevelop this important area of downtown.

 

A  design referred to as the “Square Loop” for integrating off-ramp bridge traffic would create a much needed street grid, giving a big boost to the redevelopment potential for the area.  NCDOT has been working with the city for years so this new design is consistent with the approved Capital Boulevard Plan, which envisions a new destination park / waterway and brings Peace Street to a walkable urban form.  Both the city and state are in favor.

With just weeks to decide, there’s a catch.

This is the catch: An alternative bridge design can be done with much less cost ($11 million) as it is basically a copy of the bridge today.  The details on the two options are laid out nicely on the Raleigh Connoisseur blog.

The city has the opportunity to select the “Square Loop” bridge design, identified by NCDOT as the P5 alternative, but with construction of the bridge planned to start in just two years, the design must to be finalized soon.

Decision must be made by May 23rd.

The final public hearing is April 22nd (4-7pm) at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

The DLA encourages all residents to come to the public hearing and support the Square Loop (P5) bridge design.  For more on this important decision, jump over to the Raleigh Connoisseur Blog to read their latest post.

 

Glenwood South Tree Sweater Art Installation

January 14, 2014 /
Tree Sweaters - Seattle neighborhood

Tree Sweaters – Seattle neighborhood

Participants will gather at The Carter Building at 10am on the morning of January 25th before trailing down the length of Glenwood Avenue to Peace Street, leaving the trees dressed in stripes and patterns of every color.  Hot chocolate and snacks will be served  at 11:00 at Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, when visitors and participants gather for comments from city officials, prizes awarded to knitters, and a drawing of gift certificates from local merchants.

For the past six weeks, knitters have been meeting each Friday at SpiritWorks Studio at the Carter Building to create Tree Sweaters for the city owned trees lining the Glenwood South thoroughfare.  Many cars pass through on their way into downtown, but merchants and residents have banded together into the Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative to offer reasons to stop on their street, long before their popular late night businesses come into full swing.  

“What better way to show who we are than a community art project?” asked Donna Belt, owner of SpiritWorks Studio. “Tree Sweaters are whimsical and as varied as each of us are.” 

Even Belt is surprised at the response to this community art initiative, which originally aimed for 70 Tree Sweaters.  More than 50 participants, aged 8 – 80 have responded, creating 100 Tree Sweaters, each in their own colors and style.

City Council showed their support for this initiative by approving a petition for the Tree Sweaters presented at their January 7th meeting.  Policies established through the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department in response to this community art project promise to streamline future grass roots art installations that they believe will continue to enhance the appeal of Raleigh’s downtown.

Since their first meeting at Hampton Inn and Suites on December 9th, residents and business owners of Glenwood South have worked together with the Downtown Living Advocates, Downtown Raleigh Alliance and Shop Local Raleigh to pursue a number of strategies aimed at maximizing the vitality of businesses, and building a bond between residents and neighboring restaurants and clubs.  This Tree Sweater installation is a colorful start to their plans which range from refining late night noise ordinances to fostering well lit, attractive sidewalk scapes.

 

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