Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

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Thing To Do For Earth Day, Guest Post

April 21, 2012 /

This is a guest post provided by Sandra Simpson at Greetings from Green NC, a new site about sustainable practices and food around the triangle. I challenged Sandra to come up with a list of things to do for Earth Day and here is her list.

Downtown Raleigh NC rocks, and when it comes to observing Earth Day, there are many choices to be enjoyed-not just on April 22nd, but all month long. Here are my top ten picks for saying, “thanks Mother Earth.”

10. For a short stroll, park your car and take a walk around City Market and Moore Square. This historic downtown area provides visitors with an urban earth ambience. There is nothing quite like the comforting sound of footsteps on the cobblestone streets while trekking between City Market Produce (the old fashioned open-air produce) and Benelux Cafe, just to name a few businesses. Visitors can enjoy this as an Earth Day event or put this destination on the calendar as a reminder for visiting on many of our beautiful days in downtown Raleigh.

9. Earth Day is a great day to explore Raleigh by bike. Save the ozone and reduce your carbon footprint by taking a bike rather than cranking up your carbon-emitting vehicle. Feel safer in numbers? Check into the Tuesday night bike rides organized by Boylan Bridge Brewpub or Benelux Cafe at the City Market.

8. What better way to enjoy the bounty of Mother Earth than by growing your own produce? No need to allow small spaces to limit your gardening possibilities; Logan’s Trading Company at Seaboard Station in downtown Raleigh has taken the container garden idea one step further by including pallet gardens, vertical gardens made out of cinder blocks, EarthBox containers, window boxes, etc. When you are enjoying the fresh basil and tomato sandwiches all summer long, fresh from your own garden, you will have Earth Day inspirations to thank.

7. Soak up the sun or enjoy Mother Earth’s moonlight when dining out-of-doors. When searching for outdoor seating for dining or looking for a good home brew, check out these spots for dining-out-of-doors in downtown Raleigh. Roof-top Busy Bee, freshly brewed beer at Boylan Bridge Brewpub, Raleigh Times, Flying Saucer, and my all-time favorite dining and drinking establishment with outdoor seating-Humble Pie.

6. Raleigh is rapidly becoming more pedestrian-friendly, and the 2-mile downtown Raleigh “Sustainability Walking Tour” is a great way to see what Raleigh is doing to preserve Mother Earth. Taking the walk will help you feel good about how your city tax dollars are being spent and you can get some exercise at the same time. Sustainable Raleigh has already measured and mapped a trail for your convenience. If you want to specifically check out what Raleigh is doing to help sustain our environment, Raleigh has 24 points of interest from the preservation of historic Shaw University to the area’s only solar-powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station. You can print the brochure or click on the “app map” for a self-guided-mile trek. For the Google map and more information, please refer to www.raleighnc.gov/sustainableraleigh. Sustainable Raleigh Map is on the right side.

5. Take time to educate your children about ways to save the earth. Start by reducing your family’s carbon foot print by unplugging the TV and the video games and heading outside for an eco-friendly picnic at Pullen Park. A great way to teach sustainability by example is to pack the picnic with reusable utensils, tablecloths, thermoses, cloth napkins and dish towels. A yard sale is a great way to purchase slightly used picnic supplies. If you have to buy utensils choose those made from recycled paper and do not forget to recycle! Reuse and Recycle, save our trees!

4. When selecting ways to celebrate Earth Day and beyond don’t forget the major recycling centers at Five Points. The time honored tradition of antiquing has long been a way to reuse and recycle other than using valuable resources to make new furniture and household items. Not in the mood for antiques? Villa Consegna is Five Points answer to gently used designer outfits.

Two establishments have chosen to retro-fit and maintain the original buildings. NO FO is a charming re-invention of the Five Points Piggly Wiggly grocery store and part of the original Hayes Barton Pharmacy is now an upscale dining establishment with the most generous portion of really good chicken chicken pot pie. The lunch counter is the perfect spot to enjoy the generous homemade desserts.

3. If tree hugging is your way of celebrating Earth Day, then you might want to visit the 400 plus acres at Dorothea Dix. In the early 1900’s Dix was home to a dairy, a vineyard and a greenhouse. No longer producing and growing their own food and spirits, the site maintains an old stand of oak and pecan trees. On a hot day you can feel the temperature drop as you enter the canopy of old growth trees. The future of Dorothea Dix is often a hot topic. Stop by and see for yourself how this shady spot improves the environment of the Downtown.

2. Stop by an urban garden, kinda, the NC State Farmers Market offers visitors to “pick their own” from the variety of fruits, vegetables and plants that are brought there by farmers from all over the state. My favorite sustainable farmer is Erin Weston at Weston Farms, all the way at the north end of the building stop by and here Ernin’s story of sustainability.

1. We all have been watching The Daily Planet come to life and now we can see what is inside. The grand opening of the Nature Research Center at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences is the number one thing to do to warm up for EARTH DAY. The NRC is a day-in-day-out salute to discovering how to keep our planet alive and well and most of all stir the minds of the school children all across our state. In addition to the research projects that can be observed at the museum, live feeds from studies off the coast of NC will be broadcast to NC schools. The head of the New Nature Research Center is Margaret D (Meg) Lowman, affectionally and professionally known as Canopy Meg. Thanks Canopy Meg for choosing Raleigh as your base camp for saving our planet.

Introducing Link Peace Street, A Resident Backed Alternative For Capital Boulevard and Peace Street

April 5, 2012 /

Peace Street with Capital Boulevard bridge

There’s a new project that’s growing some legs in downtown Raleigh. Link Peace Street is a vision from Raleigh residents for a more walkable environment on Peace Street. It coincides with the Capital Boulevard Corridor Study and hopes to put another alternative onto the table that is currently not being considered. I’m helping out with the effort and the core focus of it revolves around creating a plan for an at-grade intersection at Capital Boulevard and Peace Street.

Over the next few days, more information will be put onto the vision website of Link Peace Street so I encourage readers to check out the site we’ve built and sign up for updates.

Link Peace Street revolves around three main goals,

  1. Economic development in a form that fits into downtown Raleigh.
  2. Strengthen the connections between neighborhoods.
  3. Deliver on the 2030 Comprehensive Plan.

The Capital Boulevard Corridor Study, taking public comments at this time, targets private investment in the area using several projects. Some of those include an expanded greenway, a park at the old Devereux Meadow site, and multiple tweaks to Capital Boulevard itself. We’ve mentioned before that the state of North Carolina is going to replace the bridge over Peace Street within a few years. The study wants to piggyback on that project and is considering some alternative routes to getting on and off of Peace Street. You can read about those alternatives on the Peace Street Vision document in the sidebar on the city’s website. These ideas are what planners think will help spur private investment in the area.

All plans being considered so far include the new NCDOT designed bridge and Link Peace Street wants them to consider the ‘no bridge’ option. We feel that the upgrades to Capital Boulevard, outlined in the study document, only promote more speed and will continue keeping vehicles moving through the area rather than stopping at a destination. Peace Street is the northern border of downtown Raleigh but most people don’t see it that way as the built landscape is not meant for a downtown at all. It’s possible that an environment that balances pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles can promote development that is appropriate for downtown Raleigh and is a much better use of land.

With vehicles speeds kept the same and not increased, a walkable Peace Street will connect the neighborhoods rather than be an obstacle between them. In March, the Blount Street Commons project was asking the Raleigh City Council for a zoning change to allow for more density. At the same time, there is an apartment boom near Glenwood South. Both neighborhoods are so close yet feel much farther because of the uneasy walk down Peace Street in its current state.

It is a half mile walk from the Mellow Mushroom to Tyler’s Taproom yet so few people make that walk. In comparison, Fayetteville Street from one end to the other is a half mile. Peace Street may never have the towers and historic structures of Fayetteville Street but we think that we can atleast set up Peace Street for the same walkable experience. To have it, it starts with people and not vehicles.

The 2030 comprehensive plan specifies that this area is in the Core Business District category. It states:

This category applies to the Raleigh Central Business District, and is intended to enhance Downtown Raleigh as a vibrant mixed use urban center. The category recognizes the area’s role as the heart of the city, supporting a mix of high-intensity office, retail, housing, government, institutional, visitor-serving, cultural, and entertainment uses. Multiple zoning districts apply within the CBD, corresponding to the different character and vision for its various neighborhoods. The maximum residential density in this area would be 320 units per acre with densities tapering off towards edge areas adjacent to established residential neighborhoods, but not falling below 40 units per acre.

The Capital Boulevard study wants to widen lanes and help the flow of traffic. This does not fit with the description above and Link Peace Street feels that goes against the plan adopted just a few years ago.

How can we continue to do what we’ve been doing here in the corridor and expect different results?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

-Albert Einstein

We’re hoping to build support for the idea before the study is brought to the city council before the May 1st meeting.

Downtown investment is key to keeping taxes down while supporting Raleigh’s population growth

April 1, 2012 /

Underutilized tract of land - northeast Glenwood South

Joe Minicozzi, a new projects manager of a firm which drove the revitalization of downtown Asheville has taken his show on the road, convincing other cities:

If you’ve got underutilized buildings in your downtown, do anything you can to fix them up, because that’s where your wealth comes from.

The bottom line is that per acre, high density areas have the potential to generate much more public wealth than low-density subdivisions or massive suburban malls.  Taking into consideration the revenue they bring in, downtowns cost considerably less to maintain in public services and infrastructure.

Growth in low density development works like a pyramid scheme. 

Low density development isn’t just a poor way to make property-tax revenue, it’s extremely expensive to maintain.  In fact, it could only be feasible if we’re expanding development at the periphery into eternity, forever bringing in revenue from new construction, helping to pay for the existing subdivisions we’ve already built.

It would take 600 single-family homes on a 150-acre subdivision to equal the tax base of the 30-story Wells Fargo Capitol Center downtown.  And it sits on 1.2 acres of land.

This simple math is important for residents to understand, and particularly for those still hesitant to support investments in public transit.

Transit authorities are currently holding public forums to inform residents about the Wake County Transit Plan, and to build local support for its approval.  Improved availability of public transit is a critical part of the infrastructure necessary to encourage higher density development and attract more residents to live in urban areas like downtown Raleigh.

Higher density development downtown keeps taxes low.

This is the simple message for all those who complain that the city is investing too much inside the belt line or in downtown Raleigh.

And while Raleigh has not been as hard hit as other cities, property values and their associated tax revenues have fallen.  By utilizing the economics of land use, Raleigh can continue to grow and avoid the need to raise taxes or cut city services.

 

Information included in the post taken from an article posted in the online publication from <www.theatlanticcities.com>.

The Simple Math that Can Save Cities From Bankruptcy

Enjoyed the Raleigh Home Tour in past years? Now it’s expanded into the Downtown Living Tour. Volunteer and tour for free!

March 27, 2012 /

Downtown Living Tour will include homes, as well as unique urban shops and restaurants offering a discount to attendees.

As in the previous eight years since the tour began, ticket holders can visit a variety of homes ranging from multi-tenant buildings to single family houses. But this year’s home tour is expanding beyond downtown dwellings to focus on the experience and benefits of urban living.

Downtown Raleigh continues to attract a diverse set of residents, who are seeking the benefits of a more urban lifestyle.  From innovative young professionals looking to more naturally collaborate and build social networks to empty nesters ready to simplify their lives and enjoy a more walkable and healthy lifestyle, downtown Raleigh is now more attractive than ever.

Ticket holders will get to better appreciate all that is for offer by touring a medley of independently-owned restaurants, unique retail shops and services offering discounts to attendees.

Walk, or take the free bus or shuttle.

The Tour is self-guided and designed to be a walking tour, but it also easy to use the free R-Line or hop on a golf cart shuttle, which will follow designated routes to several tour stops.

Tickets will be available online beginning April 9th for $10, but you can still join in for $15 on the day of event.  Want more details so you can target the homes and businesses that you’ve been wanting to explore?  Check out this website for more details about the event, check-in and parking.

Go on the Living Tour for FREE!  Be a volunteer.

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance is looking for enthusiastic and energetic people to be Greeters, Hosts, and Information Guides during the event.

Perks include:

  • Free pass to the Tour (to be used before or after shift)
  • Free lunch and snacks
  • Free t-shirt
  • Invitation for you and one guest to the After Party at Spy Raleigh (immediately following the event, 5 pm-8 pm)
Over 140 volunteers are needed to support the Tour operations. Registration deadline is April 30th!

This is a chance to support downtown and have fun too.  It’s always a great day to meet new people, consider where your next move might be, or even rediscover how much you love the place where you already live.

See you then!

One Month to Weigh-in on Plans for Capital Blvd Corridor

March 19, 2012 /

The opening statement of the Capital Blvd Corridor Study Report describes it as “the most travelled and least-loved gateway into Downtown Raleigh.” Now is the time to consider options that will make this road system into an entranceway that invites a more pleasant, pedestrian and commuter friendly gateway into Downtown.

The city has just issued its updated vision and recommendations for the corridor, and opened a one month public comment period.

  • Download the report here.
  • Ways to submit comments listed here.

It’s a 65 page report, so I’ve identified some of the key items likely to be of most interest for residents who live, work or play in the northern end of Downtown Raleigh, in and around the Peace Street Corridor.

Capital Blvd Interchange at Peace Street

The present speed limit and design of the roadway make it difficult to safely access businesses adjacent to the southern end of Capital Blvd, and for pedestrians within the Peace Street corridor.

Recommendation: Integrate this area with the urban grid by extending Johnson Street and Harrington Streets as a “quadrant roadway interchange”. Reference page 30 in the report.

Devereux Park

Devereux Meadow

The area on the northwest corner of Peace Street and Capital Blvd was once a baseball stadium, and until recently the home of the City’s Solid Waste Services Department.  The adjacent West Street is “off the beaten path” with very little car and pedestrian traffic.

Recommendation: Create a new park and greenway trail straddling a restored Pigeon House Branch at Devereux Meadows between Wade and Peace Streets.  Reference page 44 in the report.

 

Recommendation: Extend West Street north to Wake Forest Road to create a local access street that would run adjacent to the park and form an alternative route into Downtown Raleigh.

Future Residential / Business Growth

This road configuration promises a huge impact on the growth of the northern end of Downtown. By improving the infrastructure of access roads, the city can both restore vitality to an area that is presently under-utilized and support centers of commerce like Seaboard Station.  Case in point is the current State of Seaboard Station.

Recommendation: Facilitate pedestrian and bicycle access and improve traffic safety along the Peace Street Corridor.  Reference the associated Peace Street Visioning Study.

I applaud the city for acknowledging the need for “significant changes to the infrastructure of the corridor, not just land use policies.”

Take the time to read through this important report.  The study’s recommendations will truly shape the walking and biking accessibility of Downtown residents to local businesses,  with the first cluster of projects labelled the “downtown express” (page 51).

In my view, restoring the Peace Street intersection to the grid is a necessary first step to creating a new Capital Blvd.

Previous DLA blog posts relating to Capital Blvd:

Peace Street Corridor: Picture a “complete street” with a new park and greenway connections

Re-Imagining Capital Boulevard

Pigeon House Branch, A ‘New” Downtown Raleigh Waterway

Glenwood South’s Northeast Corner – Frontier of Possibility

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