Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

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DLA Helps Draft Panhandling Ordinance

February 14, 2011 /

About a month ago the DLA was approached by District Captain Kevin Craighead of the Raleigh Police Department to review a draft of an ordinance to regulate begging and panhandling in the city.  Captain Craighead explained that complaints about panhandling had been increasing, particularly in the the downtown area, and wanted to get input from downtown residents. 

Having only a few days to respond before the ordinance was scheduled to be reviewed by the Raleigh City Council, the DLA quickly canvassed our Core Group members and suggestions were presented to the City Council.  While most of our suggestions were already included in the draft, we were able to add a specific change that restricts begging or panhandling from “within 20 feet of the entrance to any residence or residential building”.  

The approved Panhandling Ordinance requires a person to obtain a city permit to beg or panhandle on streets or other public property, restricts panhandling from occurring earlier than 8:00am or later than 8:00pm, and identifies the manner and places where panhandling is not allowed.

Here is a link to the Amended Panhandling Ordinance. 


THEY’VE BEEN WORKING ON THE RAILROAD

February 10, 2011 /

On February 8, 2011 the Obama Administration announced that it plans to invest an additional $53 billion in high-speed and intercity rail service over the next six years. The plan calls for giving 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years. 

So when will the Triangle see high speed rail, commuter rail and light rail transit? 

Raleigh will see noticeable improvements in rail service over the next few years. Track improvements made possible through high-speed rail funds approved early last year will help increase the speed of NC trains from 79 to 90 mph in some areas with future high-speed rail connections to Richmond and Washington D.C.

But there is much more coming, as a plan to provide additional rail options and expand bus service in our community has been discussed on this blog many times.  

Though it’s been quiet lately, public meetings on rail alignment and station locations are expected to be held early this spring.   Check out Triangle Regional Transit Program for updates from Capital Area Friends of Transit

A recent article in the Midtown Magazine by Illyse Lane does an excellent job of explaining the types of rail technologies being discussed, and why our attention is critical to the process.  With support by those living downtown, we are able to create an environment that is friendly to residents, the ecosystem, the city, and the eastern seaboard.  Get on board now!

You can read a PDF of the magazine article here.

This Midtown Magazine article was written by Illyse Lane, and was featured in their January/February edition.  The Midtown Magazine is now online!  Visit them at www.midtownmag.com

Moore Square Redesign; When and How Much?

February 8, 2011 /


The next step in the Moore Square Redesign takes place next week with a meeting for public comments on the draft master plan. Download a pdf report of the plan from the city’s website (at ‘DRAFT Master Plan’ in the right sidebar) or here directly. The meeting to go over the plan and have an opportunity to ask questions and submit comments is at:

5:30-7:00pm
Thursday February 17th, 2011
Chavis Community Center
505 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

Diving into the draft plan, we see estimates for how long this project will take and how much it will cost.

The Master Plan process is coming to a close soon with this final review and plan. Funding is needed to continue to the next step of schematic and design development, an estimated eight month process. Following this, another eight months is needed to create construction documents and another year after until that construction is complete on the square.

Schematic and Design Development: 8 months
Construction Documents: 8 months
Construction: 1 year

Estimated completion: Summer 2013 (funding dependant)

The total cost of design, earthwork, park fixtures, and many other elements that are planned to go into the park; about $14 million. Individual costs are broken out in the report so please take a look and voice your comments at the meeting next week or directly to the city on their website. (there is a contacts section in the right sidebar)

Raleigh’s Capital District: Where history is made and preserved

February 3, 2011 /

Of the seven districts that comprise downtown, Raleigh’s Capital District is the one which has the most far-reaching impact throughout the entire state of North Carolina. Raleigh’s Capital District is where North Carolina’s governing officials convene and shape history and it welcomes thousands of visitors interested in learning about the state and its rich heritage.

Within the borders of Peace Street to the north, Person Street to the east, Morgan Street to the south and Dawson Street to the west reside the North Carolina State Legislative Building, the North Carolina State Archives, the Executive Mansion and the State Capitol. Marble-faced buildings and manicured lawns seamlessly intertwine the government structures with two of North Carolina’s major museums centered amongst them. Both the North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences occupy Bicentennial Plaza, the pedestrian mall that lies between the State Legislative Building and the State Capitol. 

 

Visit HelloRaleigh.com to read more of this article on the Capital District.


One Small Step for a Vital Greenway Connection — One Wrong Step for the Environment? So Argue Property Owners.

January 24, 2011 /

There’s a lot at stake… First consider Sig Hutchinson’s dream for area walkers, runners and bikers:

Sig Hutchinson, co-founder of the Raleigh Downtowner has long been working to build 150 miles of greenway trails spanning Falls Lake to Durham’s American Tobacco complex, and he sites Crabtree Creek as the connection point for the rest of the grid.  Sig says, “The (1.3 mile) Crabtree Creek Greenway connection to Umstead State Park is the final link in a hundred plus mile greenway system”.

The DLA also sees an advantage in this connection, since it allows downtown residents to not only walk, run or bike on greenways from Downtown to Umstead Park, but they’ll be able to continue through the park and connect through the new Crabtree Creek greenway onto Shelley Lake, or east past Raleigh Boulevard and all the way to New Bern Avenue.  With plans for a future 3-mile link to Downtown from Raleigh Boulevard, residents will enjoy a continuous 26 mile loop.

So what is the problem?

This connection has been shown on greenway maps for years, but the city needs land for the easement, which runs through Hanson’s quarry.  Now that the quarry seeks to expand, owners have proposed a trade.  If the city allows them their request for expansion, then they agree to unlock this important greenway connection.

Downtown GreenwayMapsClick the image to enlarge 

This image shows how the future 1.3 mile Crabtree Creek greenway section would connect to the existing greenways through Umstead Park.

Consider the issues involved:A website blockthequarry.org promotes community opposition to the quarry expansion, and a recent article from the N&O, Raleigh quarry wants to grow, also outlines concerns.

 

 

“A mining company wants to extend an 80-year-old rock quarry that abuts an upscale neighborhood and Umstead State Park.  But a group of North Raleigh residents is fighting the expansion, saying it could lead to environmental damage, noisy neighborhoods and diminished property values.”  

Indyweek.com also talks about the issues involved – Raleigh quarry quandry, creek or greenway?.    

 

 

Sig Hutchinson continues to fight for walkers and bikers through his Greenway ACTION Alert, asking residents to send a message to Raleigh City Council members regarding this “last piece in the Greenway System yet to be secured and the gateway connecting Raleigh to the rest of the region.”  Sig says, “When I talk to groups interested in greenways, far and away the most important segue that people talk about is this connection at Crabtree Creek.  And now the option for the quarry to expand creates a window of opportunity for the greenway.  If this goes away, it’s just too easy for them to walk away and never open the door again.”

 

The Planning Commission Committee of the Whole is expected to decide on the issue at their scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 1st (9-11am) at the Raleigh Municipal Building, Rm 303.  The meeting is open to the public.

Where do you stand?

Come to the meeting so you can make your voice heard in this important decision for Raleigh’s development.

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