Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

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Faces of Downtown Raleigh: Meet Kalesia Kuenzel

March 3, 2010 /

What’s situated between the Joel Lane House and Bloomsbury Estates, nearly a hundred years old, yet new this month?  It’s ARTHOUSE, the first of many creative projects housed in architects, Chris and Nasim Kuenzel’s newly renovated 1920’s  home, they call  “Post Suburbia Project”.  Curious?  So were my wife and I as Kalesia Kuenzel, the daughter of Chris and Nasim and director of ARTHOUSE, greeted us this week.

 

The old and new theme continues…  “Post Suburbia Project” is a reference to the movement back Downtown after the massive migration to the suburbs starting back in the 1950s.  Kalesia shares her parents’ dedication to Downtown life, which until now has focused in Fayetteville where the family supports the arts through projects like the ten year old art theater, Cameo.  Yet with ties to Raleigh through Kalesia and Nasim’s graduate degrees at NC State, their presence in Raleigh is a natural.

Walking through the front door at 716 W. Hargett, we find their vision evident.  The perfect blending of old (highly polished original floors, doors and fireplaces restored in a way that reveals their history), and new (streamlined modern track lighting and cabinetry, fresh white walls), functions as the perfect backdrop for creativity.  ARTHOUSE, the art studio where Kalesia works with children (ages 4 – 12), offers a bright, inviting, spacious environment, where kids may not at first notice the details of scented candles and specially selected music, but find themselves approaching art through all their senses.  For Kalesia, this is a celebration of the way she herself was raised, with creativity always at the center of her experience.

Kalesia Kuenzel and Jim BeltWhy Hargett St., we ask?  Kalesia beams talking about the sliver of neighborhood which is home to gathering spots like Boylan Bridge Brewpub and Moonlight Pizza Company, the history of the Joel Lane House, the promise of Bloomsbury Estates; and neighbor to the well organized, eclectic, artsy and activist Boylan Heights.  To this, she adds the “unique mixture of living and working” that all add up to a buzz that’s bound to spread even further, with the arrival of the proposed new transportation or multimodal center in the nearby Warehouse District.

Drop in and meet Kalesia.  You’ll be inspired by her, the setting and the view of Raleigh’s skyline.  You may want to schedule art lessons, or like my wife, you may dream of moving in!  With apartment units available for rent, this could be arranged.


Faces of Raleigh: Hector Ibarra, Owner of Jibarra Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Lounge in Raleigh’s Warehouse District

February 24, 2010 /

The DLA is all about getting to know you: the residents, workers and business owners who are shaping the character of Downtown life.  Watch for our Faces of Raleigh blog posts to share a glimpse of whom we’re meeting.  We appreciate the following interview provided by our DLA members, Ryan Craig and Julie Johnson Babb.  Ryan and Julie recently interviewed Hector Ibarra of Jibarra Modern Mexican and Tequila Lounge.

Ryan: What are your impressions of Downtown Raleigh?

Hector: I moved my business from North Raleigh to Downtown because people come to Downtown Raleigh for something different – a locally owned experience. My partners and I saw the momentum building in Downtown and wanted to be a part of it.  Even though the economy is slowing growth down, we’re still really excited about the momentum that continues to build Downtown. 

Ryan: It seems Downtown Raleigh has adapted to the economy better than other cities nationally. Do you get the same feeling?

Hector: Higher end businesses have definitely been hurt. They used to be a white tablecloth dining establishment but when they moved downtown, they wanted to recreate their image. They wanted it to be a lot more casual and fun. We had so much fun designing and decorating the restaurant. We are young and feel comfortable attracting that audience.

Ryan: Explain your restaurant.

Hector: We like to introduce our guests to new things in taste, sight and environment. I am proud of my Mexican heritage and want people to see a different side to Mexican food. Our wines focus on South American and Spanish wines and our Mexican tequila is the best selection in all of Raleigh. Did you know tequila is supposed to be sipped room temperature and chased with a pallet cleansing drink – not salt and lime?  We put a large focus on attention to detail and encourage our staff to teach our customers about real Mexican traditions.

Hector IbarraRyan: It seems like your restaurant is not just a financial venture to you.

Hector: Absolutely not. One works so many hours in the restaurant business that there must be a lot of love and passion behind what you are doing.

Ryan: Is there any specific direction you’d like to see in Downtown development?

Hector: There are a lot of dining establishments and museums in Downtown, but  still plenty of holes to fill in with retail.  Downtown needs more public art and more activities in order to be better rounded.

Ryan: Are you looking forward to the transportation project that is proposed right outside your front door?

Hector: More traffic would be appreciated if the train project happens. I’d like to see more people walking by.  We already get a decent amount of traffic from the train station.

Hector: One more thing on the aspect of living in Downtown…I’ve got a lot of friends who would like to live Downtown but because of the cost, it’s not an option. I wish there were more rental properties and more affordable places to live. I believe that would create a much more interesting group of residents, instead of just high-end. 

[The DLA will soon be releasing a blog post that describes the increasing number of options for more affordable and different styles of housing, focused on the redevelopment of smaller single family homes to the east of Moore Square.]

Ryan: What has been the best thing for your restaurant since you moved to Downtown?

Hector: I really feel at home here in Downtown. Our beloved restaurant has finally found its home.


FACES OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH – Megg Rader of the Mahler and Collectors Galleries

February 19, 2010 /

Megg Rader and Jim BeltWhen my wife and I dropped in to meet Megg this week, conversation sparked from her delight in discovering the UPS store behind the Hudson, to her pleasure in the well-attended reception the Mahler Gallery had hosted for the local lawyer, Wade Smith, whose artwork is currently displayed in the windows of the N.C. State Bar Building (228 Fayetteville St.).  Through her eyes, we were quickly able to see the networking, support and vision that have made Megg and her business partner, Rory Parnell long time Downtown enthusiasts. 

 

Whether it’s lending their space for yoga classes, sharing their art with 18 Seaboard or the American Institute of Healthcare and Fitness, their sense of community expresses itself in ways that make all of Raleigh a more creative, vibrant, engaging place to live.

With conversations fresh in my mind from recent neighborhood meetings focusing on the city’s development codes, I asked Megg the same questions that the DLA presented to the residents.

What do you see as a positive trend in your neighborhood (Downtown)?

  • I’m glad to see more people!  The growth in number of residents, visitors, and people who make Downtown restaurants an evening destination has really increased the foot traffic in Raleigh.
  • The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has done a fabulous job with the R Line, street-scaping and planning.  They’re working hard for the Downtown community.
  • The influence of people like the Mayor Charles Meeker and the developer Greg Hatem, has gone a long way to shape Downtown in a way that preserves its historical buildings and socio-economic diversity, yet invites in new vision, as well.
  • Having parking decks in central locations with development around them works well.

What is needed to improve the Downtown?

  • More services!  We need pharmacies, copy stores, dry cleaning, book stores…
  • Stitch and Collectors Gallery are not enough.  We need other small, unique shopping options that offer a wide range of price points.  It’s critical that we listen to what people want so that everyone can find something to love.
  • My husband and I enjoy coming Downtown to the IMAX and then out to dinner.  We’d like to see another theater so there are more choices of movies.
  • The renovation of Moore Square will also be helpful in drawing in visitors and businesses to Downtown, especially the City Market area.  

What needs to be preserved?

  • The historic buildings Downtown and in the Warehouse District 
  • Parks and green space

My wife and I left our visit with Megg, feeling like we’d met not just a business person, but a neighbor. We’re grateful that visionaries like her and Rory have held out, when it would have been easy for them to move to more lucrative environs like North Hills.  But they’ve stayed, and they’re holding out the welcome lamp for others like us who appreciate a Downtown with history, character and variety that can’t be manufactured in the suburbs.

We thank you, Megg and Rory!


What do you get when you mix national and international talent with wine??? Mosaic’s Spring Music Fest

February 15, 2010 /

Mosaic Wine Lounge offers a sexy, sophisticated and romantic atmosphere with their Moroccan inspired décor with numerous couches, hanging lamps and candles.  The owner reports the clientele to be 75% professional women, with the crowd generally over 25 years of age.

Established in 2006 in Raleigh’s Glenwood South entertainment district (517 W. Jones Street), Mosaic attracts an array of national and international DJ talent, with live Salsa and Samba Bands after 10:00pm.  You will not find any Televisions or Hip Hop music in this joint.

Each night of the week Mosaic features a different theme and speciality drink.  Wednesday nights they host a free wine tasting at 7:30pm.  And, if you do not wish to sample the wine Mosaic offers, all other wine on Wednesdays (by the bottle or the glass) are available at half price.  

Mosaic recently added an outdoor lounge which is quite beautiful.  At night a DJ plays inside and outside (weather permitting).  

Mosaic will be hosting the Spring Music Fest, offering eleven days of music from close to fifty local national and internationals DJ’s and artists representing a broad range of musical styles.  The event runs from May 28th through June 7th, 2010, so be sure to mark your calendars.  

You can visit the Mosaic Wine Lounge on the web at www.mosaicwinelounge.com. or join the Mosaic Facebook Group.


Downsizing: For Many, an Obstacle to Living Downtown

February 2, 2010 /

I keep hearing that the demand for the lifestyle associated with Downtown living is high and growing.  But when I talk with Boomers who live in big houses in the suburbs, there is a real reluctance to make the shift . . . and it’s mainly about the challenges of downsizing!

My wife and I are empty nesters, and made the leap from a large single family home to apartment/condo type living over 10 years ago, and we’re very happy we did.  I know many of you Boomers out there are thinking about it too . . . so I wanted to share my own perspective and thoughts about it.

First, are the many benefits of an urban lifestyle.  I attended a lecture last week on ‘Transit in the Triangle’, which reported that the public demand for “walkable urbanism” or Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is growing in the Triangle and across the country, and is projected to represent at least 1/3  of the U.S. Housing Market by 2030.  Like those surveyed, my wife and I see walkable communities as providing a better quality of life and healthier lifestyle.  We want the choice of not taking the car to do routine errands.

There are overwhelming environmental and economic benefits to steering development away from living patterns that gobble up green space and add to our increasing transport cost and time spent on over crowded roads.  But moving to a higher density area usually means downsizing to a much smaller space.  And that can be a major obstacle and a real challenge for many people.  Boomers typically trade-up in house size several times as the family grows and the kids get older.  But when the kids leave, you may find ourselves like us, asking your selves . . . Do I really need all this space?

When the kids leave . . . Do I really need all this space?

So what does it mean to downsize?  It means getting rid of all the extraneous things and noise in your life that are not contributing to your happiness.   My wife’s philosophy comes back to an Asian aesthetic about art and design.  She says “you aim for one focal point in each room and clear out the rest..  Get rid of the clutter, and everything around you becomes the things you love.”

I put it a little differently.  If your house has become merely a large storage container, go through all your treasures and enjoy the trip down memory lane . . . then sell the “crap”.

Happy downsizing!

 

 

Click here to download a copy of the ‘Transit in the Triangle’ presentation


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