Downtown

Yesterday morning I ventured downtown for an Urban Land Institute roundtable, the topic was the opening of Fayetteville Street. For those not in the know, Fayetteville Street:Raleigh :: Peachtree St:Atlanta, but Fayetteville Street is a lot shorter (1/2 mile) and there's only one. In the early '70s it was converted to a pedestrian mall like many downtown streets at the time to compete with the burgeoning suburban malls unfortunately almost all of them were a miserable failure and Raleigh's was no different. One interesting thing that came out of the speakers panel was that design by committee is diffcult (duh) and that benches should have a middle arm rest to keep people from sleeping on them. Apparently the new benches are already being utilized for some sleep with the most popular ones located in front of the WTVD (local ABC affiilate) studio on Fayetteville St. a bench with a view of TVs, can't beat that.

I didn't get to really check out the streetscape yesterday as it was raining and I was in a hurry to get back to work but it will definitely be an improvement. It's also created a gravity to downtown which is leading to several hundred millions of dollars in private development. The biggest downside is that there is no moderately priced housing downtown with median condo prices according to today's N&O of about $343,000. There are only so many young professionals (who makes that much money as a young professional? There are only so many lawyers) and retirees out there but as of now condos are selling quickly which leads to a very homogenous populace.

This Saturday is the grand opening of the new street and looks to be a big party, even Good Morning America will be there. The City of Raleigh's press release even states this, "A military flyover and a bodacious fireworks display will officially conclude the party and begin the new life for North Carolina's main street." Who says bodacious? Maybe the Ninja Turtles will be there! I think Emily, her boyfriend, and I are going.

Bodacious Press Release

Sir Walter!