Downtown Revitalization: Raleigh, Seven Years Later
August 14, 2013 58 comments
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Downtown revitalization is something that Jacksonville has struggled with for 40 years now. Perhaps we are making revitalization more difficult than it has to be? During Metro Jacksonville's early years, we looked at Raleigh's plans for revitalizing their downtown. Now seven years later, we revisit the city to see if things have changed for the better.
Other Notable Recently Completed Downtown Raleigh Projects
The fortunes of downtown Raleigh have changed since Raleigh City Council's adoption of the 2003 Livable Streets Initiative. Below are a few notable recently completed projects in close proximity to Raleigh's revitalized Fayetteville Street and new convention center.
PNC Plaza
In 2007, a 29-story mixed-use office and condominium tower, then known as the RBC Plaza, was under construction. Completed in 2008 and now known as PNC Plaza, the 538' structure is downtown Raleigh's tallest building.
2007
2013
Red Hat Amphitheater
In June 2010, the City of Raleigh completed construction of 5,500 seat amphitheater across the street from the new Raleigh Convention Center. The $2.5 million amphitheater replaced another surface parking lot. In September 2012, Red Hat agreed to pay the City of Raleigh $1.175 million for the naming rights to the downtown amphitheater.
Wake County Justice Center
In June 2013, the 577,000-square-foot Wake County Justice Center opened its doors one block west of PNC Plaza. While, Jacksonville took a suburban approach to the construction of its new courthouse, Raleigh's 11-story courthouse was vertically designed, limiting the amount of urban land area required for its existence. Also of note, the $184 million Justice Center opened $30 million under budget and weeks ahead of schedule.
The modern Gothic-style Wake County Justice Center can be seen in the distance on Salisbury Street. The justice center is one block west of Fayetteville Street and PNC Plaza.
State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Tower
In 2009, construction of the $45 million SECU mid-rise office building started. In July 2013, the modern 12-story tower was completed. It's the final piece of the two-block Green Square complex that includes the Nature Research Center, the Green Square Parking Deck and the new headquarters building for the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. SECU employees occupy about half of the 240,000-square-foot building with the rest being available for lease.
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