Agreed. Plus as the newest space on the market they may be able to attract a few existing office tenants looking to trade up in quality of space with an opportunity for custom upfit.
There are exceptions. But it is not the rule. I think if the market conditions were better we might be seeing taller buildings.
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And I have no problem with being a 12-story town. Look at DC – it’s incredibly urban, lively, and vibrant and most buildings don’t go beyond 12 stories. Or San Diego where no buildings go above 500ft – is it not also still very urban?
We could argue about height all day, but I will only say this is better than nothing and allow the gripe about parking be the only flaw so far. I think the parking is more on the city to have stricter regulations on design and parking.
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TBJ is reporting it will be 13 floors. I don’t have a subscription, so hopefully someone can see if there’s new information.
Highwoods files plans for 13-story Raleigh office tower - Triangle Business Journal
OKC > DC (extra characters)
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Nothing new really.
Me speculating, but maybe Peter Millar will be putting a store on that corner in the big retail spot.
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What are you talking about? The last 12 story building was peace (Cortland) apartments which opened 6 years ago. The dual Hilton hotel is like ~15. There’s nothing else new even in that range. It’s all taller (as someone else posted) or shorter (5 over 1s). I’m not sure where this comes from.
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Let’s embrace 12s on empty gravel lots where we can something built —-Question : if you could snap your fingers and cover ‘em all right now….would you!? I would b/c—— eventually you’ll see other redevelopment lots leveraged and those will go higher in some order.
Caveat : I’d still rather have something built on the Nexus lot over any and all other things….except maybe the gondola 
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This looks clean and like it’ll have some nice depth compared to other recent towers if the design survives through construction. I’m not mad at it… glad Raleigh’s finally moving past the all-glass curtain wall towers.
(Wish the tower to parking podium ratio was higher though…)
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I think it’s great that a 100,000 sq ft tenant is moving downtown from a suburban location. (Most likely Peter Millar) Of course, it would have been nice to have it taller. However, DTR is gaining a new headquarters operation plus a new office building on a vacant lot. It creates a bridge between the Dillon and Nash Square. The new state Education building is only 9 stories so this will give some height and fill in the skyline. Face it downtown Raleigh does not have big office tenants other than the state of NC that would anchor tall office towers. Even PNC had to be a mixed-use tower to get that height. (Of course, I think First Citizens Bank should have a 30-plus-story office tower in downtown to show the nation how big a bank it really is) This is GREAT NEWS for downtown Raleigh and in a challenging office environment. The 400H tower is only 20% leased in the office space, and even 721 Harrington Kane’s office tower has a full floor available. A new corporate tenant to downtown is a blessing.
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I will take it. Empty lot versus 12 story 20 story or redeveloped building. All a win. I am just saying we need to get over this thing of 40 stories or it isn’t good enough attitude. That is what I don’t agree with.
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DX-40 zoning allows a 40-story building. But because zoning specifies maximums, not minimums, that zoning in no way requires any certain height. DX-40 zoning also allows “indoor recreation uses,” including mini golf facilities, bingo parlors, and skating rinks – but if nobody wants to build those, then they’re under zero obligation to do so. Complaining about someone else not building a taller building even though they have the zoning to do so is just as hollow as complaining that they’re not building a bowling alley even though they have the zoning to do so.
As for why 12 stories, there is a subtle Type I distinction (Type I-A vs. I-B) at 160-180 feet tall; over that height requires more fire protection, and usually more wind bracing. The new Hilton hotels are probably about the same height; hotel floors are shorter than office floors.
Re: underground parking, it’s insanely expensive to build. Sure, the world would be a better place if everyone had to pay $50/day for parking, but we’re just not there.
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Yeah, it’s a 160’ cut-off for most occupancies and the roof for this one is 157.5’ above the average grade plane, which height is calculated from. Parapet doesn’t count and mechanical penthouse generally doesn’t either. They’re getting in every foot they can lol.
I’ve heard going from I-B to I-A can have around 2-4% impact on construction costs. So if you’re going to build 20 stories, it’s probably worth it, but if market conditions only make you comfortable with 13 or 14, then yeah, it makes much more sense to stay below the cut-off.
It’s interesting that there seems to be these “no-go” zones in building heights, and it’s probably due to these kinds of calculations. Somewhere around 30-35 floors lateral bracing, vertical transport of materials, and elevator design gets more complex. And then at 420’ you need a third fire stair and more complex sprinkler system. I’d imagine sitting just below the next trigger of cost is the sweet spot to be.
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Yeah, I wrote an article about one “hidden height limit” – most of DC has a 90’ limit under the federal Height Act, but that doesn’t matter since the Type III limit is 85’. There are a few 90’ Type I-B buildings, but only in really plush neighborhoods. Could also do Type IV if/when its costs come down.
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I think that that this discussion gives a lot of credibility to the idea that we should not have building maximums. Similar to the new parking space requirements. Judge every single project on its own merits 
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I would also like a bowling alley. 
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168,700 sf office space
5,665 sf retail
188,750 sf of parking area = 405 car parking spaces, 30 bike spaces are required, not clear how many they are providing.
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It’s pretty sad when a building has more square footage of parking than total mixed use space.
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