Interesting in the DTR WireService has something about an indoor movie theater not required to have spaces for parking?
https://www.raleighnc.gov/content/PlanDev/Documents/Zoning/Rezoning/RezoningCases/2018/Z-032-18.pdf
@John tell us what you know.
1 Like
I was in Boston in 2000. At that time the Big Dig was still under construction. It was really amazing watching this massive project being built. It ended up costing around 24 billion dollars! At first it was considered a failure but now Boston is in the middle of a construction boom directly attributed to this project. Everyone wants transit but balk when the costs come up. Charlotte’s light rail system came in at around 450 million. Raleigh should stop tap dancing around and make the same investment. Go all in without penny-pinching and get it done. It will definitely pay off. Go big on a capital project that will gain national attention and lay a solid foundation for the future.
12 Likes
I feel it’s necessary to point out that $462 million was the total cost of just the original lower half of the Blue Line. The extension to UNCC 11 years later cost $1.16 billion for roughly the same length, but it was a more complicated project.
2 Likes
And, how much of that was covered by the locals, the state and the feds? Anytime a project comes up around here, the state keeps cutting what they are willing to spend.
I’m having difficulty finding the figures for the original line, but both seem to be about 50% federal, 25% state, and 25% local. If I recall correctly, the legislature then instituted a cap on light rail funding at $500,000, later increased to 10%, which I believe was removed earlier this year (?).
And this is why the Wake Transit BRT relies on zero state funding.
How good is Raleigh’s credit?
AAA from all 3 credit agencies.
I still want a better Performing Arts Center. Ours is mediocre–great for when Raleigh was a small town in a rural tobacco state. That that isn’t the case anymore.
DPAC is one of the top 10 in the US and Greensboro will have a new one finished this year. Ours is flanked by parkings lots and a one story McDonalds.
I wonder if I hire a concept art, have some sketches floating around places I can subliminal implant the idea to more people in Raleigh.
4 Likes
I think your point of DPAC being one of the Top 10 in the country is exactly why we likely won’t see any changes to Memorial or a new one built - Durham is too close to us, it’d be a major financial risk.
1 Like
Maybe but wont’ stop me from trying to get more people on board with the idea.
1 Like
My dream would be that Raleigh reconstructed some of its streets to be more environmentally friendly, pedestrian and bike friendly and filled with green life.
Ex: https://mobile.twitter.com/toyota/status/1214307946395525124
3 Likes
I remember reading a few years ago that about 40% of DPAC’s subscriber base lived in Wake County. North Raleigh (and Cary) are the reason it’s in the top 10. Give them a reason to go downtown, and Raleigh could be instead.
6 Likes
No doubt that Wake significantly contributes to DPAC success. If there was no Wake, it would not get the shows it gets. In fact, without Wake, it’s doubtful that it would have been built in the first place.
As much as I’d like to see Raleigh “win” with a better performing arts center, I’m not sure it really makes sense to @Jake’s point. We need a much larger population to have another DPAC level performing arts center in this region. Nobody is going to agree with or fund “competing” with a top 10 facility that’s 30 minutes away. That’s my logic. That said, I’d love to have a performing arts center better than DPAC in DTR. That would be amazing. Until then, we enjoy taking the train to Durham to enjoy what Durham has.
2 Likes
The hubs and I have our spot on the floor at Meymandi for our season tickets with the North Carolina Symphony. And, with the new acoustical ceiling in place, we are very happy puppies.
And, having performed at concert venues around the country and in Europe, we thoroughly enjoy what he have in Raleigh.
.
14 Likes
Raleigh used to have the traveling Broadway market. After the performing arts center was renovated and expanded, it was hailed as an example of what a city the size of Raleigh should have. Raleigh rested on its laurels and let Durham build a better theater for the touring shows and stole that business away from Raleigh. That said, Raleigh still has a much more comprehensive arts center. If somehow the Memorial Auditorium part of the center was uplifted to match the quality of the rest of the center, it could attract more shows and be more competitive.
4 Likes
Memorial Auditorium’s back of house space would require a serious upfit to match what has been done at DPAC.
And, the front of stage would require a complete do-over to be reconfigured as the typical shoebox which is the desirable acoustic these days.
I never said it was an easy task! 
As a guest, there are things that I don’t like about DPAC. In particular, their lobby space is tiny, and I think that 3rd level seating is a complete joke. I sat their once and never felt so disengaged from a performance in my life. That’s a once and done for me, and I’ll never sit there again no matter how cheap the seats are.
1 Like