Potentially huge news for the Blue Ridge corridor: TBJ reports that electronics giant Lenovo, which obviously has the naming rights to the arena, is considering a move to a new (to be built) office building in the development around the arena. Right now, Lenovo occupies 660,000 SF in RTP.
Office is the most challenged commercial property type, and having Lenovo anchor (or fully occupy) an office building would really kick start the broader mixed-use development.
Heard this mentioned as possiblity on the Ovies & Giglio podcast a few weeks back. Wondering if Lenovo may be in play for the naming rights to Carter-Finley as well.
State’s AD made it clear they are looking to sell the naming rights, with the support of the Carter and Finely families. Name on the arena, the stadium and then a office building would be quiet the combo.
Might just have to call it the Lenovo District at that point!
This would be a great way for Gucci to break into the Raleigh market. Gucci Arena!
I think Martin Middle School would be open to a deal with you, GLP.
It was a nice gym when I was attending in late 70s.
Completely forgot about this. Thanks! We can literally walk there and haven’t been since last summer. Long overdue for some exploration there.
I’ll walk it with you when I am back in Raleigh.
They are in the middle of updating the intersection at the Art Museum and Reed Creek Rd. I have been biking through there and all the crosswalk buttons/lights have been removed. Hopefully won’t take too long, but soon should get closer to that being complete along with the bridge opening down towards Trinity.
I took these last weekend and you can see it in the background of Daniel’s pics above. There are some new installations going in. I love having two huge sculpture parks biking distance from one another 
. Quite an amenity.
I actually live over that way, and that museum park is one of my favorite things about my location. Thanks for the update pics. As soon as the pollen I’m allergic to dies down, I want to go check it out.
What’s the second? besides NCMA
To me, it’s Dix (thus the wink bc people will disagree). The sculptures are similar in scale and in how they complement the landscape. Dix will continue to add until maybe there’s as much or more art than the NCMA sculpture park. The two are connected by the greenway already and easily bikable. I want to see the sculptures at Dix rebranded as “NCMA at Dix” and have bike share stations at each park to encourage biking in between them. And then pepper in more art along the greenway. Call it the “NCMA Artway” or something. NCMA and Dix are the common highlights when marketing Raleigh already, as evidenced by the NYT article recently. Let’s double down on all of it.
Not bad in theory but the NCMA is owned by the state and Dix by the city. It was a hard fought battle for the city to get the park and we’re not likely to give it up again.
I’m talking about, like, putting the NCMA logo in the bottom corner of the sculpture plaques, not renaming Dix Park.
And then promoting the art (not Dix Park) as a collaboration with NCMA and promoting the bike route connecting the two. Art is just one element of Dix Park.
I can’t change my reaction to your post but I agree with your first point. I’m not sure what you mean in your second sentence. I don’t think Dix Con. leaders would be interested in putting NCMA’s name on plaques for art installations, in which they paid for without NCMA contributions (to my knowledge).
I think they could partner with NCMA to have a section of the park have art installations paid for by both entities though. The last phase with the boutique hotel and overlook plaza, etc. could be a great location 
They could also just partner on branding and promotion. I dont think it has to be under the NCMA label, heck just Arts in the Parks. Raleigh use to be called a park with a ciry in it, play off that. Maybe Parks with Art so you could use PWA.
Promoting the greenway link is a great idea. Is there room to add art along the trail? I still love the Artery idea (covering the tracks downtown) but it is unlikely anytime soon. This artery seems doable now!
Should we put together a study group and solicit public comment?
I’ve always wished the NCMA had a boutique hotel with a signature chef inspired restaurant. It could feature art from local artist, available for purchase.
Yeah I’m talking about a partnership and marketing. The plaque comment was just an example because you all thought I was asking to rename the park. The idea is just to get people visiting NCMA at blue ridge to go check out Dix Park and the sculptures there and vice versa. Either by bike on the Artway or driving. Currently there’s no push at all and no marketed connection. But if you’re visiting and making a trip to NCMA for the sculpture park, I think it’s a miss if you leave Raleigh without going to see the art at Dix too. Online and in person, there would be marketing like “the experience continues with the NCMA collection at Dix Park” with maps and details to forge the connection. It just adds some credibility to the pieces at Dix. Sophia Fortuna was donated/sponsored by NCMA. NCMA has an annex/outpost in W-S. I don’t think any of this is a stretch. And different parties can work together if they have a good idea, that’s not a real blocker.
