I would also argue that they could easily tweak this design to be the same building but with better street level activation. I feel like it’s all hypothetical at this point anyways since it’s just a random rendering. Hopefully whatever gets built here eventually takes the street level experience into consideration because I agree with you.
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Agreed. A beautiful skyline full of interesting buildings is great, but if we could only have one or the other we should pick an enjoyable human-scale street-level experience every time. Buildings that look nice from miles away might entice someone to come downtown the first time, but how they feel while walking and living among those buildings is what keeps them here (or doesn’t).
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I doubt this is the planned structure. Probably just a quick render to show massing.
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yeah, I know. I’m usually the one reminding people when a design is just conceptual 
I’m just responding to the rendering in hypothetical terms.
But even at a conceptual level, they’ve placed a parking garage/services with no ground-floor retail on a prominent street. That’s worthy of critique even at early/massing studies stage.
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Go Canes! When will the market be ready?
Being a Land Surveyor, too much inexpensive land around Raleigh primed for development is taking away from DT development imo
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Building designs almost never get better after renderings are released. This is not a massing model.
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I think this is a realistic expectation although the PNC tower is a pretty major exception.
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Well density and transit will hopefully solve that problem. I’m not an expert on land value this is just my guess.
I know this isn’t the right chat but what’s going on with the pedestrian street project?
Still in progress: Commerce Place | Raleighnc.gov
Could start seeing some minor improvements this summer
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I don’t think we have a dedicated CAM thread, so I’m putting this here. CAM sent an email that they are pausing exhibitions and programming on June 15th to reevaluate how to move forward.
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I’ll give myself a 
for this post, but I’m not a big fan of CAM or how they’ve operated for the last number of years. The place is small and often was half empty when I’ve been. They charge(d) money to get in. Their big plans for redeveloping that block never moved forward. Their activated food truck hangout area is now a gravel paid parking lot. I’m curious to see what they decide to do going forward.
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Most museums charge admissions. I’m not sure if that’s a problem unless the charge is $25+ (some NYC museums charge $30 and require timed reservations).
I’d love for CAM to continue providing contemporary art space. It’s gotta be tough to be in a booming neighborhood and city and yet be challenged with funding cuts
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CAM has had its ups and downs over the decades. It began in 1983 as the City Gallery of Contemporary Art, and I believe it was near Moore Square. In the 1990s, Mayor Fetzer killed funding provided by the City. It was resurrected by Mayor Meeker and then got into a relationship with the NCSU College of Design. The current building opened in 2011. Admission was charged and if I recall correctly, it was a rather steep price for such a small museum. The admission fee was later dropped. My impression is that NCSU’s participation declined over time and the finances of the museum have been deteriorating slowly but steadily.
Same story in Winston-Salem where SECCA, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, was eventually taken over by NCMA and more recently rebranded NCMA Winston-Salem. Its hours are still limited.
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Good info and summary. Thank you. My point was exactly what you said, the admission was steep for such a small place, and I never felt it was worth it, so I stopped going. Contrast that to the NCMA which is way bigger and is free, or all the free studios on First Friday. Apples and oranges I’m sure, but it just made it fall out of my rotation.
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One less free studio just down the street from CAM: 311 Gallery quietly shut down a few months ago. It’s sad that the Warehouse District is losing so many artists, and I’m sure the diminishing concentration of studios just fuels their losses. Martin Street was a really fun First Friday art hub for a long time. RIP Design Box, Flanders, and Litmus. I imagine it’s tough to have a gallery and studio space there now with how expensive real estate is.
Also, CAM was free on First Fridays.
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They did not charge admission. The space is amazing for young artists doing one of their first museum exhibits.
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They absolutely did. I went several times, including first Friday, and they charged admission. I’m not saying this was last year, but awhile back.
They absolutely did not.