Looks like Phase II may get underway soon; mass grading:
https://raleighnc-energovpub.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice#/plan/9b0877c3-c354-464c-9cbb-f55321f8d06b
Interestingly not on the project page:
https://raleighnc-energovpub.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice#/project/e1207160-e9b1-409a-9960-54473b56e037
I’m excited for Phase II, I hope to see even more buildings and activity in this largely vacant part of town. I’d also like to see either an IHG or Hilton branded hotel here.
Or another Marriott! 
What is this building a phase 2 of? The location looks like the spot for the amphitheatre on Google Maps.
It’s Phase 2 of “City Gateway”, the area bounded by MLK, McDowell, and the NCRR. Mira was Phase I. I think next they are extending Kindley to MLK, tearing up the northbound onramp from MLK onto McDowell, and grading to match.
So is this the education space that was partially demolished and now looks like the setting for a post-apocalypse city in a movie?
No, the other side of the tracks. Feel free to consult a map at any time
I think this is an underrated project. Even though it’s only 13 stories when you take out the parking levels, from its frontage on McDowell it’s 217 ft tall. That’s taller than the Maeve. It’s really going to dominate the iconic shot of the skyline from the south.
It’s most likely going to add a foreground layer to the money shot.
…too bad about how it… you know… looks 
(lmao)
hmm i use this onramp daily, so I guess everyone going northbound on mcdowell go via kindley or south?
It’s clearly not an iconic design. Let’s hope that it just plays the role of appetizer for the skyline.
I agree it’s pretty basic from a design standpoint, but the original ASR specifies the cladding as limestone masonry and black brick. That would at least look better than the vinyl siding we see so much of these days.
Maybe I’m naive, but I’d like to think that no hotel brand would want to put their name on a building that is both prominent and ugly lol.
So, we are replacing the trees along our most formal, money-shot, entrance to the city with a parking garage pushed to McDowell Street? Am I reading that correctly?
The city has been gaining more attention from national players, and now is the time for the city to raise its standards on materiality and design for future projects. I hope that the materials from the ASR aren’t allowed to be eliminated or swapped.
With the convention center expansion blocking the Shimmer Wall, the city could have the developer (or themselves) put up something similar on the deck. Probably an image of an oak tree, no shimmering (moving) components though.
Yeah, real talk I do like the black brick - will at least be DIFFERENT compared to the whites, beiges, and blue-glass buildings we usually get.
So there it is. We completely lose the visual foundation of trees in our city’s money shot to be replaced by a parking garage that’s pushed to the street. The trees anchored the branding of this entrance to Raleigh. It’s really sad IMO.
I’m sure it’s deep in the chat but I could’ve sworn that there were two lots (in front and behind the Phase 2 lot) zoned for 40 stories?
Edit: I found it?
