For Dix, I think it is just a matter of time. IIRC the city has said in the past it wanted Dix Park to have a “hard edge” with dense development right up against the park.
There is a long way to go, but this “hard edge” has started with the north end of Lake Wheeler (Weld, Row/Rockway) and the south end (Maywood and Mercury) will probably follow suit. I wouldn’t be surprised if the state-owned land across Western (Central Prison and the Governer Morehead school) get sold and redeveloped eventually simply due to increasing land values
And here’s NCSU’s vision for Centennial campus
