Downtown hotels

It’s gonna be weird coming down Dawson and not seeing that sign.

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Unfortunately it’s probably McLaurin getting ready to sell parking for the owner.

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There were bulldozers tearing up pavement at the site next door at the corner of Davie and McDowell yesterday.

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Another fine parking lot for downtown Raleigh.

I used to park in one of those parking lots for a number of years. Much cheaper than a parking deck that is for sure. Besides I view parking lots as holders in place for future developments.

“Fiber is coming” - Google, January 2015

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I feel like I heard that sign was one of those grandfathered in with a variance to the sign ordinance. I’m not saying I want a downtown full of neon signs again, but I think that is the second to last one from a bygone era (the last one being pretty obvious…). Maybe it could be repurposed or reused as ‘art’ instead of as a sign. Whiskey Kitchen started life as a Firestone…might be cool to tack it up there…

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I guess it’s kind of an eyesore, but there was one just like it in my little town in upstate NY where I grew up. The first time I visited Raleigh I was blown away that they still had one, too. I’ll miss that factor. That being said, I wouldn’t mind some cool neon signs downtown if they’re done well. Retro or cool-looking (hard to legislate, I get that) only maybe, with the emphasis being on art and not LIVE NUDES HERE type of signs. I’m thinking of Deco’s, which looks awesome.

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Deco is nice. Mecca is old school similar vertical style. Bittersweet to a lesser degree too.
FWIW, Hillsborough St was solid ‘live nude’ neon signs as late as the mid 80’s. Inside, Cup a Joe still has the sidewalk ‘advertising platforms’ for the ladies and windows from the bar to the performance room.

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The Firestone sign is being preserved in the renovation of their former location in Miami Beach. I think those signs are totally worth saving.

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Just thinking out loud here. Between the Nexus Phase 2, 301 Hillsborough Phase 2, the AC, the Origin, Nash Square, the Courtyard on the Enterprise lot, and whatever’s going on with the old Firestone lot, we’re gonna see a lot of hotel rooms come online in the next few years. Of course not all of these will be built at the same time, if at all, but it sure seems the dam is finally breaking. This also means an expansion to the convention center is going to look a lot better when it comes time to spend the hotel/food tax. Don’t get too attached to going to concerts at Red Hat.

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Good list. Can also add the Garden Inn/Homewood Suites combo at 200 W Davie and the Element at 603 S Wilmington.

Although, I seem to remember the downtown hotel report recommending that a 400+ room hotel was the biggest need. Not sure if all these <200 room hotels meet the same needs since you still can’t book large blocks. City likely would have to provide a subsidy for a large hotel which might not go over well with all these other new construction hotels. I think Charlotte is offering subsidies right now for a new 800-1000 room hotel??

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Looks like the Firestone sign is coming down today. Crane truck is Hidden behind the sign. Anyone heard anymore about the project on this site?

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Just drove by. The signs are now down.

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I hope they’re being saved. Somewhat of an icon.

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I belive this is more about the signs and less about the hotel/property. I think there is a company that reclaims these for re-sell. I hope I’m wrong and work is set to begin soon, seems like we have more hotel projects in limbo than anything.

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It’s such a staple character sign for downtown and it would be a shame to see it sold to the highest bidder. The Firestone sign in South Beach (Miami Beach) is being historically preserved and integrated into the renovation and re-use of their former location there. To me, this sign falls into the same category as that tractor sign on Hillsborough Street. If it wasn’t saved, then shame on us.

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I don’t know if this means anything, but while driving through downtown this afternoon I saw a backhoe on the Hilton Garden Inn / Homewood Suites site at the NW corner of Davie and McDowell.

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Oh, it means something. But what? Lol

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The Developer has applied for building permits!

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