I actually think renovating for a food hall would remove a lot of the cool history about it. Kinda would be nice to see just a deep cleaning and leaving most of it as is, maybe as a museum or permanent art space like there was a temporary art exhibit once. Or some other use that could co-exist with leaving a lot of the machinery there?
1 Like
Just imagine the amount of art studios/mini offices you could fit in that place.
3 Likes
To add on to the Bain Project, here’s a Flickr group full of photos from it:
5 Likes
You can always build around the equipment. If you need space build an annex that is more flexible. The original build would act as a center piece thay leads to newer buildings built for retail. Renovating a place like this would cost in the tens of millions of dollars. No one would want to sink that type of money if there’s no active space with a revenue model.
Anyways if it was a musuem only those that are really, really, really interested in Art Deco would pay a visit. It would basically be a permanent dead zone.
Active use is a type of preservation, one which more people can appreciate.
6 Likes
I’ve built a couple of innovation center sites for my company in Europe out of old buildings like this. They are fun but challenging projects from both a budget and time perspective.
2 Likes
Quarterly Zoom meeting was held on this earlier this week. Anyone get any details?
1 Like
From the 2023 Q4 meeting presentation, looks like some new stuff…
The hotel is new right? And the music hall has shifted north ?
19 Likes
They’re still calling for a half million square feet of office space?? OMG. 
At least 85% of that needs to be siphoned over to the residential and hotel components if they are gonna be logical about all this.
10 Likes
I’m still entirely skeptical that any of this ever gets built tbh 
5 Likes
Didn’t attend, but probably nothing new and still waiting to close on financing given the lack of news. That has been the gist of the last 3 or 4 Quarterly meetings.
I believe that they have permit approvals for the music venue, but nothing has started to date.
Nah it’s absolutely inevitable that something major gets built here. Look at every sunbelt city: Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston. A spot like this doesn’t stay fallow forever.
However, I do think that, for now, the area along Lake Wheeler and Dix Park has stolen DT South’s thunder. But eventually the action will spread east across Saunders.
9 Likes
I see the MLS stadium site is now just a field. Saving it for MLB perhaps?
5 Likes
We’re never getting MLB. Or MLS probably, but that still seems more likely. It’s ok, at least we have…the Durham Bulls?
1 Like
How dare you!!! It’s Triggering me
1 Like
While I think taking the gamble of awarding a smaller, newly rising city like Raleigh with an expansion team would be successful, and would be seen as a win in the long run - I also wouldn’t be at all surprised if MLB just makes the more predictable choice and goes with SLC or Nashville.
IMO, this is a good thing. This area has an easier physical link to DT proper. I’d rather not see “downtown” development jump over under/undeveloped land to plant more roots a mile from downtown. I’d rather see it expand from the edges up to that 1 mile.
12 Likes
And distancewise these new developments are very walkable. Infrastructurewise… needs time, but headed in the right direction and is on the city’s radar. Retail will also be easier to find with these new residents moving in nearby.
I think the interest (particularly the residential) will boost once the city is finished with the East BRT and starts the South BRT. Having a station in their backyard will be appealing for apartment seekers.
3 Likes
At least in the case of a south BRT route, some TOD development will already be in place with more already planned.
2 Likes