On a separate note, the doors are in place for access from the lobby to Sir Walter. They’ve also got String lights outside.
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10 posts were split to a new topic: GoRaleigh Bus Station
My recent biking outings have taken me downtown quite a bit more during the weekends. I remember talking/hearing different points about how Fayetteville Street can be activated. After the past 3 weeks, I think I’ve found what would be more valuable for “activating” the street: Advertising.
The last 3 weeks, Fayetteville St. has had the street closed with food trucks and events. About 2 Saturdays ago, there was the Caribbean carnival. I’m not sure what last week was, but this week was the 15th Annual African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County.
When you go to the Downtown Raleigh Alliance page, you see none of those events listed on their calendar (Click here). Even if you look at the previous post, you’ll see that the International Food Festival was also not listed.
Next week is the Hopscotch music festival and again I don’t see it on the Downtown Raleigh Alliance site. On VisitRaleigh.com, the events in Raleigh (an downtown if we want people downtown) should be on the first page. Currently there’s only 1 event I see on the first page for Raleigh; All the rest are Cary, Garner, Morrisville, and Zebulon.
If the last 3 weeks are a sign of what usually happens on weekends, then Fayetteville St. is all set for the weekends. The nights are probably a different story.
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Don’t quote me on this because I can’t remember where I heard it and it may have been on this site - but I think Red Hat and Duke Performing Arts Center are getting some kind of marquees. Which I think would be great. I pass by Red Hat and see something gearing up and am curious on the spot but forget within minutes to follow up.
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RFQ for a streetscape plan. We may see a fresh look for the street sometime in the future.
https://evp.nc.gov/solicitations/details/?id=266187c8-4f61-ef11-bfe2-001dd830a8c9
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String. Lights. 
(maybe?)
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Life threateningly dangerous, can’t do it
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Renovation in progress at the Boylan Pierce building and the WT Grant building (old Kimbrells).
Being led by Maurer Architecture so you know it will be nice! Check their insta for some reno pics. Such a huge retail space so really curious what goes in that ground floor.
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What wonderful news! Thanks for sharing.
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I think we’ve discussed this particular storefront before, but I would love to see a dozen or more smaller shops with a walk-through between Salisbury and Fayetteville here. Kind of an indoor mall to support smaller businesses.
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If there’s a desire to keep that a larger space rather than splice it up into a number of smaller spots, I’d like to see a larger scale sports bar downtown. One of the issues I’d heard some had with these spaces along Fayetteville St is how long they were and how there aren’t windows/natural light allowed to come in anywhere other than the front or back. Feel like a sports bar would be one potential tenant use where customers aren’t looking for a bunch of natural light.
A recent podcast I listened to (think it was Raleigh Magazine) mentioned the Kimbrell Furniture space as one that has multiple floors plus a rooftop of space. Very interested to see how this stretch evolves now that Highwoods is starting to open some of their concepts a block or two down.
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Looks like the Instagram post mentions it’s going to be retail on the ground floor and office space on the upper levels:
This historic tax credit project will connect the two buildings with a plan for retail on the 1st floor and office space upstairs.
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Yes that was “Office Talk with Raleigh Magazine” episode 125 - publisher Gina Stephens mentioned she toured the Kimbrell building with owner Greg Hatem, and that it is 100,000 square feet. This might have been an exaggeration because Wake Gov lists the heated area at 31,000 sf. The building does extend all the way to S Salisbury St.
Do we know if they are renovating the exterior of the Kimbrell’s? The building used to look like this:
Would be amazing to see it restored someday, or at least renovated to reference it’s past
For context for those unaware, here’s the current exterior:
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Currently one of the ugliest damn exteriors on the entire street. More windows, at very least, are necessary.
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I wonder if there’s anything intact at all behind the current facade?
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It would also be great if they could use some color this time. I don’t know why everything back then had to be grayscale. 
In all seriousness, renovate both sides of the building to fit in at least but even better, take us back in history!
Front
Back
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