Former Raleigh Amtrak Station, Cabarrus Street

New Construction
21

I think I love this for our neighborhood!
@svp!!

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22

Beautiful reuse of that land!!! Going to NEED that West St extension tunnel more than ever, though…

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23

That’s actually a really nice looking building. However, I hope that the Depot building itself containing Videri, Tuscan Blu, etc. is spared and can be part of the development. It doesn’t appear that is part of the plan based on the rendering, and I will be very disappointed if we lose yet another historic building with character.

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24

That rendering appears to be on the other side of the tracks.

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25

Isn’t this on the site of the old train station?

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27

holy my god thank you jesus

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28

Looks like they forgot to finish that corner of brickwork there :laughing:

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29

The Depot project, from what I remember, got put on hold because of the economy a few years back. But don’t be surprised if it comes back up at some point on down the line. The only building being spared was Videri Chocolate. All the other buildings were toast. At least in the proposed plans of the development of a few years ago.

30

Yeah, once again - WHY the hell with the random boxes that break up the otherwise excellent exterior???

31

If I remember correctly, it wasn’t even the entire Videri building, but the facade. I may be misremembering.

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32

You’re right, I was totally disoriented and didn’t look closely enough at the rendering!

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It’s to break up the pattern and provide some contrast. It’s an aesthetic choice, like dark colored or unusual windowed houses. Obviously some people won’t like it.

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34

I wonder how many folks here don’t even remember that station?

35

What station?

(Extra characters)

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36

Screenshot 2025-04-22 at 10.28.04 PM
Screenshot 2025-04-22 at 10.28.04 PM1920×1101 333 KB

This one. It used to be there.

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37

Heck, that was the only station I knew.. The only station I have ever travelesld out of!!

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38

I’d hope so since it was there begining in 1950!

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39

Looks like a garden center

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40

That’s the previous station! :wink:

41

Here’s the history.

  • Pre-1890: The North Carolina RR (later to be operated by Southern Railway) and the Raleigh & Gaston RR (later to become part of the Seaboard Air Line) use a joint passenger station roughly at today’s south end of West St. I believe that station predated the Civil War.
  • 1890: The first Raleigh Union Station opens. Headhouse still exists at the corner of Martin and Dawson. At some point the prior station is torn down.
  • 1942: Seaboard Air Line builds its own station that would later house the Cafe and Logan Trading.
  • 1948: The original Norfolk Southern RR discontinues its last passenger train and leaves Union Station.
  • 1950: Southern builds its own station. Last passenger train in 1964. Reused as a restaurant.
  • Post-1950: Platform behind Union Station is torn out. Headhouse remodeled for commercial tenants.
  • 1971: Amtrak takes over passenger service, occupying the Seaboard station.
  • 1986: Amtrak moves to the ex-Southern station.
  • Post-1986: Seaboard station reused for commercial tenants. Ex-Southern station expanded.
  • Last ten years: new Raleigh Union Station. The ex-Southern station is razed for redevelopment by the North Carolina RR (now 100% NCDOT-owned), and the area around the ex-Seaboard station is redeveloped.

I should add that very briefly, the original Norfolk Southern RR used their office at West and Jones for passenger service.

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