This developer is proposing to build Kowloon Walled City.
I am all for it. This adds up to 1,847 bedrooms, which is roughly twice as many as Valentine Commons or Stanhope. About one parking space for every three bedrooms. Yes, this is good.
However, with this much density, I am a bit concerned about the lack of retail on this part of Hillsborough. There’s plenty of retail within a 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk but at the very least a convenience store right downstairs would be good.
Exactly what I’ve been saying… I’ve made comment that I wish this would include retail, and got the response that “well there isn’t much retail on this stretch as it is, so doesn’t seem necessary” … yet that’s the exact reason why I think this stretch really, desperately needs some retail additions…
You’d think a corner store w an integrated deli like a 7/11, Wawa, or just an independent bodega would print money in a building like this.
I’m not against retail here but it’s also 500 feet to Blend and PR, 1000 feet to restaurants down Hillsborough Street and the Target. It feels pretty walkable. I’ll echo @orulz. Bring the density on!
Also if it’s predominantly student housing I wonder if it’s not as financially viable because of the assumption that students will be spending the majority of their time on campus? Maybe this will push City Plat to do something about that big open spot they own on Hillsborough street.
Sure it’s walkable - retail here would make it even more so.
The sheer number of units almost dictates the need for retail. I mean, if it’s just a convenience store, that would be a boon for the owner.
I do not think these students will be using on campus dining for breakfast or dinner. They need somewhere affordable to grab a quick bite, or get groceries so they can make their own meals.
HT and Target are about 1/2 mile away, which is workable but hardly convenient. Fresh Market is a bit closer but would students shop there? Hillsborough Mart at 1301 Hillsborough is only 1000ft which works as far as distance is concerned, but somehow it doesn’t look like the sort of place that stocks much that would count as a meal. Never been, correct me if I’m wrong here.
There are a few restaurants but none of them except the Subway at the roundabout seem like the kind of cheap eats places that I lived off of at college. I’m not “everybody” but I have to imagine that cheap eats are still a big part of the experience of being a college student?
Anyway I’m mostly just remarking that what looks to be the densest development in all of Raleigh is in this odd 1000ft radius doughnut hole of retail.
I think Raleigh should bump up the lots across the street from 3 to 5 or 7 story zoning and hopefully get some retail in the ground floors over there.
Then they’ll just ride their bikes!! 
The ASR says 2,010 bedrooms but only 530 bicycle parking spaces. Seems like a shortfall.
It’s a 4 minute walk (if you’re slow) to the corner convenience store towards downtown.
There’s also a salon, The Green Monkey gift shop/bar/hangout, a sandwich shop, pipe store, bike store, barber and then you round the corner to a pharmacy/coffee shop, Irregardless, etc.
I’ll take more retail closer to this development and there should be some incorporated for sure. I expect more will be added nearby as result of this project taking off.
Bring back IHOP; Bring Back IHOP: BRING BACK IHOP!!!
The building is still there.
EDIT – Had not had coffee so not quite awake and E&B are next to each other
So many late night memories of walking from East Campus to IHOP at 2AM… Good times. 
John Malkovich, great movie. HAHA. Anyway I swear I remember reading/hearing somewhat recently that there were plans to turn that building into… something, but not a new iHop. I think I remember on here recently that someone heard Berkeley Cafe was inquiring about it, but I swear I remember something in the works long before they would’ve looked into it. Useless comment, I know, but my main takeaway is that I do believe the building itself is being preserved, but do not believe there is any chance it will once again become an iHop.
Berkeleys would fit in nicely here with Green Monkey, Cycle Logic, Pipes by George, and Irregardless nearby. Would dig it but know its just a distant rumor.
There are a lot of reasonably priced food options on Hillsborough street that students eat at frequently. Even the places that might be a bit more pricey at least have an option or two on the menu that fits the student budget.
There are also a lot of convenience stores on campus where you can snag a yogurt or a pre made sandwich on the go. It seems like a lot of students do that for breakfast and lunch.
The developer has a bunch of these Hub On Campus apartments either already built or in progress. Pretty much all the ones with an urban location/form factor include retail, so it’s still not clear to me why they’re leaving it out here in Raleigh. No, of course the world will not end. But still it doesn’t make sense to me and seems less than ideal.
Raleigh’s one does seem to be their biggest by some measure. Blacksburg is 1500 beds but suburban in location and form. Madison is similar in form but half as large, with about 1000 beds, and a solid 26,000 square feet of retail.
That Lexington one looks really really good.
The others are inoffensive - the Purdue one is the most jumbled massing I’ve ever seen.
This seems like the best place for this footage. I flew the drone over by the NCSU Bell Tower to get footage of the two back-to-back traffic circles at Pullen and Hillsborough. I think it’s pretty amazing to watch!
Great footage!
Watching that also makes me think: as the city investigates upgrading the bikes lanes on Hillsborough St., is there not enough room on the big roundabout to support a nearly Dutch-style setup with protected lanes?
There’s a lot of space already painted off that cyclists ride on, but I’m thinking if they sacrificed one or two of those slip lanes (not sure if that’s the right term in this case, but the separate right turn lanes), seems like you could extend the bike lanes around the whole thing.
