This slides well into the narrative that cities should build infrastructure to encourage and support private development. Of course, Raleigh is also a government city and some of the development will always be public at the city, county and state level.
Instead, it seems like the strategy to provide outstanding sidewalk infrastructure and experience is tied to the private development happening first. We get our 14 ft wide promenade type sidewalks WHEN private development happens instead of the city providing it to encourage such development. This leaves us with a hodgepodge of sidewalk connectivity and experiences.
The only proactive sidewalk experiences seem to be tied road projects like the one up Lake Wheeler Rd. The same is true for the new Capital Blvd bridge over Peace. Without the roadwork, the sidewalk work wouldn’t have happened.
To me this means we, the city, is spread to thin. Imagine how costs could lower for developments if they didn’t have to worry about the sidewalks. The city could partner with them instead of putting the cost on new devs. Instead, gotta widen those roads in the suburbs!
I’d rather the extra taxes that I pay for living in downtown go to expanding our sidewalk experience than almost anything else it subsidizes.
House Of Art was badly damaged in a fire last night. Sad days, lots of good memories in that house/building.
I walked by there around that time and it looked like it was the parcel next to House of Art. I guess it was just the other side 
I’d always thought that building was part of the homeless services on that block. Sad, knowing it was its own fun thing.
This used to be Sister Betty’s tarot reader parlor years ago. The kids used to cross to the other side of the street (north) when going to the A&P further downtown where Marbles is now because it spooked them.
They made a GoFundMe:
I do know that House of Art was included in the new Moore Square East parcel, and my understanding was that it was going to be demolished in the next 2-3 years. Not sure of the exact specifics of that, but I do know that the land was essentially acquired.
Its ceilings were covered in cotton balls. I’m sure that did not help slow the fire…
Unfortunately you’re probably right on that. That was definitely not up to fire code.
Holy cow! Cotton balls? I’m sure that the insurance company is going to be taking that into account on the claim.
Oh man what a shame…many good memories there, especially when it was the tiki bar
Maybe why they have a $100,000 goal on GoFundMe?
Not exactly giving hobo vibes, gotta be honest
I’ll never understand how cell phones have HD quality video capabilities but security camera quality has never evolved and still looks like it was filmed on a baked potato.
Could be a disguise. I just assumed it was @OakCityDylan in a blond wig and trench coat…