Especially for a relative newcomer, too. Trying to tell other people how and what to post isn’t really anyone’s job except Leo, and he’s so incredibly hands off and polite about that.
2 Likes
More posts about life-style centers please.
6 Likes
Going through some emails and happened to come across one where the new ownership “introduced themselves”:
LET US INTRODUCE OURSELVES
Macerich is proud to be your new neighbor—and we’re just getting started. Exciting things are ahead as we reimagine the look, feel and energy of Crabtree to create a more vibrant, welcoming and elevated experience for everyone. Whether you’re grabbing a bite, on a shopping spree or simply enjoying the atmosphere, we’re here to make each visit fresher, brighter and better than ever.
It then linked a “Preview” of what’s to come which was a link here: Crabtree | Reimagine Your Everyday
Overall it looks like some “refreshes”. It’s nothing exciting.
I was at the mall today and it was packed.
2 Likes
This Thursday, the City of Durham will have a city council work session where they’ll ask its mayor to sign a formal request to NCDOT to make a timeline and cost estimates for an Amtrak (and in the distant-ish future, regional rail) station in RTP. We’ve known informally that this would be a thing since the commuter rail study (and it’s in our soon-to-be-adopted Destination 2055 regional wish list), but this would make NCDOT put money where its mouth is.
The Triangle West TPO’s slide deck talks about how funding for rail projects is made artificially difficult because of the process imposed by state law, but how we could still get the ball rolling.
After all, NCDOT itself provided slides on why this could be a good idea, as well as what sort of work may need to go into this. As a reminder, this is where it could be:
…and these are things to consider as for how to build and run the station:
Note: the City of Durham and Triangle West TPO (as opposed to Wake County or CAMPO) is working on this, since the Triangle Mobility Hub will be in the Durham County side of RTP. Still, obviously, this will have important downstream effects for downtown Raleigh, too, which would just be two stations over.
11 Likes
Correction: I’m not sure this is correct because this looks like the Strategic Regional Rail Infrastructure Investment Study (2024) which is being conducted by both CAMPO and TWTPO, with help from CPRC and NCDOT.
3 Likes
This tract is adjacent to the Fidelity complex (formerly Nortel, originally Nortel’s BNR subsidiary for R&D) and was first discussed in the 1990s as a site for a station of the ill-fated rail transit system. Curb cutouts for a driveway were installed when NC 54 was widened about 15 years ago. The property is part of RTP proper and I believe Fidelity actually holds title, subject to the usual RTP covenants.
Staying off Capital Blvd for the first time. Well I now know where all the city’s car dealers, vape shops and used car lots are located. Reminds me of Independence Blvd. in Charlotte. Anyway since I was close by decided to pop in Triangle Town Center after 10 years or so. Well you have a dying mall that is being neglected by the owner. Saks Fifth Ave has closed the upper level and the merchandise on the first floor looks like outlet stuff to me. I am sure they are waiting out their lease and will close. Too bad they could not do a smaller store over at Crabtree. Belk has consolidated the main line store on one level and a Belk outlet on the other level. (and no they are not connected you need to leave through the mall entrance and then go upstairs) They did this at Northlake Mall in Charlotte which has many problems like TTC. That entire strip outside the mall is empty save for a restaurant, an event space and Spirit Halloween story. Very sad. What should happen. Bulldoze that entire outside area build 100s and 100s of apartments. On the large parking lots build more housing. I remember when this Saks and the mall opened it was quite nice. Malls need to evolve especially now and this mall also needs to shrink. Some very strange stores in there too. The city of Raleigh needs to incentivize this mall owner to redevelop or raze part of it. This malls value is sinking like the Titanic. I predict that Macys will close in a couple of years if not sooner and when Dillards converts to outlet “Katie Bar the door” as remaining retailers will leave. Charlotte and Meck County have exactly one Macys. Highest and best use for this mall is a smaller retail footprint and more housing around it. Raleigh is not alone in this of course Cary bulldozed their mall, South Square in Durham long gone, Eastland Mall in Charlotte gone, Carolina Circle Mall in Greensboro gone.
15 Likes
Southpoint and Triangle Town Center were being built at the same time. I knew then that it was too much “mall”, and I’ve always hated the TTC location. IMO the region would have been better served if both of those two were scrapped in favor of a larger & more substantial mall at Brier Creek to split the difference on their locations.
Also IMO, the Capital corridor from 440 to 540 is my least favorite part of the entire city.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see Saks jump to Crabtree when the TTC lease is up. With a new owner and investment in a remodel, the location of Crabtree makes much more sense for a store like Saks.
13 Likes
I honestly think the region can support Saks Fifth Avenue – but at the right location, and this was not it. The demographics used to locate this store supported the idea, but it didn’t come to fruition, particularly post-Great Recession. I do think you’ll see Saks look for space maybe around Fenton. I had wanted them to take the former JCPenney space at North Hills, but the current redevelopment works best for that area. Crabtree does not feel right anymore for Saks given the mall’s current issues. But I would say Fenton is definitely the ideal spot for them.
As for TTC as a whole…it’s such a lesson in poor planning. The area can support the mall, but the mall is both laid out horribly and planned horribly. The traffic around there is awful. Wasn’t there a rezoning for a parcel of the mall a couple years ago? Developing hotels and apartments on the parking lots gives it the best future aside from demolition.
6 Likes
The location is the worst part of TTC. If you look at it and Southpoint, they are very similar in layout.
Any sort of uplift to the overall area by anchoring a mall there really didn’t happen.
4 Likes
“We’ll put a decent mall in this crappy area, and it’ll make the area nicer.”
Instead the mall just becomes crappy itself. 
4 Likes
I have live here almost 15 years and have never set foot in TTC. If I must go to a Mall, it’s Crabtree or North Hills. Never had a reason to treck out to TTC.
4 Likes
Didn’t even know TTC existed until someone on urbanplanet mentioned it, after it had been around for over a decade.
2 Likes
TTC was built in a burst of enthusiasm about the upscale residential areas such as Wakefield, but the demographics of the area didn’t turn out to be as favorable as the planners expected. The mall opened in 2002 and was headed downhill within a just a few years. I agree that it’s time to rethink the concept. Of course, the mall has a new owner (Summit Properties Completes $700 Million Acquisition Phase of U.S. Shopping Centers). I’m not impressed that they misspelled Asheville in the press release.
3 Likes
I worked at the PacSun in highschool lol - cool job for a teen, and back then it was only in the beginning phase of dying out, so it didn’t totally suck.
Hadn’t been in YEARS and recently stopped at their Belk to get some new clothes for a wedding - it wasn’t completely dead but it was certainly a far cry from 15-18 years ago. A strange experience!
3 Likes
Saks owns their part of TTC, all of the big anchor stores do. It’s my understanding that’s it’s a fairly unique situation:
4 Likes
Most of the anchor spots at TTC are owned by the department stores but Saks could still sell. I like the idea of a smaller Saks store at Fenton that would be great as would be a location at Crabtree. Or how about a 2 level store on the ground floor of some new high rise at North Hills?
Streets at Southpoint is fa ar healthy mall.Plus they will be adding lots of residential to the mall area as the city of Durham approved that. That mall will stick around.
4 Likes
So, Saks Fifth Avenue Apartments on Old Wake Forest Rd. Not confusing at all but could be luxury!
3 Likes
IMO, North Hills’ scale is much more amenable to a new Saks location than Fenton. I can still imagine it going into Crabtree over both of those though if the new owner of the mall makes the effort.
When Raleigh proper pops over 500,000 in the next Census estimate (presuming that all people are going to be counted going forward), Raleigh’s market visibility will continue to increase.
7 Likes