It’s totally plausible to keep the perimeter walls and mitigate the brownfield.
The one thing that keeping the existing perimeter does is that it nails down the perimeter of the building at the sidewalk. If we want the sidewalk to be wider, we then have to eat into the street/parking. Of course, I’m okay with narrowing the street and/or getting rid of some street parking. I’d also be okay with the existing facade acting like an arcade with the building’s first level recessed from the existing facade along West. This would provide a level of intimacy for outdoor dining and a weather proof way of traversing the block.
I am totally fine with requiring sidewalk activation along West and Hargett to be written in blood.
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Don’t Stephenson, Mendell, Crowder, and Cox vote as a bloc on pretty much everything? So if one of them doesn’t like it, then they will all vote no and sink the project.
This pact is what gives them the power to control the agenda of the entire city.
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Yeah that’s a good point. I just hope some of them get pushed out.
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Not necessarily. Cox and Mendell were the only two no votes on the new city hall. Dickie Thompson has been in somewhat prominent disagreement with the other four about the RDU quarry. Cox has definitely been on his own island about some stuff. I mean, yeah, they usually vote in bloc, but that’s probably because they’re usually in agreement about stuff. If they disagree about something, you can see them split.
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It’s behind a paywall so I didn’t read it but it sure doesn’t sound good to me.
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same old same old, affordable housing, retain existing building walls, building materials match for a warehouse district vibe, street face of building. Guess CC is over looking the fact that this is a bus station, and there will be big holes at street level for buses, this is old industrial site so may require clean up which me require removing old buildings, an OH BYW if construction is not started in about 6 months all the federal money goes away. Even after getting the zoning there is still design and code approvals to get through, so time is already tight. oh well none of this maters to CC of NO
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I’m not a fan of this council, but I don’t see any way the city stumbles enough to lose this $20 million grant.
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Pass the popcorn and watch it happen in live action. Even if the NIMBY’s get tossed, there’s just not enough time for a new council to approve and get this thing in construction.
Ok Mr Optimist… 
I’m curious why, knowing the approval and development process, they waited this long to get started.
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Ridiculous 2020202020
It seems like any and everything transportation related gets dragged to death in Raleigh/ Wake county. The amount of federal dollars we have lost makes me sad to even think about it.
I thought RUSBUS tower was only 20 stories, why are they pushing for 40?
The tower that goes on top of the bus station is designed to pay for the bus station via profits. With the inclusion of money-losing affordable housing the RUSBUS needs to built slightly taller in order to charge a premium for office space, include more apartments. Premium office space, more apartments = more money to pay for the bus station.
RUSBUS will likely be only around 21 to 24 floors unless they have some super ambitious developer.
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Yes it’s a bummer that you’re likely right that even with a -40 designation they will go only a few stories over 20, probably cause the building costs have a sweet spot in that area. Once you go over that height, the cranes and other costs make the cost of the subsequent floors really ramp up.
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I wonder if they can start building the ground floor bus station before the rest of the building gets approval for upzoning. I believe the $20M federal grant was specifically for the transit portion, so maybe they could phase the construction so they don’t lose that money. Unless they already have an agreement with a developer and are also proceeding with the design behind the scenes and anticipating the rezoning, then they are already not going to meet the schedule.
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GoTriangle found a way (with plenty of help from state government) to blow $189 million in planning for a light rail line that will never be built, they’re used to this.
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Going through the design process, bidding, and permitting takes time, and that time is quickly being eaten away. Now, if they can do something for bus terminal only and delay the tower somehow, that might be possible, but still challenging.
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This is in front of City Council today. Parker Poe isn’t expecting any delays. I’m going to see if I can witness history right before the Council of NO is replaced.
Anyone want to join me?
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Rezoning has been approved.
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Woohoo!! So do we think this will be okay with timing now? Maybe? Likely?