Show Off Things From Other Cities

Does it contribute/bolster/create walkability? The images don’t have context.

Something like this across from Dix Park and on Lake Wheeler would be great.

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Looks sketchy. About to be nighttime in Charlotte.
::clutches pearls::

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I was referring to the ground floor and basement residential units (Project site is at 400 Lamar Ave).

Finally have a video cobbled together. Downtown Raleigh is in it… so I don’t know what thread to put it in.

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I don’t have any pictures to show off but Durham is hundreds of miles ahead of Raleigh when it comes to simple AND large entertainment activity.

Forget DPAC and DBBP for a moment, I’ve only seen street musicians twice (once during Dreamville Fest, a paid professional) in Raleigh and I go downtown once every week. Every time I’ve gone to Durham, since maybe 2018, I’ve almost always seen street musicians.

Whatever their music ordinance (or whatever it’s called) is, Raleigh needs to copy it word for word. There’s no reason why there are no street musicians throughout downtown Raleigh every day.

What I’ve noticed in Durham is that the musicians entice people to patronize nearby restaurants/bars with outdoor seating. This is a major community solution to crime (more eyes on the street).

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this new apartment complex is in the Elizabeth neighborhood and within walking distance of this site are 2 hospitals, multiple restaurants and bars, an office building. There was a big rezoning fight against it from the SF homeowners on the block behind it and it steps back towards the back. Those fighting it were a former mayor and city council member (rules for thee but not for me scenario) but it in the end it was approved. http://centrumrd.com/project/7th-street/

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I don’t think that’s really a policy issue.
Durham has a better central square, and more musicians

Our central square has a big ole state capitol building on it!

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Not totally off-topic, but Durham has really been coming alive lately. Maybe it’s because I’m closer to downtown now, but there’s definitely more people out and about. I’d guess it’s due to all the new apartments opening in the past year. Durham’s really popping off

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It’s not even the central square, because I’ve seen most of them outside of that area. Raleigh has countless areas where street musicians could pop up but they don’t (city plaza, Convention Center and Martin Marietta Plazas, Exchange and Market Plazas, the parks, etc.).

I don’t think it’s an issue of people not wanting to but an issue of them not being allowed to without punishment.

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Or that the weather is nice and it’s not dark at 5pm :wink:

I’m in downtown Durham at least weekly and I agree. I was also realize that with the Novus and the massive apartment complex by Atomic Clock/Blue Note Grill both finishing up, I don’t think there’s really any big construction projects starting. Is that true? I know there’s always “pending” projects, but I can’t think of anything actually getting started. Despite so many things on hold or cancelled or downgraded, at least DTR has several big projects still for me to watch the progress on.

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True, the weather definitely helps. It’s hard to tell if it’s because I moved closer to downtown or if Durham really is livelier now. I used to visit about twice a month, and weekends didn’t seem as popping. But with new developments like the Ramsey apartments off the Durham freeway and GreerHouse on the north side near Boxcar, it definitely feels fuller. Also, the new apartments on E Main St near S Dillard will add more people to an area that could use some activation. You’re right though, aside from the Novus building, and the big complex by Atomic Clock/Blue Note Grill, not much new construction has been announced, and projects like the YMCA redevelopment or the residential tower near the Duke Clinical Research building, or even the ATC development might be yearsss away…

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Make Raleigh Green Again

:seafoam_green:

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Oh my. I don’t know how I feel about :seafoam_green: but maybe a true green :green_circle: for the celebration of a few days in the year. Just don’t go overboard and end up :seafoam_green:

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So Cary’s cool pedestrian bridge is moving right along. Meanwhile, our little one over Wade Ave is still waiting…

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We have plenty of cool Greenway bridges already, to be fair.

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You don’t make sense. That bridge in Cary is in roughly the same state of completion as the Blue ridge bridge over Wade. It’s like the exact same situation. Two bridges under construction, what am I missing?

I mean, that’s great if Durham seems like it’s on an upswing. But when there’s no place to go BUT up, I don’t know if that’s a big accomplishment or not given how badly businesses have continued to struggle years after COVID. Granted this is the pessimistic WRAL, but I’ll just leave this here for some stats:

https://www.wral.com/story/downtown-durham-businesses-struggling-as-city-officials-look-to-ease-cost-burden/21617992/

82 EIGHTY TWO downtown Durham businesses have closed since COVID. HOLY COW thats a lot. Hence my comment about no place to go but up from there

Cary has always in the planning stages of one up-man-ship. I guess it is no surprise and we should be grateful. It keeps the rest of us on our toes (no pun intended). :foot: