I have a love/hate relationship with skybridges. One time I was in Charlotte for a State bowl game and we were able to walk from the epicenter to the stadium without going outside and getting wet in the rain. It was pretty cool…
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If it’s two buildings that make a lot of sense to connect, like two government buildings. Or two buildings of the same company, or very complimentary uses, then I think it can be cool looking AND beneficial. With one of these expected to be a hotel and the other to be office (at the upper stories), I don’t think it’s as much a benefit to allow out-of-town workers bypass our street level businesses and experiences - probably even a negative. And with the more business class hotel going up next to the McDonalds on the other side of the office site, and need for hotel spaces for the convention center, I’m not sure it’s even good to add any more encouragement to connecting a sky bridge to the hotel site here.
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My view on skybridges is a hard “no,” unless it’s necessary for continuity of a singular building use such as the natural science museum. They’re useful in places like the Twin Cities where the snow and cold is so prevalent that it’s in fact hazardous, but we don’t have that problem here.
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I’m not sure if this has already been mentioned but the Kessler Collection hotel, exactly as designed, would go really nicely on one of those grassy blocks south of South Street, right next to the Performing Arts Center.
Back when the city was originally planning the Fayetteville Street reopening, and deciding what to do with its land at the southern end of Fayetteville Street, in addition to blocks 1/2 (Marriott/FNB), blocks 3/4 (what’s on the table now), and a few others, putting developments between the Performing Arts Center and South Street was definitely on the table as well. The city declined to move forward at the time, but it’s a different day and this is a different council. Those grassy lawns aren’t very useful, tbh, and enclosing the plaza in front of Memorial Auditorium and putting some retail there would create an awesome space.
The size, height, and appearance of Kessler’s proposal feels just about right for that spot. The SE corner of South and Salisbury, probably
Maybe some sort of cultural institution could go on the other spot (SW corner of South/Wilmington.) Something that wouldn’t be too tall. Another performance venue? Or maybe a library??
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An illustration…
The hotel would have to be scaled from a roughly 150x200 footprint to 150x150.
To make up for this, lose the large port cochere on the ground level, and then add two more floors above, so the ground floor programming and room count don’t have to be reduced in spite of the 25% lot size reduction.
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Speaking of skybridges in the area, I use to work at this (former) IBM site at the edge of RTP on Hwy 54.
The complex of buildings were connected by 3 ‘skybridges’. We called them ‘hamster tunnels’.
Made going from the tallest building (5 stories) to the cafeteria in the far end building in the hot summer really nice. #1990sRTPtrivia
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Habitrail! Do they still make that system? I had it decades ago for my hamster.
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We don’t have snow, as a rule, but we do have heat and humidity. Bring on the air conditioned sky bridges!! I have enough natural glow with out sweat!!
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They are not safe for use any longer but the construction managers on site are having troubles preventing people from using them last I heard. I’d like to think property management would shut them down. Side note, those buildings look very, very different now. And the one to the far right of the image no longer exists.
Second side note, the one in the foreground has a large slab of the Berlin Wall in the lobby. Or, at least it did last I was in there, maybe 3 years ago.
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3 posts were merged into an existing topic: Former City Gateway and NCAE “block” - Salisbury Square
Update from the city website:
UPDATE: Extension In Timeline For Submittals To RFI
With consideration of the extraordinary circumstances impacting us all, the City of Raleigh is extending the due date for the submission of the RFI responses. The submissions for development interest will now be due on Friday, May 1, 2020 . One electronic version of your response should be sent to Tony.Peterman@am.jll.com by 5:00 PM ET on that date. There are no other changes to the submittal requirements.
Even though these are uncertain times, the City is committed to exploring project options. Therefore, the City remains very interested in receiving and reviewing development team responses to the RFI and is enthusiastic on the new convention hotel and mixed-use tower. Predictability as to future events is very challenging with the pandemic and thus the City cannot at this time define the path or schedule forward for this project. However, we are committed to communicating effectively with all those in the development community who express interest in the project throughout the process.
The City of Raleigh appreciates your patience and sincerely thanks you for your interest.
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Smart to extend this deadline. Lots of developers, investors, and lenders are pressing the pause button right now, especially on hotel projects.
Depending on responses they may need to punt this even further. I hope not, but we don’t want to settle for a proposal that doesn’t meet the city’s expectations.
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What I want to know, has anyone besides the Bohemian hotel people, submitted any proposals. And has there been any proposals that have been started since.
We won’t know until the city tells us. Kessler was playing the media game by getting it out there early. Some developers will be tight lipped until they are formally acknowledged.
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Ssshh. Don’t tell Boltman.
Haha! Patience grasshopper. Early innings.
Follow up on this via a TBJ update.
"Greene says JLL – the firm the city hired to work with them on the requests for information – has yet to receive any applications, as far as he knows. "
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Unfortunately, who knew it would be such bad timing. They may just want to pull it and try again later.
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Might have to try again next year. Which is okay, this project was never going to go up fast.
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They’re not due for 4 more weeks. 
I wouldn’t expect any to be submitted yet.
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