Sorry, I meant for the building 
You have good taste! 
Something else that I think needs a little discussion here (for input to my next letter to the Council of Slow) is Cox’s assertion of the “tapering” plan (tall buildings to be in the core of downtown).
So approve 40 story buildings on our one street and let us move outwards? No idea what he wants. It’s a city, having buildings that are tall makes sense
First, he suggested Fayetteville is our “downtown core”. Please tell me Downtown Raleigh is bigger than one street!
Second, I do like how he suggested “if we approve this, we might as well make everything in between 40 stories”. 
He got a few approvals from the crowd for that comment.
Yes, let’s dive into David Cox’s comments. He has posted this before, on Facebook, so it seems like a thing he may use to call the rezoning into question. Here is the section he is referring to in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and other relevant sections I think apply.
This is from the Future Land Use Section. Highlighting added by me.
We also have this section.
Finally, we have:
Map DT-3 is here, I’ve added the Smokey Hollow Phase 3 site in green.
So a couple short things:
- If the Comprehensive Plan is to be taken literally, you could argue for both sides. In reality, the comp plan is to be a guide and the language above suggests we should take rezonings in the right context.
- I think there’s a strong case being made in the comp plan for neighborhood transitions. However, the transitions are being defined as 100-150 feet. It’s over 400 feet from Peace/Harrington to Peace/West.
- There’s also a strong case to allow a 40-story building here due to the fact that it will be along a planned BRT line.
- Finally, well, that map pretty much nails it.
Please poke holes in this argument. We need some devil’s advocates.
One could argue (somebody even more reasonable than Cox) that this block is more “regional mixed use” than “central business district”. That said, I think it would be easy to put a PPT together and be able to take Cox’s point and present a 2 minute counter on the same point.
True. The argument of what is the central business district could be the debate. Staff presented a map showing that Smokey Hollow sits in the downtown mixed-use district. Whether you define that as the same may just be splitting hairs though.
The City Planning Department is in total disarray right now because they’re changing their submittals and coordination process to an online model. Lots of people taking vacations, training on the new system, working on migration. That could have affected the zoning conditions.
Also, I’ve seen the council punt if they’re leaning towards a ruling that conflicts with the majority of the people in attendance. They’ll sometimes look for a reason to table or delay it in the hopes that there will be less people there at the next hearing. I bet collectively they wish this could be delayed until after the election. That is, unless they hope to gain election supporters by voting against it.
It’s important to keep up the support.
They may end up punting until they’re replaced.
I’m flying back into town on 8/20 but plan to go if possible.
I wonder if that is the lady who lectured me one day about how 5 story buildings create wind tunnels…? (this is relating to the proposal on Oberlin/Hillsborough). I suppose bulldozers technically create earth quakes too. I can’t stand when people throw around terminology but don’t quite understand when it applies…Seems like the mmmhhmmm lady is of a similar ilk, all high and mighty lurking behind that tone.
The remainder of the Capital bridge framework looks near complete. We should see steel going across Peace st soon.
This isn’t the greatest picture, but they actually just place these HUGE precast concrete beams in place (reinforced with steel I’m sure). They can get 3-4 of them in place in just one night. Amazing.
Is that the picture you meant to post? It’s a year or so old.
Yes. Was just trying to show the concrete beams they put into place.
Residents and Businesses within the Glenwood South neighborhood voted 4 to 1 to approve the 40-story rezoning. 260 completed the survey.