Let’s put it here. I think this topic covers very general things and lists are always good.
3 Likes
Hey Y’all,
I was recently thinking about something and I was curious to get people’s opinions on it. So, the concept is called an “innovation district”, and it’s essentially a cluster of buildings (or in many cases a collection of parking lots) that is marketing toward innovative companies. The best ubran example that I know of is Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass. At one point McKinsey (or someone) called it the “most innovative square mile on Earth.” But it started off as a collection of old industrial buildings and acres upon acres of parking lot directly across the river from Boston (and right on a subway line).
Now, other places have tried to copy this model, including Durham, Winston-Salem and Greensboro in NC. Obviously Durham has a very strong innovation economy and the Triad cities are much further behind, but I was wondering if having something like this would benefit DTR. The logical place would be somewhere near HQ Raleigh or with an HQ Raleigh affiliate location. I could see some potential benefits to this but also some drawbacks, I was wondering what others thought.
Best and Happy Thanksgiving week,
Steve
3 Likes
That’s an interesting concept, and I like the idea of trying to grow one in Raleigh.
I took a look-see on Google Maps of Kendall Square, and my overall impression is that such a place would thrive best in an edgy, industrial-type area where property values might be relatively low and young, creative tech workers don’t mind going. Obviously we don’t have a waterfront, or convenient access to MIT, Harvard, and the like, but we do have a great education system in the area. In my eyes, the obvious place for such a district is the Warehouse District, especially if new development could preserve or expand upon the brick buildings to maintain its character. Really, the entire West St. corridor could work, as it’s already the target of new development and (eventually) a cycle track.
I totally agree and hopefully we’ll hear something soon in regards to the city’s efforts to bring something/company new to the area…fingers crossed 
1 Like
Isn’t this essentially what we have in Centennial Campus? Connected to a tier 1 Research University, literally next door to (what will hopefully one day be) a huge urban park, less than 2 miles from DT proper and sorta connected via the planned BRT line?
With the Spring Hill site, this is definitely what they are after.
2 Likes
I can’t believe I didn’t put that together. Yes, this is very similar to what we have with Centennial, though I’m not sure the marketing is as strong. Maybe that’s a problem.
Yes, but as @Steve said, the marketing/branding isn’t great, and I’d add that Centennial Campus as it is now is more of an office park than it is a true “Innovation District.” It isn’t very urban, and has parking lots and decks all over the place. Perhaps in time it can become more of what we’re envisioning, but it’s also being developed according to a master plan that favors a more suburban style (just look at the Spring Hill site).
Made this master plan seems like forever ago. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1JyxsUYxLDeCXRIsyqZ4gS70Xas0&usp=sharing
Still think this area can work as an innovation district with Kane’s Cabarrus development and a West St. tunnel connection. And extending to S. Saunders/ Lake Wheeler Rd. as well.
2 Likes
I don’t know where else to put this, but I’m confused on whether the council got rid of height restrictions or is it just dreaming that never got around to happening?
It was deferred for final decision (I believe) and the new council will have the vote.
2 Likes
There’s a thread on that topic here.
1 Like
There’s a poll on City-Data that asks which “City to take off in the 2020s”
Raleigh’s among the choices and is currently in 3rd place behind Philly and Detroit. There’s a ton of homerism on City-Data and there are a ton of rust belt participants who have these pipe dreams that the rainbow is right around the corner for downward spiraling cities like Detroit. Anyway, I thought that it was interesting that Raleigh’s currently in 3rd among the 12 cities offered as choices.
City-Data.com>Forums>General U.S.>City vs. City
5 Likes
@John thanks for that. I do send waves of good toward cities like Cleveland to regain some of their former strengths. They use to make precision ball bearings, for example. America has relied too much on off-shoring of critical abilities. It would be great if we could bring back some of these skills.
The whole I-85 and I-95 textile corridors use to be major textile manufacturing areas. Automation and high tech machinery could produce materials in NC just as easy as in Asia. Maybe someday we can see more specialized manufacturing activities in the area.
At least NC is doing great with the soft skills from all the high tech businesses in the region.
Well, notwithstanding macro economic changes, the fortunes of downward spiraling metros just don’t suddenly reverse course and become cities that take off within a single decade. What the Triangle is reaping today was sowed starting in the 1950s with the creation of the Research Triangle Institute. Without that forward looking action, the Triangle could be more like Birmingham, Alabama than competitive with Silicon Valley, Boston, NJ, and the like.
That said, I do think that the 2020’s are going to be really big for Raleigh. Right off the bat, Smoky Hollow will make an impact next year with subsequent projects in the queue to deliver in succession.
Barring a recession like the last one, the Raleigh MSA alone should top 1.7 million by the end of the decade with the Raleigh-Durham CSA pushing 2.5M.
10 Likes
I registered/voted. FWIW Raleigh is now tied with Detroit with 18 votes. Seems we could easily skew this poll with the members here. 
5 Likes
There. We’ve officially pulled ahead with 19.
4 Likes
Thanks, but it’s weird that I still only see 17 votes.
Update: Even weirder, when I toggle from page 7 to page 8 in that thread, the total vote count changes.
I saw 19 votes on page 7 but 17 votes on page 8
Yeah, I saw the same. FWIW, it’s now 20 for Raleigh.
3 Likes
I just finished Chuck Marohn’s book Strong Towns - I think it would be good if the entire city read it - including the incoming Mayor and City Council - and then have a book discussion at the Convention Center led by the author.
2 Likes