Yeah, exactly - why should developers give a crap about the communities in which they build? They have money to protect and should be allowed to build in any manner they see fit.
Seriously though, you are right. Bitching about an old building on a message board is not going to save it but there are ways to protect these places, however, it doesn’t seem like there is much will for that kind of thing in this town. Other cities are much better protecting their heritage, other cities have preservation and historical review boards, other cities have activist citizens who do care and demand better. Here in Raleigh, its a free for all. Developers are rarely challenged and at some point we are going to look back on our decisions and realize that we could have done better. That maybe we should have saved the warehouses in the warehouse district, that we shouldn’t have allowed so so many old brick structures to be be replaced with cookie cutter apartment buildings, that maybe we should have done somethings to create an environment that our long standing institutions could thrive in.
Old buildings are what makes a city interesting, they serve as reminders of a community’s heritage and the city’s complexity. Old buildings attract people and tourists and provide a warmth and environment that simply cannot be recreated with today’s practices. If you cannot recognize the aesthetic and intrinsic value of preserving history then I simply feel bad for you. Just remember, regret only goes one way.
BPAC Commission was told last meeting that West Street Cycle Track would be completed this year. I don’t see this as being possible, but that’s what staff said. Commissioners even asked for clarification - asking if that would be the entire installation and we were told - yes.
Unsure if it’s been mentioned before but this is a freaking gorgeous structure built in 1875. Not exactly a “ahh f*ck it just tear it down” kind of property.
That’s not really surprising. We really need a protected bike lane advocacy group that pushes Raleigh to adopt new street design regulations that encourage street renovations to include protected bike lanes. Right now developers and city planners have to follow what the city says and right now it’s completely suburban in nature and the City Council couldn’t care less than it does right now.
BPAC will be reviewing / suggesting updates to the UDO to include protected bike facilities as a treatment option (currently not included). Oaks and Spokes is a great advocacy org (folks should plug in with them to encourage these changes!) and I would LOVE an advocacy org focused exclusively on separated / protected facilities as a norm. Oaks and Spokes has been working to meet with all council reps (met with Mayor yesterday) and discussed the critical nature of these separated facilities if we want to see mode shift.
If you’re gonna have a deck with retail, why not make it public sculpture?
This deck in Miami Beach doubles as event space, and has been the scene of fashion shoots, luxury auto commercials, cocktail parties, film festival screenings, and countless weddings. If we have to have garages, let’s be a little creative.
Oaks and Spokes has been working to meet with all council reps (met with Mayor yesterday) and discussed the critical nature of these separated facilities if we want to see mode shift.
