# Village District Developments **URL:** \ **Category:** New Construction\ **Created:** [September 25, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568 "2018-09-25T16:37:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 51
**Author:** ![Roganberry](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e95f7d/32.png) [@Roganberry](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/Roganberry)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1012 "2024-09-16T01:22:21Z")
> [@John](#): > > Near the end of my daily walk, the Sun had set and the lights were on at the Camden apartments under construction. While the 5 over 1 product isn’t my favorite, and this sort of particular aesthetic isn’t my thing, I don’t hate how this is turning out along Clark St. I was particularly pleased to see that the first floor apartments are raised off the sidewalk: affording those units a bit more privacy. > > ![IMG_3799](https://d3tmycllq5yp1y.cloudfront.net/original/3X/3/f/3fbca88b5c787ed2d3830012888d881bf259c785.jpeg) > ![IMG_3801](https://d3tmycllq5yp1y.cloudfront.net/original/3X/1/6/16d1023bf279d0ac1c33ea8dab370332a1590203.jpeg) I think this is a great development. Really like pretty much everything in the entire village district. 10x better than it was when I moved here. ---
**Author:** ![xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/a8b319/32.png) [@xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/xdavidj)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2024, 3:19am UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1013 "2024-09-16T03:19:18Z")
The same can be said for most single family homes. If you live along an activated sidewalk with appropriate foot traffic (and businesses around you), I’d argue that it’s significantly safer than a single-family home. The issues most people have being on the ground-level are more about privacy, not safety. ---
**Author:** ![John](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@John](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/John)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2024, 4:24am UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1014 "2024-09-16T04:24:28Z")
> [@xdavidj](#): > > privacy, not safety These are often intrinsically tied together. ---
**Author:** ![xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/a8b319/32.png) [@xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/xdavidj)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2024, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1015 "2024-09-16T15:05:06Z")
A place can be private but not safe and a place can be safe but not private. I’ve got a first floor unit and I’ve never felt unsafe. I understand not everyone feels that way, but the two aren’t completely synonymous with each other. There’s enough activity and lighting outside that if someone tried to do something like break in, there’d likely be observers and cameras in the immediate area. They likely wouldn’t be able to do it without a call to the police. Can’t say the same thing for a house off a seldom-used road. With more activity comes less privacy but more safety. In a downtown area, I’d argue that they’re inversely correlated. Having a 30th floor fortress of a unit is definitely as safe as you can get. There are just a ton of inconveniences that come with it that make it less worth it for me. I’ve even got plants and flowers that have been out front for years and nobody has ever done anything to or with them. ---
**Author:** ![GucciLittlePig](https://community.dtraleigh.com/user_avatar/community.dtraleigh.com/guccilittlepig/32/25831_2.png) [@GucciLittlePig](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/GucciLittlePig)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2024, 3:26pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1016 "2024-09-16T15:26:20Z")
> [@xdavidj](#): > > Having a 30th floor fortress of a unit is definitely as safe as you can get. Not if there’s a missile strike. I personally prefer my windowless basement bunker/hobbit hole… ---
**Author:** ![svp](https://community.dtraleigh.com/user_avatar/community.dtraleigh.com/svp/32/18832_2.png) [@svp](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/svp)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1017 "2024-09-16T17:08:45Z")
Is that a piggie thing? > [@GucciLittlePig](#): > > I personally prefer my windowless basement bunker/hobbit hole… ---
**Author:** ![John](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@John](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/John)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2024, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1018 "2024-09-16T20:09:24Z")
> [@xdavidj](#): > > A place can be private but not safe and a place can be safe but not private. I’ve got a first floor unit and I’ve never felt unsafe. I understand not everyone feels that way, but the two aren’t completely synonymous with each other. That’s why I said often. There are always exceptions. ---
**Author:** ![xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/a8b319/32.png) [@xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/xdavidj)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1019 "2024-09-16T21:19:51Z")
I’d argue that first floor condos/apartments in downtown Raleigh being unsafe are the exception, not the other way around. I honestly can’t name a first floor condo walkup or apartment that I’ve seen in downtown that I would feel is unsafe. Can you provide examples? ---
**Author:** ![John](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@John](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/John)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1020 "2024-09-16T21:42:15Z")
Actually being unsafe or not isn’t my point, I am talking about how people that are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on downtown condos make their decisions based on how they feel about their safety (and privacy). ---
**Author:** ![xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/a8b319/32.png) [@xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/xdavidj)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1021 "2024-09-17T14:04:09Z")
You said: > Part of the advantage of living in a condo in an urban area is having an additional level of security, and not being able to reach your home at the ground level is part of that equation. IMO, a combo of ground level retail space, building amenities, parking, etc. is a better development idea. > Windows can be broken and units can be entered quite easily, and locks on gates don’t stop anyone from hopping over. That’s not a comment based on perception. That’s you saying that lower-level units are intrinsically unsafe and presenting it as reality. I totally get the perception part, but you’re presenting it as your own perception here too. Not one that you’re simply observing. I get it if that’s what you meant, but that’s not how you presented it at all. This is why I asked for examples. Because, I have enough experience living in a lower-level condo to know that this is absolutely not the case. It’s also cool that you want more retail at the lower-level, and I like that too. However, I appreciate lower-level condos a hell of a lot more than lower-level empty storefronts that seem to be so pervasive in downtown Raleigh these days. If you can’t do lower-level storefronts correctly, it makes a neighborhood seem a lot more empty than a condo that takes a bit longer to sell would. EDIT: One more thing I’ll add. As someone that likes to invite over and entertain friends, they all appreciate not having to jump through a billion security hoops to come over and hang out. ---
**Author:** ![John](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@John](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/John)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1022 "2024-09-17T17:15:55Z")
You quoted me saying that “windows can be broken and units can be entered quite easily”. What is incorrect about this statement? Where in that statement is me saying that this happens and how much it happens? I am very careful to put qualifiers on my statements and not speak in absolutes. ---
**Author:** ![xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/a8b319/32.png) [@xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/xdavidj)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1023 "2024-09-17T17:51:58Z")
If someone tried to break the window to my condo, they’d trip the glass-break alarm which would cause a lot of noise. Additionally, the people walking on the sidewalk would likely call 911 because there is a lot of foot traffic around the first floor of my condo. If something is both easy to do and also doesn’t happen, then what’s the point in mentioning it? I haven’t seen a single first-floor condo break-in in downtown Raleigh in years. ---
**Author:** ![John](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@John](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/John)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1024 "2024-09-17T20:16:49Z")
My message is for developers, especially to ones building $600/ft product and what their buyers are likely to expect for that sort of money. Thinking about this a bit more by elevating the first level off the sidewalk a bit, or fundamentally making the first floor units have something compelling like was done with @OakCityDylan 's condo at Fairweather (lives like a townhouse), or just putting parking/lobby/retail/shared spaces on the ground floor, are probably good ideas to consider. Also, alarm systems @ glass signals to me that safety actually is a concern. ---
**Author:** ![OakCityDylan](https://community.dtraleigh.com/user_avatar/community.dtraleigh.com/oakcitydylan/32/169_2.png) [@OakCityDylan](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/OakCityDylan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1025 "2024-09-17T20:30:10Z")
I have 2 cameras on our patio (one facing north, one south) and open/close sensors on our windows, main door and the gate that deters unwanted guests from going onto our patio. I know if there is any activity with any of those openings. Other than known visitors and the landscape blower guy blowing off the patio once a week, I’ve not had a single unwanted guest open the gate, much less anything more intrusive. And that’s with a rather undesirable situation with the shelter being halfway down the block. EDIT: @xdavidj reminded me we have a video doorbell as well. No pranks! ---
**Author:** ![xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/a8b319/32.png) [@xdavidj](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/xdavidj)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1026 "2024-09-17T21:03:00Z")
It’s more of a failsafe than a concern. I’d have ring alarms in place regardless as to whether I lived on the ground level, on a midrise, or in a highrise. Glassbreak sensors are about $40. I also agree with adding something compelling, although I honestly feel that having an egress access from the first floor for me and my guests so they don’t need to go through some sort of lobby really is compelling enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![raleighdeveloper](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@raleighdeveloper](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/raleighdeveloper)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1027 "2024-09-17T22:41:12Z")
@John I appreciate your personal feedback on ground floor living in urban settings. I have developed 1,000+ apartment units across the southeast, in cities like Nashville we saw rent premiums for units on the ground floor and it became a design standard to create a “townhouse style” exterior entrance when possible. ![The Flats - Nashville](https://d3tmycllq5yp1y.cloudfront.net/original/3X/b/7/b7c7ad33e5d14b383a172712af3f7eae779da98a.jpeg) ![Union Stockyard - Nashville](https://d3tmycllq5yp1y.cloudfront.net/original/3X/2/c/2c84a3246902f00ad3099e34ce909fd9c1c72da5.jpeg) I can provide 20+ examples in cities like Charlotte, Nashville, Atlanta, Charleston, and D.C. with this design approach. Speaking as a developer with experience in residential projects, ground-floor retail is rarely feasible. For instance, The Fairweather utilizes its lower floors entirely for structured parking due to the property’s topography. At 29 Enterprise, the analysis determined that residential units, rather than ground-floor parking, were the highest and best use. Similarly, The Lansing plans to incorporate ground-floor residential units in their project as well, with pricing around $700/SF. ![e06ce44b94cfa07b32513e82c8611467-full](https://d3tmycllq5yp1y.cloudfront.net/original/3X/9/1/91fc22e64d6500aaee9e873ee292c69ca3c65d1f.jpeg) Some developments on certain streets will feature ground-floor residential units that may not align with your preferences, but they cater to others, such as pet owners or those who prefer to avoid shared hallways. These direct-access, exterior-facing units are designed to meet those specific needs. ---
**Author:** ![GucciLittlePig](https://community.dtraleigh.com/user_avatar/community.dtraleigh.com/guccilittlepig/32/25831_2.png) [@GucciLittlePig](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/GucciLittlePig)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 12:11am UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1028 "2024-09-18T00:11:56Z")
> [@raleighdeveloper](#): > > The Fairweather utilizes its lower floors entirely for structured parking If anyone’s looking for a structured parking “condo”, contact @OakCityDylan ---
**Author:** ![raleighdeveloper](https://community.dtraleigh.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@raleighdeveloper](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/raleighdeveloper)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1029 "2024-09-18T00:50:46Z")
@GucciLittlePig Is this a photograph of OakCityDylan going to his unit? ![Fairweather](https://d3tmycllq5yp1y.cloudfront.net/original/3X/b/5/b5410b64a4c60d6a015a587d61d21fbf582ccb44.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![OakCityDylan](https://community.dtraleigh.com/user_avatar/community.dtraleigh.com/oakcitydylan/32/169_2.png) [@OakCityDylan](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/OakCityDylan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1030 "2024-09-18T01:22:25Z")
Well, you did find a picture of structured parking but no, that’s not my unit. My parking spot is to the right in that shot though. This should be a better angle of the 1st floor walk ups at The Fairweather. Only 2 unfortunately. > **[Google Maps](https://maps.app.goo.gl/xgqpSxRSXjyzzhcHA?g_st=ic)** > > Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. EDIT: it’s also for rent… ---
**Author:** ![orulz](https://community.dtraleigh.com/user_avatar/community.dtraleigh.com/orulz/32/3808_2.png) [@orulz](https://community.dtraleigh.com/u/orulz)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 11:51am UTC](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568/1031 "2024-09-18T11:51:36Z")
Always wondered: do these units with the ground-floor entrance _also_ have an entrance on the other side, facing the garage or hallway? [Previous page](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568.md?page=50) [Next page](https://community.dtraleigh.com/t/village-district-developments/568.md?page=52)