I wonder if the Oakwood NIMBYs are out in force complaining about all of the new single family housing in east Raleigh near them replacing the affordable housing that used to occupy those parcels.
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of course not they are just improving the neighborhood.
It’s funny you mention that, because people were complaining about this very issue during the meeting, then making a connection between these new buildings and an increase in desire for people to live downtown… that then increases housing prices and taxes downtown. While they aren’t entirely disconnected, I feel, like others have mentioned in this thread, that the focus of the “affordable house” spotlight is misdirected and people are just lashing out wherever they can in an effort to be heard.
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Perhaps the solution is to keep displaced people in their neighborhoods with a tower for them immediately next to Oakwood? 
FWIW, this is not going to be solved by developers of expensive new buildings. Any affordable unit provided in them isn’t going to be equal to the size and price of units currently being displaced.
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On the other hand, there were a few people that tried using the “traffic” issue to shoot down the proposal at the very beginning of the presentation, but were quickly silenced by actual facts. They then proceeded to move over to the “affordable housing” issue.
So while I do feel that addressing affordable housing and rising real estate taxes when pertaining low-income families is an important issue, I think that some of the opponents of these developments might be a little disingenuous with their concerns.
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Thanks for the early link!
I think it’s beautiful. What a skyline booster! Looks like great ground level action also.
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Good luck on that. It’s CSXT’s property. And, the railroad is going to request anything and everything to prevent trespass.
Any pedestrian activity from Zimmer is going to traverse the newly renovated Peace Street. And, all that’s behind it (across the tracks) are State parking garages.
At best, there might be a future transit stop if there’s any extension up the S-line. And, that will be a siding instead of traffic on the main line. The old Seaboard viaduct was built for four tracks, so it’s potentially do-able.
But, having a crossing now is a bit premature.
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If Zimmer gets his rezoning approved, it builds more of a case for activating the space under the new Capital bridge over Peace. The foot traffic between the two will be a LOT easier than between North Hills and NH-E, and there will be an audience for small kiosk businesses between the two.
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One of the plans for the Wake Forest extension of the commuter rail was to have a station bridging peace street. If that was the case, this would be adjacent. That was from a few years ago, though.
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Sssh. Then don’t tell her about this rezoning movement.
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Can you remind me what implications if at all has this CAC vote on the further process of this rezoning?
They already have the approval (they say). They’re currently working with CSX in two other cities and even purchased some of these parcels from CSX.
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Only City Council can tell you that. It’s referenced when the case makes it to the Planning Commission as well as City Countil. That’s it. No real weight, only if the individual council members decide to consider it. The issue as I see it is that it’s a part of the process and bailing on it results in what we have now, which is an overwhelming NIMBY and much older crowd that doesn’t represent the downtown voice that ultimately is impacted directly by these cases. I’m not sure the CAC system sticks around long term, but it’s there now and it’s grossly under attended by downtown residents.
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They’re going to have a time keeping trespass to the turntable controlled.
I’ve also wondered if the other businesses and organizations on Johnson Street will fare with the new Zimmer neighbor (unless Zimmer is going to try and assemble the rest of that wedge.)
And don’t forget this building is even closer to Oakwood so I’m sure the shadow issue should be rising again!
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Dammit, why isn’t there a Groundhog emoji?
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The CAC system can stick around, but it needs to change so that representation of DT isn’t gerrymandered and split among several units. The current system makes zero sense. For example, the Cotton Mill, across the freaking street from this proposed project, isn’t part of the CAC! The entire Smoky Hollow project sits at the intersection of 4 different CACs. Boundaries of the current CACs are not drawn based on real connections of parcels and neighbors, but on major roads. They also often tether to far removed areas from DT. The Central CAC goes all the way down to the Garner border. Hillsborough Wade covers covers Glenwood South, but also all the way to the Beltline on the other side of NC State. It’s just stupid.
We need to make our virtual DT CAC a real thing with a real voice.
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I asked about those additional parcels at the meeting before last and they are definitely interested in acquiring them.
As for trespass to the turntable, there’s essentially no control now. I’m able to walk down the tracks from Harrington and open access to the turntable. I’m sure there will be some kind of wall/retention built from the mass of this development (if it ever happens).
Hasn’t the state floated the idea of selling off the property on the other side of the tracks?
Yes. Supposed to be going up for bid. Of course, Kane is interested. SH4.
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