Downtown Raleigh’s skyline will change dramatically in the next several years with the addition of new towers, particularly in the southern end. Are you excited?
UPDATE 10/08/2008:
First of the Edison updates:
UPDATE 07/20/2007:
He is an updated version of the future Raleigh Skyline rendering. It reflects a more current version of what we might see in 2008 and beyond.
Closer:
The current version of Raleigh (2006):
The future rendering of Raleigh:
A less cartoony look at the rendering:
Discuss!
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Created
on Sunday, October 29th, 2006 in the category Illustrations.
May 8th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Good idea, Anonymous… I think that one of the biggest obstacles is the existing momentum that college teams have created. Yes, there are thousands of people who didn’t graduate from any of the local universities, but I am sure any interested parties would look at the Triangle’s sport’s scene and wonder if NCSU, Duke and UNC graduates would support a professional team just as much. Also, we do have Carolina Railhawks, who are doing better than both Raleigh Flyers and Capital Express did in the past – Railhawks is a soccer team, for those not familiar
You are right, though, a professional sports team would probably do a lot to help downtown, assuming they are not located in the middle of nowhere.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
At least the Triangle is recognised by its colleges.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:55 am
One solution: get the Mudcat’s downtown (do not care about the 30 or 40 mile league rule between teams, I do not drive to downtown Durham to watch the Bulls – or anything else – still a nasty downtown – American tobacco is a design flaw – not an oasis). I would go to dwontown Raleigh to watch the Mudcat’s, but even with 540 access, Mudcat’s stadium is too far (in the middle of nowhere, it’s been 17 years since I have been to a game, again, too far for a minor league game). Get a committee to negotiate with the Minor League executives and get that stadium in downtown Raleigh (again, this is the captial city, the team needs to be in downtown Raleigh – Durham must be threatened by a team in downtown Raleigh – if the Bulls are so popular, they will get their support – let the Mudcat’s paly in Raleigh).
Note (A MUST in the next 10 years): New stadium in downtown Raleigh to house the Canes and NC State (students could walk to this stadium)
Do not bring the NBA to this city (95% of the people I know, could care less about the NBA), baseball (too boring, plus 81 homes games, will not work in this city or the state – Charlotte cannot support one team in that city, let alone two – pathetic sports town).
Another NFL team, YES, for the Eastern part of NC (8 home games on a Sunday – makes sense for this area – and you can still be a Canes season ticket holder and go to State Basketball games)
May 9th, 2008 at 8:27 am
We are harsh on DT Durham, aren’t we? :LOL: I like what you said about the American Tobacco Complex… It could have been a tremendously successful renovation, yet the developers created a huge yard, in the middle of the block, with NOTHING inviting on the outside. I like the yard, but the design flaws regarding the ATC’s relationship to the surroundings are too evident to ignore. I am sure there could have been difficulties making the ATC an ultra-urban development, but missing this great chance should not have been allowed either
May 9th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Amazing someone of Raleigh could blast your sister city’s DT. I thought you all worked together. I guess that’s just an RTP deal or when talking about Duke. At least Durham has a reason to go to the DT area. You have bars TC. That’s it..LOL Also don’t worry no NBA team wants to come to Raleigh. You attract no interest other then robbing poor Rocky Mount of that Canadian bank. What is really happening in Raleigh DT other than folks celebrating a 20 or 30 story building. Nothing like Wolf Pack B-Ball I guess..LOL Well you hit the int 40 for that. LOL
May 9th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Sorry (WWF) Mongo, did you say something worth listening to? I didn’t think so!
May 9th, 2008 at 9:25 am
TC, wrestling still comes to Raleigh? LOL
May 9th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Yea, that is a lil too harsh on Durham.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I like TC’s idea of an NFL team.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I agree that the NFL should be in Raleigh. It’s only 8 home games. For 8 weekends, we could deal with the traffic problems and all that. It would be worth it. Me and some friends were discussing this last week and we all said we would get season tickets for sure. But the real question is, where would a nice new stadium go downtown. Perhaps some of those awful warehouses could go? Im not sure what business impact that would have though…
May 9th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Mongo Slade, I was wondering what happened to you… We really missed you… It is entertaining to read comments that STILL do not reflect reality. Keep going, don’t let me stop you, but let me clarify things, in case any people unfamiliar with the Triangle happen to read this:
1) There is no real animosity between Raleigh and Durham. Yes, there will always people in Durham who will take shots against Raleigh, and vice versa. Still, there is no hatred, or animosity. The biggest problem we have with Durham is the crime rate. Up until my baby was born, my wife and I would visit DT Durham every now and then, thus supporting it with our money. Personally, I am really excited about the good things that take place in Durham.
2) The big rivalry exists between UNC and Duke, more than NCSU and Duke.
3) If I understood correctly, you implied that Durhamites go to downtown because of the university, in addition to entertainment. If this is what you said, let me say that NCSU is just as far from Raleigh’s CBD as Duke’s East campus is from Durham’s CBD. While Hillsborough Street doesn’t rival Ninth Street, there are so many options in DT Raleigh that it makes more sense to go there. The plans for Hillsborough Street’s revitalization are there and we hope to see some sort of transformation in the next 5 years, however slow it may be.
4) Raleigh and Durham have a lot of similarities but also a lot of differences. Durham has trouble attracting not only corporations, but also smaller businesses to its core. Personally, I love DT Durham’s fabric and I want to see downtown progressing at faster rates. Luckily, there are some individuals and groups that put a lot of effort, so it is only a matter of a few years before the progress is evident. I bet a lot on Greenfire Development to fill in many of the empty spaces in DT Durham. Raleigh, on the other hand, has made quicker progress in most areas.
5) Obviously, you know nothing about RBC Centura’s move to DT Raleigh, so let me fill you in… The work force currently located in Rocky Mount (1100-1500 people, I believe) will remain in Rocky Mount. RBC Centura will only bring 500 top positions to downtown, most of which are located already in Raleigh – just not downtown. Raleigh is not stealing from Rocky Mount. However, a day will come when RBC Centura may rethink that strategy. When they had to make a decision, it was either Raleigh, or Atlanta. Be glad they chose the former.
Mongo, I think that deep inside you are in love with Raleigh and someone here continues to break your heart. Maybe I am wrong, but it is up to you to tell us the truth. Come on, admit it… You are in love with Raleigh!!!
May 9th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I really want the NFL to play in Raleigh, but I am pretty sure that they wouldn’t put two teams in North Carolina. I also think that if Raleigh was to have a professional baseball team, the stadium would have to be built somewhere out in suburbia, and the current baseball field movement is stadiums in the DT’s of cities.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Oh yeah and…..Welcome back Mongo!
May 9th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Ernest, Obviously you have TC on ignore. My so called unrealistic comments are in response to TC’s nonsense about your sister city. I just think the hypocrisy is too funny! Also you can imply Raleigh didn’t recruit RBC all you want but then I would say it is you who knows nothing. Also Ernest that is why you want HQs to get highly paid workers living and working in your area. Come on you know that so don’t minimize the importance.
Also back to Durham in regards to my point at least they have a reason to go DT with the Bulls playing there. This is response to TC’s whining but then blasting Durham at the same time. Raleigh’s DT has nothing but some bars, a place to pay traffic tickets and Govt offices which are great for a 5th grade field trip. Then his insults at the NBA is sounds like bitterness. Sure after the way Shinn/Hornets left Charlotte mainly over the areana folks have some resentment against the Bobcats but they still get close to 15k a game uptown being a losing team. Charlotte is a bandwagon sports town so they win they will fill the seats.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Mongo Slade, my knowledge about RBC Centura’s move extends beyond your basic understanding of it, take my word for it. When you get to the point of having opportunities to talk with the people at the very top of RBC Centura, then you and I can discuss the move a little better. Did Raleigh recruit RBC Centura? No, it didn’t. RBC purchased Centura and saw Raleigh as a logical next step for them. Tomorrow, some Charlotte boosters may come here and try to lure RBC Centura away from us. Until then, you cannot say we stole anything at all. Look at your own city for such moves, not Raleigh.
The whole Raleigh-Durham “lecture” was actually a set of general comments. Those of us who live here can actually speak about the relations between the two cities and opinions may vary… I just offered my own.
May 10th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Wow, seems that thread has taken on new life as of late. LOL
Durham has a long way to go. The streetscape project they completed downtown last year was much needed and a step in the right direction (it was a mess while it lasted though). I actually don’t visit Durham because I never have a reason to go there. Ernest is absolutely right when he says the crime rate is the single biggest thing hindering progress in Durham. It’s up to the community leaders and the residents there to take that matter into their hands and do something about it. It’s also always seemed to me that Duke University has made an underhanded effort to try to segregate itself from the Durham residents, and vice versa. Both entities need to embrace each other and with that, I think you could see a lot of really positive things happen in the Bull City.
Ahhhh and how I do love sports topics. I admit to daydreaming about an NFL team coming to Raleigh. I don’t ever expect it to happen though, not in 10 years, not in 20 years. Especially not when the nation’s 2nd largest metro market still doesn’t have a franchise at all. And with all of the transplants relocating here, it might be hard for a new team to sway their loyalties away from their “hometown” teams.
I think an athletic stadium downtown would have been a nice thing for Raleigh, but not only is there the question of where to put it, and then you have the other issues to deal with associated with that – not the least of which is parking, and you have to consider infrastructure as well. I’d absolutely love to see major league baseball in the area, but it’s hard to say if we could really support it.
Fortunately the pendulum is still swinging in the right direction for Raleigh! And hopefully the credit crunch won’t shut it down!
May 10th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
The area around the Durham Bulls Athletic Park has been fixed up with the addition of shops restaurants etc. It’s pretty nice.
And is there any new news on the Raleigh Riverwalk project? I saw a news story on it a couple of weeks ago and haven’t heard about it since.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
The Riverwalk vision will take a very long time to materialize. It will be a complex project, without a doubt and will take a strong public-private partnership to become reality. In other words, wait for another 10 years…
May 11th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Ernest, RBC was a major catch for Raleigh you are simply in denial if you are trying to ignore the impact of getting a HQ downtown. Raleigh has simply lacked any major corporartion HQ in the area and as part of the DT push RBC coming to town was a major booast. Why do you think you have your 20-30 story tower. I honestly don’t know why you are even arguing the fact. Maybe some sort of website ego trip. LOL. Raleigh needs to get more corporations in the area to spark the DT growth you all want. Ernest I don’t mean to step on your toes so carry on with your bragging about the people you conversate with. LOL.
As for Durham again it simply amazes me that people from Raleigh with a historically lackuster DT can make insults at your sister city. You both have RTP i guess and both towns can brag of ACC B-Ball with the upper hand obviously going to Durham.
May 12th, 2008 at 7:36 am
anybody ever see the commercial with the trunk monkey?… well mongo slade im the guy in the car and im hitting the button so im expecting anytime for you to jump out of the trunk and scratch your underarms and grab the crow bar and knock out the police guy… see how ignorant and silly this comment is, well compare it to your irrelevant posts that are ultimately unresearched and purposeless. you only post on here to try to upset all of us triangle people. i will admit that charlotte has come along way and that its dt is a success but you really need to do some research hoss before you get up here and just have your tongue hangin out your ass trying to smash us raleighites. the fact is ernest has tried to expain to you the many reasons as to how and why rbc moved to raleigh and your not even making an attempt to understand… i mean it just doesnt make any sense! eveything he has said is crystal ball clear. maybe its the rediculous crime rate down there in charlotte that has got you pansies in panic and you just cant think or comprehend straight because your scared that someone is goin to rob you or shoot you in the head for a rediculous reason. i dunno how long youve been in charlotte but you mustve only been there like three years cause you just dont know the facts about your own city. lets not talk about a big city stealing from a little city because charlotte has done this also… it gets the credit for everything down there even when things are nowhere near the city etc lowes. even though lowes has a mooresville address they still front like its in charlotte. we all know that raleigh’s skyline has a long way to go, thats the whole point of this website but for you to come up here with just plain silly comments trying to piss us off on purpose just does not score any points at all for you. everyone knows that charlotte is the outcast in north carolina. just for the record , raleigh could easily support a professional team and i dont see how anybody could think not. all the people here who are wealthy and have good jobs could easily buy season tickets. to be honest i think we will see one within the next decade. eventually somebody will recognize. o and buy the way ernest try and rationalize with the trunk monkey… you’ll get better results than trying to with mongo. LOL