Worth the wait. Thank you!

The blue fill in behind the RBC Centura building is the newly announced 38 story Edison project, correct?

Thats right, of course we don’t know what it will look like as of right now, so thats something I will have to add in more detail when they release the new renderings.

What is that really tall stepped building on the far left in the first picture?

DPK, I think that is the Reynolds tower proposal for the corner of Hillsborough and Dawson streets. If I’m correct, that should break ground by October - but it’s been delayed a few times already.

The building to the left of the Quorum Center is The Winston proposal, is it not?

Thanks for your hard work, Matt!!! Loved the new renderings.

Thanks for answering my question!

Matt K - The Winston should probably appear in front of the Quorum Center. Part of the vague spot on the left is West at North

Where’d that new rendering of Site 1 come from?
I LIKE IT!

I don’t know why I keep getting the West @ North and The Winston confused - mental error on my part.
Myself, I too am interested in the progress or likelihood of some of these proposals around the south end of downtown - mainly Site 1 and The Lafayette. Even though they don’t stand as tall, they sure are eye-catching!

Jacob,

Check the following links:

http://www.craigdavisproperties.com/images/cso_elevations.jpg

http://www.craigdavisproperties.com/images/citysiteone-west.jpg

http://www.craigdavisproperties.com/pages/cso.htm

Incredible work Matt. Thanks for providing us with such high quality graphics so we can enjoy the future today.

The new site 1 renderings are a MAJOR improvement over the originals (we do not need more biege and brick in the Triangle, especially downtown, the exterior of the convention center at best is bland). I still see one problem; wasting prime downtown real estate. We continue to sprawl instead of going taller. Eliminate the 14 story buidling: build one 40 story (or taller) buidling or two 30 story (or taller) buildings. What a great location for a signature tower (tower meaning 50 stories or greater).

We should learn from the RBC Plaza project. The residential piece of this building has sold out (great job), it could have reached 40 or 50 stories (I would not have been surprised if all the additional units sold out).

Well said, Tony. I feel the same way about the continuous waste of space. Yes, I am very excited about the great projects we are getting, but our developers still think small. An exception is The Edison, which makes the best use for that block - we need to consider the transitional nature of that area, too. Also, I am very surprised about RBC Plaza not being pushed higher after all the demand that existed prior to ground-breaking. I am happy that they did something more than 15 stories, though. Site One will be nice, but will remain an underwhelming project. With three developers involved, it could have gone way higher than 40 stories.

i know there is some ‘appeal’ to the taller structures. our unbelievably insecure sister city, charlotte is obsessed with this concept which has bascially created a very sterile and at night mostly, dormant dowtown.

There is however a strategy to ‘more, smaller’ structures than just a few gargantuan buildings. it keeps more people closer to the streets. it doesn’t create an ‘eclipse’ of the sun which allows for a more pleasant street-life with some sunshine filtering onto the streets, cafes, and people. Think of Washnington, DC. granted, a much larger metropolitan area than anything in the South but no buildings are taller than the Washington Monument and the streets are lively and active.

i’m not suggesting that the City avoid more ambitious, taller, structures that help ‘fill-in’ the skyline but we should be careful about being so concerned with the ‘Ego buildings’. There is a lot of land Inside the Beltline. 150+ 15-35 story buildings versus 15 40-story buildings could make for an interesting skyline as well as a much more exciting street.

Your point is well taken. The reason behind our excitement when it comes to taller structures is the fact that our city doesn’t have its fair share of skyscrapers. Instead of looking at Washington DC, where the tallest structure is an obelisk-shaped monument (555ft tall and totally unurban) we can look at so many other cities that have managed to blend wonderful skyscrapers with excellent pedestrian experience and well preserved older buildings.

DT Raleigh is an odd place. It doesn’t have as many historic mid-rises - normally perfect as fillers in the skyline and excellent opportunities for renovations - as one might expect from a capital city. Instead, we have several uninspiring buildings that still dominate the landscape (i.e. County Jail, Wake County Courthouse, Archdale Bldg, One Hannover Square). These buildings will have to be overwhelmed by better and taller structures, otherwise we’ll maintain an image that is unattractive and uninviting. It is not really about tall buildings, as much as it is about the opportunity to get the best of both worlds: nice-looking skyscrapers with excellent pedestrian feel.

Quite honestly, I am not afraid about the “ego buildings”. In a city as large (landwise) and spread out as Raleigh, there is more benefit in bringing walkability and urbanity in areas outside downtown, than being too worried about creating mediocre ground level experience in a few blocks. One walk around downtown and you will discover something very weird: Much of the pedestrian unfriendliness comes from poorly designed low-rises and mid-rises. All those great looking historic low-rises on the west side of the 200-block of Fayetteville Street look butt-ugly on the Salisbury Street side. There are many smaller buildings that have an awful impact at the street level. What I am trying to say is this: smaller buildings do not guarantee us pedestrian friendly experience, much like high-rises do not necessarily take away from the ground level activity. Right now, there is available land for redevelopment in DT Raleigh and we deserve something far greater than what we are getting, IMHO. In a few years we will only be left with smaller lots and from that point on it will be very hard to get iconic towers.

You make a good observation, though. Getting “ego buildings” for the sake of having an impressive skyline isn’t good when the street-level suffers. However, I will worry about this only after we get a few iconic towers and escape the mediocre image we have established as a result of the small-town syndrome of the past.

Neat, looks very good.

I think Raleigh should have a 900 story tower , it would be grest for the city.

When will the Renderings for the Edison come out? Thanks

Whoops on that first post, I meant 900 ft.

A 900-footer would have been nice
As for renderings of The Edison, I would say sometime before the end of this year, but I won’t be surprised if it takes longer. As long as the project doesn’t scale down, I am patient. This would contrast with the Reynolds Tower 1 project, which is now in its 3rd incarnation - actually, the 4th set of renderings - and it is getting smaller and uglier Judging from the West At North project, the developer will authorize the release of the renderings when he is certain about the final design and size. I would love to see something, but I know it would be very premature at this point in time. Although I was promised some exclusive renderings when they are ready, you might like to keep on visiting JDavis Architects’ site.

Does Raleigh have any sunlight ordinances? Most largere cities require building heights to vary so that streets will not be perpetually dark from too many high rises.

Ignore previous comment. I saw your response to CC.

off subject but does anyone think that the dix property could be used for complex to attract a professional sports team or an expansion of downtown or even some high rise residential/commercial properties…I know that the idea is to transform the property into some sort off park or something…have we not an abundance of parks already..pullen is on the same stretch of road and what about umstead? I love raleigh but for a city that has a population bigger than tampa, cincinnati, buffalo, and pittsburgh we sure don’t look like it as far as development, entertainment and sports…I think the city council and city officials really need to step out of the post civil war era and into the generation of technology and economic boom.

The City Council - especially the new one - will not allow any sports complex to be developed in the Dorothea Dix grounds. They seem to be set on the whole park idea. However, I doubt that the state will waste such valuable real estate on a single use, but I do not expect anything good to come out of it either. Probably an office park type of development, with no urban elements, whatsoever. My position is that we should consider mix uses, in order to satisfy all sides and make the best of this opportunity. Unfortunately, single-interest groups will cause more trouble with their rigid position than good. Ideally, the state and local governments will consider something nicer, while take all the profits and use them for the mentally ill. High-rise developments in that area are definitely out of the question, at least for the next 30 years, or so. This is only my prediction, of course, and things can change dramatically.

The city is currently scouting land downtown for a future sports complex, most likely, a replacement for the inevitable demise of the RBC Center. Not clear whether they are looking for a ‘football-stadium’ or baseball-site as well.

This is in the very early stages and is being done quietly. obviously the ultra-conservatives would choke on the thought of spending money on a new arena. part of this evaluation is including preliminary studies on what sports teams might call an arena home in addition to the Hurricanes. The NBA is obviously on the discussion list. Again, this is very early; most likely 10 years off before we’d even have anything built. any facility would require corporate/big money backing in addition to location, what type of building etc.

i know its hard to fathom blowing that building up but it is already nearly 10 years old. the old charlotte coliseum lasted less than 18.

I would be more interested in a private entity looking for a site than the City of Raleigh doing so. Let’s keep in mind that we already have a lot of areas where our money will have to be spent. City Plaza and Lightner Center are two of the major projects the city is undertaking and they will take us into the next 5 years with a debt hanging above us. It is good that the city is looking into future possibilities for an arena/sports complex, but there is nothing wrong with keeping an eye on overspending

i wish raleigh could show 700 and 800ft buildings like charlotte and boston

All we have to do is keep the dream alive and some day it will happen. Some day soon, that is The key to getting some true skyscrapers is to attract major corporate entities, which have the need for space and the vision to build for the future. Of course, we do not want companies that are easy to acquire, or love to move around. We need companies that look for stability and long term growth.

$50 million just got approved for improvements to the RBC Center. i dont think it’s going anywhere. check the TBJ for the story.