FIRST!!

Brilliant!!! Simply, brilliant. The fish-eye shots are fantastic. By the way, I think Beau deserves a little more exposure here Thanks for this outstanding photo collection.

So excited to see the new pictures. I only get back home to Raleigh every once and awhile. To get to see the progress of development and the beauty of downtown always gets me excited. The entire website is a very impressive collection.

Thank you for the great work!

FOURTH!!

Great pictures. I’d like to see some shots of the progress on the West at North project.. whoever gets to live in there should have some wonderful views of downtown.

Amazing. You still give us top quality even when time is limited for you. I agree with Ernest, BEAU deserves much more exposure.

DURHAM!?!?!? Yuck! So glad youve discovered commerce st. For some reason, I just feel special when I drive down it. And I know that sounds a little homo.

Matt you are excellent with the camera. Maybe we could get you to give us an updated shot of downtown from the top of the Duke Regional Hospital Parking Deck on Wake Forest Road.

Great pictures! However, the Raleigh downtown has a long way to go.

Whoever owns the land just east of the Boylan overpass, adjacent to where the railroad forks into a “Y” (as seen in the 2nd photo), should clean up that mess immediately. They need to either pave it over or landscape it. It is a blight on the downtown. Maybe that area can be used for commuter parking or something else of value. It looks like a trashy trailer park from that view.

Another area adjacent to downtown that needs to be improved in order for Raleigh to look like a real city is the area just to the south of downtown as seen in the Raliegh View Road angle. There is a hideous looking factory/plant right in the middle of the skyline shot. That facility needs to go. Raleigh is not Mayberry.

Raleigh doesn’t need 50-60 story buildings. If they are built, that’s fine. More importantly, Raleigh needs to clean up the downtown periphery with more dense commercial and residential activity. Until the really big buildings are built, I can envision Raliegh with a similar looking skyline to Baltimore, but with no water. Lots of 20 to 40 story buildings. As long as the city becomes vibrant, I could care less about mega skyscrapers.

Dave,

Allow me to share the description of what is planned for the area you talked about (taken from the city’s Livable Streets website). Forgive me for wasting your time if you have already seen it:

“Intermodal Center
In the area surrounding the Downtown Station, a multi-functional transit center is proposed that would link the TTA regional rail station with facilities for Interstate High Speed Rail, Amtrak, local bus service, inter-city bus service, taxis pedestrians and bicyclists. Engineering studies for the center will be underway in 2007.”

This project was under way some time ago, but serious work was not done. Lately, the city resurrected the plan and it appears to me that our leaders will be more likely to move forward with it in the next 2-3 years. Until then, I expect that area to remain an eyesore. A lot depends on how fast TTA will manage to bring back the regional rail vision, too - this time without asking for crazy money, I hope.

I agree with Dave, that factory really ruins a good skyline shot. Are there any plans to do anything with that eventually?

What is your tallest skyscraper in the city?????????????

Man I just love this shots. I love Raleigh and you really do capture the beauty of it. Its not just a beautiful city but an awesome place to live. I plan on moving back next year. When I look at your night photos they remind me of when I used to bike from my place to the downtown area and just hang out or enjoy the lights on the buildings. Thanks!

Currently, the tallest buildings in Raleigh are the Two Hannover Square, at 431ft/29 floors, and the Wachovia Capital Center, at 400ft/29 floors. However, it is worth noting that under construction are the RBC Plaza (538ft/32 floors) and the Soleil Center 1 (480ft/43 floors) - Soleil Center 1 is located ~4 miles North-West of downtown. By 2012 there will be two more buildings of significant size: The Edison 1 (~525ft/38 floors) and The Edison 2 (410ft/24 floors). Construction of these two towers will begin as soon as the parking deck between them is finished. My guess is that we will see the groundbreaking taking place sometime in 2009, but so far this is only a guess. There is a good chance The Edison could scale up if demand exists, but I have no evidence of such increase at this point; the developer is willing to shoot for the sky, though.

Dave,

Great pictures. I always check the site periodically to see what new and interesting pictures you have posted. Keep up the good work! Another interesting vantage point you might want to check out is on the Dorthea Dix campus from the parking lots just below the NC Japan Center. Gives you an interesting perspective of the downtown skyline.

Matt,

Incredible shots. You can make the ordinary shot look extraordinary. Thanks.

i agree also, about the factory. I work in several downtown locations, and one just south of downtown. Not only is that factory an eyesore, but it stinks to high hell, when you drive past it. Smells like they are processing some kind of dead meat or something. The city did have a plan, to tear down Washington Heights across the street from that plant, and build something similar to what is now behind Peace College (mixed use/income neighborhood). However, I do not see them getting many buyers in the middle to upper income bracket with both that factory, and the Wilmington Street homeless/rehab shelter next door. Even though I have volunteered at that shelter many times, it was very short sighted of Raleigh, to put that shelter right next to where they hoped to re-develop neighborhoods. A quick drive by at any time of day or night would encapsulate my theories on that couple of blocks.

Real Cool Pictures. Peace & Blessings. Craig

Trent,

If I am not mistaken they process poultry for Purina dog food in that plant, which explains the stink. Your input on the short-term potential of that area is right on the money. It will take MANY years of revitalization to actually get the area South of downtown ready for people to move. Maybe the city can attract a few businesses first, but it will take the removal of that plant to actually bring the number of residents we all hope to see there.

Cool Picture. Keep It Up! Very Awesome!

I like the photos Flash keep up the work. I may not say that much on the forum, but I’m still around!!!!! God Bless

Ernest Johnson, is that really you? I have been trying to call you, but I have the wrong number. Please send me an email, or reach me via email - go to my web page and click on the “Contact Me” link if you don’t have my information.

Purina has been long gone from that plant. It is now owned by Cargill which is a soy bean processing plant.