hey that’s pretty cool! it’s interesting to see Raleigh from that angle, too.

As always, very nice

Makes NH look small!

Matt,

Let me skip the usual comments about your photography skills, as the views is the main focus of this series. Let me say that the skyline looks really nice from CAPTRUST Tower. Sure, it is small and underwhelming, but the angle is really nice and we get to see all the major buildings. It makes me more inpatient to see The Edison completed, as it will offer tremendous depth (and height) to the skyline from this angle.

North Hills East is also coming along just fine. Sure, it is a work in progress… A work that has just begun, and the there is a ton of work before it gets completed, but it is surely becoming a very attractive development. I do hope that Kane will manage to build several high-rises, as tall as the city allows (35 floors at the moment), as they will offer fantastic views of the skyline and densify that area.

Thanks for sharing these great images, and thanks to the person who offered you access

Ernest,

You’re dead on about the angle and Edison impatience. These shots really make me wish RBC tower was more vertical and less unattractive. Once Edison is built and “the big gap” as I like to call it starts getting filled, we’ll really have something then.

Another interesting thing is to see how the gap between the CBD and Glenwood South will be filled – JRD, is this the gap you are talking about? The banner image for this series shows clearly how Hillsborough Street can be utilized better: with high-rises that exceed 500ft. The section between Salisbury Str and Glenwood Ave will be golden, IF high-rise development expands into the Warehouse District. To me, two projects can boost the skyline towards the West: One Glenwood and whatever will end up going at the N&O block. If we get in these two locations anything above 500ft – and chances are we will – the skyline will be off the hook.

Let me stop here, before my imagination runs any wilder

Yes, thats the gap I speak of. This is why I think the Public Safety center is a must (aside form the actual real needs for it). That will definitely push it west, also SECU hqs will also contribute slightly I think. Is One Glenwood even still on?

The photos from the Captrust building are excellent. Thanks Matt.

VERY NICE PICS!!! What is the latest on the Edison Project?

C BEST, there are no real updates on any of the projects that we anticipate. Outside The Hillsborough and Lafayette, the rest are still good. The Edison, being as complex project as it is, will only need a little time before we see it rising above ground. My guess is that the developer is trying – much like any other developer – to lure a major office tenant before any official groundbreaking takes place. Financing doesn’t seem to be the issue, but without a major tenant it will be hard to see any activity at the site. In general, your guess is as good as anyone’s, but the project is still solid and there is preliminary work taking place behind the scenes.

Wow…it’s amazing to see where you live from 17 floors up. Grew up around North Hills, and it is awesome to see what it has become, and what the view is from the 17th floor.

p.s.–from parts of Rowan Dr. and Knollwood Rd. you can see downtown, or at least the RBC Center lights…it’s pretty cool.

The Radio Shack hq wanted to move. They were thinking about raleigh and mabey they could use the edison as there building

I was ecstatic about the possibility of Radio Shack moving its HQ here, but I was told from a reliable source that this may be a trick similar to Boeing’s, so they can get more out Texas. Unless my source wanted to keep a secret, it doesn’t seem that Radio Shack will be going anywhere. The incentives they will need to move here will not be worth it, so neither the local nor the state government will do anything – can’t blame them. However, if they decided in DT Raleigh’s favor, I couldn’t see better place for them than The Edison.

ERNEST,

Thanks for the update on the Edison project!

ERNEST,

Has a General Contractor been awarded the Edison Project??

Not that I know of, but given the size and complexity of the project I would not anticipate any quick decisions.

cross your fingers people today the public safety center either gets a go or gets go-ing back to the drawing board. pray these clowns dont f%&k this up!

Yes, pray that they vote yes without any tax increases and bankrupting the city I think that the building is fine as designed and should not cut corners, but I am also sure the city can reduce the costs by removing features we can add later. Somehow, I don’t think public art is needed in a building like that. I have no problem with the private bathrooms for the people high in the hierarchy, as they will be needed during extended crisis. However, mayor Meeker should stop talking about any savings at this moment… When tax payers pick up the bill, there is no such thing as “savings” for the city.

Ha, it would actually look nicer if the corners were rounded off. All the buildings in downtown are too boxy. Yes, Ernest, I know that’s not actually what u mint but dt Raleigh needs abuilding with a dome to make some diversity in the style.

Ben, I agree with you. I do wish to see a little more diverse architecture in DT Raleigh. Quite frankly, I am disappointed with the fact that outside a couple of NYC rip-off’s (One Progress Plaza and 333 Fayetteville) that you find in many cities, there is nothing truly inspiring. Sure, we have a few decent mid-rises, but when it comes to high-rise development we are far behind

Love the Fairgrounds, so sick, wouldnt think it would be a decent view of it but wow

I completely support the Raleigh Downtown Police/Public Safety Center. It should be built as tall, and as elaborate as the renderings show. I do not live in the City of Raleigh, so the tax increases dont bother me one bit

Bill, I wish there was a way to combine the new County Justice Center and the city’s proposed Public Safety Center into one building that would reach almost twice as high. Or, place both towers on the same [side of the] block, if possible. I know, it is tough for city and county governments to engage into some creative deals, but some day we may see that. I guess this is one of the positive things that come from the merging of city-county governments, like in Mecklenburg County.

how can you turn something like the public safety center into something political thats my question? this shouldnt be political it should be a priority!

I agree, which is why it is not a political issue, except for a handful of people from both sides of the isle who have reasons to argue “for” or “against” it. Again, nobody argues about the need, but merely the timing. You wanna bet that once property tax increase is removed as an option the reaction will be nearly non-existent? There MUST be a way to finance at least part of this MUCH NEEDED project through federal funding. This is not pork spending, or an earmark. There has to be a way to get some money from the Dept. of Homeland Security, or other similar federal entities… Any of our brilliant [local] politicians who may have connections care to help? PLEASE, and while you are at it, make this building taller

if this thing gets scrapped, pushed back for years, or scaled down, im going to be really pissed…

Its going to go through in some form or another. If its something we need, then we gotta build it. I think I heard they were talking about different locations.

A delay will not hurt my feelings, as much as a scale down. I think that the latter is not the issue, as much as what goes inside the building, Like JRD said, it will be built in some form or another. The need for space will dictate the size, but any extras – and there are things that we can remove from the plan, at least for now – would raise opposition and stall the project, and for a good reason. If the city leaders want to spend over $700,000 on public art, they must be insane… Take that money and use it to offer incentives to companies to move downtown. That would raise our DT tax base and possibly put some of that money into future additions to the Public Safety Center. I think it can happen if we get a little creative. One million here, a few millions there, we can salvage this vision without sacrificing its most essential components.

Did I mention that I would love to see this building get taller

How did you get that picture of the Fairgrounds and Ariport and why can you only see trees? AMAZING!

The pics are great…Raleigh is finally coming into its own……..Soon, downtown won’t be the only area with a skyline. Midtown Raleigh is doing it up!!!!!!!