Work to begin on Raleigh plaza

RALEIGH -- The city is to break ground today on a $14.8 million high-tech public square that Raleigh leaders hope will become the main gathering place in a revitalized downtown.

Called the City Plaza, the square is being designed so that it can host parades, markets and concerts at the south end of Fayetteville Street. The project also involves extending Fayetteville Street south to connect with Lenoir Street.

City Manager Russell Allen said all but $1 million of the project has been funded. He said the project is not in danger of being delayed by the wider financial crisis.

Construction is expected to be completed by next October.

When it opens to the public, the plaza will include 45-foot-tall light towers, a motion-sensitive water fountain and four retail pavilions.

Power lines, phone lines and water pipes will run under the plaza floor so merchants can set up shop temporarily.

The retail pavilions are being built by the Simpson Organization, owner of the Bank of America building and the underground parking garage under Fayetteville Street. The city negotiated with Simpson for months before getting the necessary easements to put the plaza and roadway over the company's property.

An agreement was reached in July after Raleigh threatened to start condemnation proceedings against Simpson.

The City Plaza marks the last in a series of major public investments Raleigh leaders have made in Fayetteville Street.

Allen said the city is still hoping to create a temporary outdoor amphitheater on the site of the old Sir Walter Chevrolet dealership at McDowell and Lenoir streets.

The city acquired the property so that it could eventually expand the convention center, though that isn't expected to occur for at least a decade.

Raleigh hopes to partner with Live Nation, manager of the Walnut Creek Amphitheater, to create a venue for live music. Allen said the project remains in the concept phase at this point.

Wilson Rogers, senior vice president of North American amphitheater operations for Live Nation, said his company is still interested in the project.

"It's still something we're working toward," he said.

"We've not made much progress, but we are working toward it."

(Staff writer David Menconi contributed to this report.)