City leaders mull next steps for Lenovo Center entertainment district. What they decided

Raleigh leaders generally favor creating a new sports and entertainment district in the western part of the city but say the current proposal needs more work.

The Carolina Hurricanes and its development partners want to rezone nearly 81 acres surrounding the Lenovo Center to create a “Raleigh Sports and Entertainment District.”

The city’s tallest buildings — up to 40 stories — would be allowed if the rezoning is approved. The current zoning allows up to 12 stories.

Plans also call for 1,450 housing units with allowances to build another 2,750 units depending on future demand.

A hotel, 1.8 million new square feet of non-residential space and a 4,000-seat concert venue are also in the plans.

The Raleigh City Council listened to residents, primarily concerned with traffic, Tuesday night during a public hearing but did not act on the rezoning request.

Council members decided to keep the public hearing open to give the applicant more time to add restrictions, called conditions, to the request.

“This development has an opportunity to be a real gemstone of the city,” said Council member Megan Patton. “Also, if we don’t do it correctly, we will just solidify it as a car-only destination.”

City leaders asked the applicants to consider more conditions to address pedestrian safety and how best to keep in touch with neighborhoods and community groups as work continues on this project.

Construction on the $1 billion development could begin later this year, if the rezoning is approved. It could take 10 to 15 years to build.

What did people say?

Eight people signed up to speak for the rezoning, nearly all representing the applicants.

This area is a “city growth center,” said Jamie Schwedler, an attorney for the developers.

“This is where you all already elected to see the growth and investment in our community,” she said. “There’s plenty of policies talking about the economic driver for this area and where you want to see infill development. To match that we brought forth [this rezoning].”

Five people signed up to speak against the rezoning, including students from Cardinal Gibbons High School, a private Catholic school across from the Lenovo Center on Edwards Mill Road. Many other students filled the city council chamber wearing Cardinal Gibbons gear.

Students don’t have many places that are safe to walk to before and after school, said Lola Holderness, a student.

“This development could change that in a great way,” she said. “In order for that vision to really work, we need to make sure it’s accessible and, more importantly, safe. Even now, [going from] Gibbons to the current Lenovo Center area is not easy. Edwards Mill Road is fast, busy and not built for pedestrians, and once the new development is built, it will attract even more traffic.”

Laura Ford, a nearby resident representing the Alliance For Reedy Creek Trenton Corridor, said the group isn’t against new development but has concerns.

“I personally have had to wait hours to get to my house,” she said. “We have two ways into our neighborhood and we are very concerned about emergency access in our neighborhoods. They are directly impacted by the Lenovo Center growth.”

What’s planned for the district?

The plans also call for restaurants and retail space surrounding the renovated Lenovo Center and 11 acres of open space.

There will be some affordable housing in the project as well. The development agreement requires 10% of the housing units be priced for people whose household income is 80% of the area median income or less

The proposal divides the property into four subdistricts:

▪ District A, 20 acres containing the arena and nearby parking, would not change in the near future but would allow up to 40-story buildings “for future development should the Arena ever be redeveloped or relocated in a significant manner,” according to the plan.

▪ District B, the entertainment district wrapped around the arena near Stephen Stroud Way, could have up to 800 residential units and 890,000 square feet of non-residential space.

The plans call this 24 acres the “heart” of the sports and entertainment activities and would be an “important connection” between the Lenovo Center and nearby Carter-Finley Stadium, which is not part of this rezoning. This section would be the only district zoned for up to 15 stories. There would be at three parking decks in this area.

▪ District C, the mixed-used district includes 15 acres, is closest to Edwards Mill Road and would have a smattering of retail, residential and restaurants with “heights ranging up to 40 stories to accommodate a healthy mix of uses.”

▪ District D, the live/work district closest to the intersection of Wade Avenue and Edwards Mill Road, would have the highest concentration of offices and residential units. The 10-acre area, close to the interstate, would “provide ideal visibility for a regional office campus.” This section would also allow buildings up to 40 stories tall. At least one parking deck would be included in this district.

Who is behind the district?

This deal was worked out with the Hurricanes to extend the team’s lease at the Lenovo Center through 2044. The extension gave team owner Tom Dundon the right to develop the nearly 81 acres of state-owned land around the stadium.

What happens next?

The case will return to the City Council at the 1 p.m. April 15 meeting.

This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 9:31 PM.

Anna Roman

The News & Observer

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Anna Roman is a service journalism reporter for the News & Observer. She has previously covered city government, crime and business for newspapers across North Carolina and received many North Carolina Press Association awards, including first place for investigative reporting.