Raleigh approves 40-story downtown tower and replacement for eyesore hotel
The Raleigh City Council approved a slew of projects, including a planned 40-story tower in downtown Raleigh and the replacement for the Capital Plaza Hotel, Tuesday night.
A dozen public hearings were held at the Raleigh Municipal Building, with most projects approved without comment. The one that drew the largest crowd was on Strickland Road where a property owner wants to add townhomes while neighbors in mostly single-family homes oppose the idea.
Here are some of the developments that appeared on the agenda:
Downtown Raleigh tower
Location: 1.88 acres bounded by West Davie, South Harrington, West Martin and South West streets in the Warehouse District. The block currently houses the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) of Raleigh, HQ Raleigh, Circa 1888 and Gracie Raleigh.
The change: Developers want to build up to 40 stories on the block, though there is no guarantee the development will reach that height. The building will rise highest in the middle of the property, and the facade along Martin Street will be preserved, according to the zoning application. The application originally sought up to 20 stories. It was put on hold after the city asked for affordable housing, which has now been added. The Central Citizen Advisory Council voted 15-0 in favor of the rezoning.
CAM and HQ Raleigh will remain on the property, The News & Observer previously reported.
Outcome: The council approved the rezoning.
Raven Ridge/Falls of Neuse
Location: Nearly 20 acres at the intersection of Raven Ridge Road and Falls of Neuse Road. It is wooded land except for one vacant house.
The change: The owner, D&N Development of Raleigh, originally wanted a denser, mixed-use development with a grocery store, but neighbors had concerns about traffic, storm water run-off and privacy. The second owner, Raven Ridge Development, proposed only residential uses. The zoning application seeks 180 units on the property. The North Citizen Advisory Council voted 56-23 against the rezoning. City Council member David Cox posted YouTube tutorials to explain this rezoning.
Outcome: The council approved the rezoning.
Capital Boulevard Hotel
Location: 8 acres at 2815 Capital Blvd.
The change: The longtime eyesore Capital Plaza Hotel, with broken windows and graffiti, will be turned into apartments under this rezoning request. Cox has previously said the apartments would be affordable and target people who make about 80% of the area median income. The owner, Alliance Residential Company, redeveloped a hotel into luxury apartments in Durham, The N&O previously reported. The Atlantic Citizen Advisory Council voted 20-2 in favor of the rezoning.
Outcome: The council approved the rezoning.
Strickland Road
Location: About 6.5 acres at 13051 Strickland Road, in an upside down L-shape property between Does Run Court and Woodyhill Road.
The change: The low-density, mostly wooded area, would see its density jump from 2 units to 6 units per acre, according to the rezoning application. The application prohibits apartment buildings, and it town homes are what the applicant would like to place on site. The Northwest Citizen Advisory Council voted 217-4 against the rezoning.
Outcome: Council member David Knight, who represents the area, asked for the public hearing to remain open so he could talk to the developer and neighbors. The public hearing will continue at the council’s first meeting in March.
Olde Towne Development
Location: 515 acres at the intersection of South New Hope Road and Rock Quarry Road
The change: This large development will have up to 1,700 residential units, a number already approved by the City Council. This rezoning application seeks to add 60 more apartments, up from 300, on the property. And it required 100 units be age-restricted and required the greenway on the property connect to the city’s planned greenway. This development began in 2003 but stalled. The finished development will include residential and commercial uses, The N&O has previously reported.
Outcome: The council approved the rezoning.
Find information about all of the rezonings at raleighnc.gov/agendas.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 8:33 AM.
