Raleigh tries again to redevelop Moore Square area after failed 2022 bid
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Raleigh seeks developer ideas to redesign 3.78 acres around Moore Square.
- City aims for mixed housing and retail with a sizable affordable component.
- Deadline closes May 15, 2026; responses will shape a coordinated request process.
The city of Raleigh is preparing to redevelop two blocks bordering Moore Square, and it’s starting by asking developers for ideas.
The reset comes after the city’s 2022 redevelopment effort collapsed in February when lead developer Loden Properties said its residential tower no longer penciled out amid rising interest rates and softening rents. Their withdrawal triggered the unraveling of a 160-unit, affordable-housing project that accompanied the development, The INDY reported.
Now, the city says, this early feedback phase is designed to avoid the overpromising and stalled outcomes of the last attempt.
“City staff will use the responses to help establish a fair and effective process for choosing our development partners,” the city said in a release Wednesday, adding that they should be able to deliver “financially sound projects that add vibrancy and affordability to the east side of downtown.”
Moore Square is one of Raleigh’s original 1792 squares and now draws 2,000-plus daily visitors after a $12.5 million renovation.
It sits next to major anchors Marbles Children’s Museum, City Market and GoRaleigh Station.
The sites, which total nearly four acres, are among the last big redevelopment opportunities on the square.
The city says it wants a mix of housing and retail with a significant portion reserved for affordable housing.
“We’d strongly encourage the city to seek a process that moves expeditiously, given the need to create new momentum in this part of downtown,” said Bill King, Downtown Raleigh Alliance president and CEO.
Atinuke “Tinu” Diver, vice president of impact at DHIC Inc., a Raleigh-based affordable-housing developer, added that she’s encouraged to see that affordable housing remains a “key component” of the city’s vision.
“We’ll be following the process closely,” she said.
Where the development would happen
East Site (2.85 acres)
- Zoned for 12–20 stories, depending on the parcel.
- Expected to include market‑rate housing or hospitality, plus required ground‑floor retail on Person Street.
- Likely to involve affordable housing along Bloodworth Street — roughly 120-plus units are feasible, the city said.
South Site (0.94 acres)
- Currently a historic gas station and surface parking.
- The gas station must remain and be reused; the surface lot is targeted for redevelopment, the city said.
- Zoned for 3–12 stories, depending on the parcel.
What key policy questions the city is asking
The city says there are several unresolved issues that will shape the eventual request for proposal (RFP) process seeking a partner.
Among them:
- Should the city issue one unified RFP or separate RFPs?
The city wants to know whether potential partners would prefer to consider the sites individually or as a package. A single RFP could allow proposals for either one or multiple sites, but it makes comparisons harder, the city said. Separate RFPs could also miss opportunities for coordination between the sites, such as shared parking.
- Should developers be allowed to assemble additional land?
Eligible proposals are restricted to city‑controlled land and any other sites the proposer can prove they control. The city said it’s open to the developer expanding the site by negotiating with the three private owners on the eastern block, as long as the main plan isn’t scaled back, and the timeline doesn’t slip.
- How should parking work?
The south site is too narrow for a ramp garage. The city is asking whether developers need dedicated spaces in nearby public decks, or whether patrons can find parking independently.
What developers must submit now
The city is not soliciting proposals yet.
This first step is a request for Interest (RFI) meant to gather ideas and shape the future RFP. It could be anything from a brief letter to concept plans. There are no minimum requirements.
The deadline is 5 p.m. May 15, 2026. They must be received electronically and sent via email to Urban.Projects@raleighnc.gov.
This story was originally published April 10, 2026 at 12:08 PM.
