Don’t sacrifice Raleigh’s historic neighborhood for a new 30-story tower | Opinion
It’s ironic when folks hope for new good things at the expense of good things we have.
Urban growth visionaries planned an ill-advised commuter highway through Raleigh’s historic Oakwood neighborhood in the 1960s. Today’s version of growth visionaries support another extreme — building a 30 story tower next to a historic neighborhood.
Everyone agrees more parks and walkable densities are good things, but promoters of the 30-story tower next to the historic Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood have offered no evidence the nearby 12-story Publix building isn’t an excellent example of what could go on the West Street site. A 12-story building would give the developer ample profits and urban highrise densities without casting a 30-story shadow over the neighborhood every winter morning and over the future Smoky Hollow Park every winter afternoon.
Growth choices that stand the test of time will always seek a balance that accommodates new ideas without sacrificing the best of what we already have.
Russ Stephenson, former Raleigh city councilor, LEED architect (ret.) and urban designer, Raleigh
Gerrymandering
North Carolina’s congressional districts — whether drawn by Democrats years ago or Republicans today — should serve voters, not politicians.
Districts should follow three principles: Keep them rooted in natural regions. Make them compact and centered, so convention-goers meet in the middle of their district. Draw them without regard to an incumbent’s address.
After Republicans gained control of the legislature, I asked myself if these principles still mattered. The answer is yes — more than ever. As a Reagan Republican — even more, a Roosevelt Republican — I cannot reconcile today’s gerrymandering with the values I had growing up in Lumberton.
As Texas Republicans twist districts, and California Democrats promise counter-steps, we risk creating a cynical winner-take-all system where voters are the losers. These maps aren’t even being redrawn right after a census, further eroding trust. Redistricting should strengthen, not weaken, democracy.
Hal Sharpe, Southern Pines
Conservatism?
Our federal government has taken a 10% interest in Intel. What happened to conservatism?
Where are all the complaints from NC Republicans about favoring one company over others? Where is anything said about potential corruption of federal purchasing? What purchasing agent would be bold enough to say that a competitor chip-maker has better products? What military officer would see that early retirement might result from saying the need is now but Intel isn’t producing the chip yet?
David Hopp, Durham
Garner history
I have been a resident of Garner since 2015. I was beyond disappointed that the new town logo erased the gold color that represented the former Black high school.
What makes Garner unique compared to other Wake County communities is its integration of citizens in its neighborhoods. This is reflected in its schools, events, parks and more. I can say this as a white resident of Wake County since 1976.
Taking out the gold because a marketing company recommended it after charging $65,000 was not necessary. The town could have insisted the gold remain because history is not to be erased. It is to be remembered and respected.
New street roundabouts, townhomes and grocery stores are good. However, “Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold.”
Lauren Zingraff, Garner
NIH in NC
North Carolina is a national leader in biomedical research. Our state’s reputation as a scientific hub is built in large part on federal investment. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) supported in NC an estimated 21,000 jobs and $4.9 billion in economic activity last year.
The NIH supports foundational research, leading to medical discoveries that improve and save lives. In the past decade, NIH research has led to safer and more effective treatments for difficult-to-treat cancers and blood clots and to therapies that could cure genetic conditions like sickle cell disease.
Continuing this progress depends on sustained commitment to research and the people living with these diseases. As Congress prepares to debate the budget, we need lawmakers to recognize the importance of NIH funding to support NC’s economy and develop treatments that help patients and families.
Alisa Wolberg, PhD, Chapel Hill
Thanks, Nickel
Plain talk from a politician to the citizens is refreshing. Thank you to Wiley Nickel for his frank discussion about gerrymandering in his Aug. 19 column.
Karen Wiebe, Raleigh
This story was originally published August 31, 2025 at 5:00 AM.