City Plaza Construction Will Commence October 20
Finally, Some Action.
current City Plaza design
After scrapping plans for an installation by an internationally renowned artist, and following an ugly legal argument with property owners of City Plaza property, Raleigh will finally break ground on the much anticipated civic gathering space on October 20th.
For six months, citizens and city officials tossed around a concept by Jaume Plensa, and received much internal and external criticism after rejecting the artist’s scheme, causing him to withdraw from the project.
Earlier this year, the city engaged in unsuccessful negotiations with The Simpson Organization, owners of City Plaza property to make a deal for the space. The situation was ridiculous, and nearly resulted in a court battle for the site. The city and TSO reached an agreement shortly after the City Council approved taking steps to condemn the land.
The plaza was originally planned to open alongside the Convention Center for Raleigh Wide Open III. It is now more than one year behind schedule. It appears that now, the city has resolved most of the issues surrounding the project and will finally get it done. Said City Council member Thomas Crowder on City Plaza, “We don’t have a plaza any more. It’s a streetscape now.” Fayetteville Street will be shut down from time to time for music and other events to take place in the new space.
Last year, Bob Geary gave a lot of good background on the City Plaza situation. Read What’s in store for Raleigh’s City Plaza.”
The City of Raleigh will break ground on “celebration central”—also known as City Plaza – at noon on Oct. 20.
The public is invited to join in this event marking the beginning of work to transform the 500 block of Fayetteville Street into the Triangle’s gathering place. When completed the plaza will welcome concerts, markets and just about any event that celebrates life as we know it, love it and live it here in the Triangle.
Design elements of the plaza include flexible seating, an interactive water fountain, planters and trees. Greensboro artist Jim Galluci is designing light towers that will allow for varying levels of lights for different needs.
Construction of the $14.8 million City Plaza is scheduled for completion in October 2009.
- City of Raleigh
Plaza at night:
Fountains:
all images courtesy of City of Raleigh
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arfulcher
10/14 04:20 PM
funny story:
the reason rocky balboa is on the side of that building in the rendering is because the artist mistakenly thought the designers said rocky, instead of hockey. it was supposed to be a ‘canes related image. no joke.
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Brian
10/14 11:10 PM
BORING! This plaza is so bland. Yes, it is functional and that is important, but fountains with no creativity? How Fayetteville Street Mall in the 70’s can you get? The grand plan by a renowned artist like Plensa would have done wonders for the image change of Raleigh outside the Triangle. Look at Chicago. Did they really want to spend the money on a giant Picasso sculpture, and did the citizenry really want that at the time? No. It takes foresight and risky decisions to make a great city image when there isn’t one to speak of at the moment.
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Smitty
10/15 03:01 AM
I was gonna say something but Brian took the words right out of my keyboard. BORING!! At least the bums will have a place to hang out again, maybe they will bring the chessboards back.
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Kevin
10/16 02:15 AM
We’re reporting over at Bull City Rising that a Plensa installation appears to be coming to the Durham Performing Arts Center, adjacent to the Capitol Broadcasting-owned American Tobacco complex, based on the presence of a building permit for a project called the “Plensa Vault” on the site.
Could this be Jim Goodmon’s answer to the Raleigh rejection?
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Lew
10/17 03:58 AM
From the minute I saw this “lame lame lame” plan I couldn’t help but think -AGAIN- we turned down a discounted genius (Goodmon’s 2.5 million for Plensa) for this ... WOW, so incredibly sad.
Instead of a landmark we get a skid mark!
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CJT
10/20 04:14 PM
Ugly Friggin Light Towers!!!!!
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I mean, these are going to look like mid 80’s portables specifically designed for concert setups. I guarantee.
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Aside from those…the whole thing is completely lame.
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Please make a stink with the project manager:
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Bob Panella: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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Send a message to him, or anyone else you know who might have some foresight. Do it right now, please.
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CJT
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http://ginkotron.com -
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