Barden Friday, November 30, 2007

Development

Dan Douglas’ Predictions for the Future of Downtown

This is an exciting time for Dan Douglas. Downtown Raleigh is booming, business leaders are investing their dollars in new (and old) buildings, and the whole vibe of the city has changed in the five years since Douglas came to Raleigh and the first initiatives in the 2002 Livable Streets Plan were enacted. “One hundred and twenty five of the one hundred and thirty-one recommendations in the Plan have started or have been completed.“ Douglas says. “But this isn’t the end, it’s time for a new plan to take us through the next five years.“ While heaping praise on the work of the Mayor and the City Council, he says that the time is now to take the necessary steps to guide downtown Raleigh down the path. “We can’t afford to get this wrong.“

Douglas cites a litany of figures on why effective and thoughtful urban planning will be crucial for the future of downtown: There are 3,000 residents this year in downtown; counting the uncompleted construction, there will be another 5,000. By 2012, that number reaches 10,000. In 2030, that figure is projected to reach 25,000 or more. Also by this time, the multi-modal transit hub will be in place, and every hour on the hour, trains and buses will be unloading tens of thousands of commuters into the heart of downtown.

With all those people in downtown Raleigh, Douglas insists that the time to get this right is now. There are three main issues that that in his opinion should be the focus of the next Five Year Plan: 1) Transit Options 2) Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, and 3) Downtown business (specifically retail). While in Europe, Douglas saw first hand the kinds of transit needed to create a workable world-class city. He cites several examples of how European cities are ahead of the curve, primarily by using a “wheel and spoke”  design. The multi-modal hub has the potential to play into that design by creating a whole new bus system that would be more centered and more efficient. “It’s all about options.“ Douglas insists “Without creating and funding these options, people will stay stuck in their cars.“

Energy efficiency and sustainability will be another large issue to be addressed in the coming years. New trends in alternative energy and cogeneration will allow businesses and residents to reduce their energy usage and potentially turn a sizable profit by selling back to the local grid. The city is already taking steps toward having cutting edge eco-friendly technology as part of its intrastructure, for example the LED lighting the municipal deck and in the new city plaza. But its not only power that will be getting a make over in the new plan. Water conservation will also be a major issue, with stakeholders grappling the issue of usage and collection.

Finally, attracting retail to downtown will be a major issue for the next five years. Douglas claims that we’ve almost reached the magic number of residents required for major retail to flood into downtown. “There is currently $32 million lost in goods and services that would be made if the goods and services were downtown.“ Part of attracting these retailers will mean staying ahead of the curve in design and innovation. Douglas believes that creative and unique designs like the City Plaza on Fayetteville Street, which amazed other urban designers he met in Europe, are key to attracting the high tech industry that will be the future of downtown business. These businesses will depend on a creative and entrepreneurial class that urban centers need, and Raleigh can’t afford to lose.

Douglas ended his conversation by citing perhaps the most poignant bit of advice to improving downtown: “The key to making Raleigh really something is always thinking what and doing what will make Raleigh great, not just good or average, but great.“ He pushed further by saying that all improvements and investments had to go that extra step, and there was no room or time for cutting corners. Raleigh has made great progress in recent years, and Douglas believes there is no reason to stop now.   

Read More Development

Filed Under:

  • JZ12/01 12:02 PM

    City Plaza amazed European urban designers?  I suppose they were also impressed with North Hills?  Maybe I’m missing something.

    I have to echo the importantance of the Multi-modal station…I think that’s the key to a functioning downtown which will manage/balance the inevitable increase of automobiles on the streets by providing alternative means for mobility. I have to say I’m skeptical about its present progress, but by 2030 I can imagine all the little fiefdoms of NCRR, Norfolk-Southern, Amtrak and TTA scrambling to finally work in partnership. NCRR and the private rail companies threw out all their crystal ball decades ago and refuse to look beyond the ends of their noses in helping solve this problem….the costs will be much greater then than if they started now. Its as if they’re gambling on less growth with their lack of willingness to come to the table.

  • JZ12/01 12:09 PM

    On a postive note (since we’re always are poo-pooing anything good that comes to Raleigh in some folks’ view), its exciting to learn about the population thresholds that generate changes in downtown progress!  Downtown Retail is were its at to get this momentum sustain itself and I can’t wait to see what’s in store (uh, pardon) for us. Bring on a couple more Capital City Grocery Stores!  I’m not to proud to take a Barnes & Noble in downtown; come one, come all!  Oh, and is there still a movie theater planned for the Progress Energy Site whose parking deck is now under construction?

  • gogo12/01 12:49 PM

    I would also like to know what it was about the City Plaza on Fayetteville Street that amazed the urban designers met in Europe. I’m not saying its poorly designed - I’m saying I’m not educated enough to appreciate what may be good or bad about it and I’d like to learn.

  • brian_M12/01 01:23 PM

    Maybe he showed them the before…the infinitely fug old civic center and how it capped off the end of Fayetteville Street. Even with that end of the street now piles of dirt and equipment, it looks a million times better…the equivalent of an old lady getting a huge, gross mole with hairs removed. That big step that was taken was the first ballsy move, considering that ridiculous-looking wings were bolted on and the name changed (a Tom Fetzer/Wake County Taxpayers Association ploy, no doubt, to squash building a real convention center once and for all) to the Raleigh Convention Center just, what, 10 years ago? To the tune of 13 million dollars (from memory). I mean, the Plensa thing was totally embarrassing for sure, but it’s done and we have to move forward. The plans for that area are going to succeed, if the City steps up and programs it like it should be (like they never did with Fayetteville Street Mall). Considering the environment at City Hall now, I think the next several years for downtown Raleigh are going to be something we can be proud of and excited about.

  • salley12/04 12:21 PM

    jz, the european designers liked the concept of a “creative infrastructure”- that the design builds in strategic links to water, cable, electricity, etc. to allow the place to function for a wide range of events- markets, parades, big concerts, little concerts, movies, etc.
    they also might have respected the fact that the road is at grade- no curb but bollards- like a traditional piazza that makes cars slow down because they arent sure they are supposed to be driving there. that is really not an easy feat in the usa. the road can also be blocked for big events while still allowing the porte cochere for the hotel to function. the design intent for the project was flexibility. (and no, i didnt design it!)

  • JZ12/04 01:00 PM

    Great summary!  Thanks and I now see what why they did respond positively…the US lags a bit in understanding how to these “tools” like curbless roadways to create a different feel and utility.

    While I supported the initiative to have a major public art element in this space, I easily understand why there was limited support.  I petitioned the powers that be, however, to work with Plenza to evolve the design.  While the devices employed for the new space will make it much more functional (an improvement over the Plenza proposal), it lacks the vigor and “standoutishness” that will distinguish it as something wholly unique in Raleigh, Wake County or North Carolina.  Plenza was offering that capability despite the design flaws….

  • LW12/04 02:28 PM

    I fail to see what is AMAZING about the design for City Plaza. It will end up being torn up in 25 years. It’s very safe and dissappointing.

    I loved Plensa’s idea and the city should have worked with him to incorporate it. It would have lasted for generations! I think much of his design was misunderstood and the misunderstanding is largely due to the fact that he did not present the concept well at all and he may have overestimated his audience. His piece in Chicago is a HIGHLIGHT in a city of highlights .. I can’t imagine that he would of let Raleigh down. I hope we will see an installation of his in Raleigh, hopefully the piece in the Art Museum will facilitate it.

  • JZ12/04 03:07 PM

    I think we’re on the same page, LW, but I have to disagree with your comment that Plensa’s Raleigh piece would have been equal to his Chicago piece.

    Personally, I think Plensa is a sophisticated artist and knows which type of community he can test new ideas on.  I think had we accepted his proposal, we would have found ourselves with a prototype with many “bugs” to be worked out….his Chicago piece is absolutely georgeous, but the community he was working with was much more savvy…..

  • Lewis Wilson12/04 05:49 PM

    JZ - I certainly don’t think it would have eclipsed the Chicago piece, but anything in the same neighborhood of that piece would be a major improvement over what is going to go there. Quite frankly, I think it would have been astounding. Who cares if he used us as a testing ground ... I think it’s a real lack of vision and a proclamation that we LACK vision.

    I really don’t know what I expected though, it was way ahead of our city’s time. But if Raleigh wants to make itself attractive from an urban perspective, we have to do more than solicit the status quo.

    That said, at least Raleigh is trying and maybe more in the way of enlightenment will follow. On the other hand, I can always move to Chicago.

  • JZ12/05 12:20 PM

    haha…i guess the weather is the only challenge in moving there!...

    don’t get me wrong, i was immensely disappointed by the outcome of the Plensa proposal.

    increasingly, i find myself at odds with the tremendous pool of talent here in Raleigh (just read almost the entire NewRaleigh archive to see the breadth of specialization) and the conservative tiptoeing by the powers that be…..i’m not sure if its just the reality that the talent pool is still the minority in a tide of suburban mediocrity or if its me, not understanding what fiscally responsible growth really is.

    maybe i’m just like the child who throws a tantrum every time he asks his mother for candy in the grocery store and she says, “NO!“.....but i like to think that i’m really asking for piece of fruit: something healthy and vital to a growing person…..and momma just doesn’t understand the difference…..

  • Betsy12/05 01:03 PM

    Well JZ—on Monday, you just got a new and much more progressive City Council, well stocked with dynamic people who understand the role of innovation and creativity in a successful city. 

    I think there will be a lot of good change coming about in the next couple of years, as this Council will be looking to adopt “best practices” and foster an urban environment where the local talent can thrive and play a much more visible role in the life of our city. 

    New Raleigh, indeed.

  • Barden12/12 07:32 PM

    Jack Hagel has an interesting article about the role of retail downtown in Dec. 10th’s N&O;:

    http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/820238.html

    The conversation continues at the N&O;‘s WakePol blog:
    http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakepol/index.php?title=downtown_retail&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Welcome to New Raleigh. We welcome your participation in the ongoing discussion. Before posting we ask that you read our Comment Policy and we invite you to register with our site. If you want to keep up with the news on our blog, subscribe to the RSS feed or get emailed every time we post.




Remember my information for next time I comment

Send me an email of follow-up comments?