David Monday, September 17, 2007

Development

Lulu.com Relocating Headquarters to “Yellow Bulldozer” Building on Hillsborough Street

I received a tip this morning that Lulu.com may be relocating their headquarters to the “Yellow Bulldozer” site.  Earlier this year the company’s founder, Bob Young, purchased the site.  While Young’s original plans have continued to evolve, it looks at this point that he is considering moving the headquarters there, a scenario that was originally ruled out. If things go as planned the site would be redeveloped to meet Lulu.com’s needs and become the new North American headquarters for the company.

That part of Hillsborough Street is very much a college area.  Up until recently Google kept a Satellite office on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill.  This kind of strategic locating of offices allows company’s to build brand awareness and encourage local recruiting. It is assured that Lulu and NCSU graduates would benefit from this location.  With Lulu acting as one of the few public facing, Web 2.0 style companies here in the Triangle, Raleigh’s downtown would benefit immensely from its presence. The number of startups in the area is only rivaled by silicon valley.  Increasing the profile of the Web startups locally can only help enhance our image and encourage more of the “creative class” to move here rather than away.

  • Chad09/17 02:26 PM

    I’m glad to see that this company is moving into the Hillsborough Street area and not adding to the RTP mix. I think you’re right David in that this will help encourage a local creative class and could possibly further entice other businesses to open around there as well. That stretch of Hillsborough Street has a lot of potential.

    I’d like to see more creative businesses opening along Hillsborough Street to help build a dense, mixed-use “main drag” that would bring vitality and richness there.

  • Chad09/17 02:27 PM

    p.s. I hope they leave the Yellow Bulldozer there… what a great landmark.

  • Barden09/17 04:59 PM

    Awesome news David. It’s good to see you with your ear to the ground.

  • erin09/17 11:29 PM

    um, wheres the “yellow bulldozer” area? 

    this is great news though.  lulu.com has certainly been in the news recently, for better or worse!

  • georgia09/18 02:32 AM

    Wow, synergy.

  • David09/18 10:32 AM

    erin, the “yellow bulldozer” is a large sign for what used to be a heavy equipment company on Hillsborough street, across from Cup-of-Joe and Nice Price books.

  • erin09/18 10:36 AM

    ah, thanks.  i saw somewhere that there was some huge development planned for that area.  is that true?

  • JZ09/18 11:08 AM

    Interesting that, like Google, an online company still requires/seeks a physical presence greater than what can be offered in the present no-man’s land of RTP.  Its confirmation that not only does the client base for these companies require good old-fashioned human interaction, but that it’s healthy for their employees too.  Score another point for us “villagers”.  Thanks Lulu/Mr. Young!

  • David09/18 01:03 PM

    Young is even said to want to preserve the sign itself.  Great news for the character of Hillsborough street.

  • RaleighRob09/20 11:32 AM

    Erin- other than Lulu’s recent announcement?  Well, for years a developer has talked about redeveloping that whole area behind the warehouse site…“Stanhope Village” I think he called it.

    But instead, he’s been sitting on most of the property and renting out parking spaces instead.

  • erin09/20 11:37 AM

    yeah i think thats what i was thinking of.  i didnt know if it was really happening or not.  the more i think about lulu’s move, the more i feel its moves like these that will help revitalize hillsborough st.  i hope the city is recognizing all of these benefits as well!

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