A new development project is in the planning stages for the South Saunders St. Boylan Heights area.
The goal of this plan is to “spur the completion of the western gateway greenway and redevelop two blighted areas on the eastern edge of Boylan Heights.” Along with building a stretch of townhouses the firm is willing to construct the segment of the greenway that has been part of Raleigh’s greenway plans for that area.
“Vagrancy” and “shift renting” has been cited by many area residents as a problem that leads to the so-called undesirables moving through the Boylan Heights neighborhood. Richard Johnson of City Space, the developer of the project, desires to attract first time house-buyers by “creating security through environment design.”
The stretch of S. Saunders that will be under development can be viewed here.
Johnson, who is also developing townhouses at Peace St. and Glenwood Ave., has purchased almost all of the shotgun houses along S. Saunders between Cabbarrus St. and W. Lenoir St. His plan is to convert the entire street into single family townhouses by next year. “You can’t go into the neighborhood one house at a time and make the change you want to see,” states Johnson.
The development team hopes to build a “unified facade” and “activate the street” in order to “have the community own that street.” Under this plan, the “vagrants” entering the neighborhood will have “no place to run off and hide,” says Johnson, and will only be able to exit at the other end. View the “No Man’s Land” image in the slideshow to see a representation of the tactic.
The first segment, the Saunders plan, will have 42 townhouses priced towards first time house-buyers. They will be 1200 - 1800 sq. ft. at $225,000 - $315,000. Currently, the designs call for a “historically detailed, brick facade” with raised entrance ways opening to the sidewalk. Along with the private front entrance there will be a back entrance with a two car garage. Initial designs also include a rooftop terrace.
The site is currently zoned R-20, but the development firm is requesting that be rezoned as a PDD (Planned Design District). Currently, there are 5-10’ setbacks at 30 units per acre. The developers hope to maintain the one-way street at the current width. There will also be parking along one side of the street. The streetscape is also under consideration to include lighting and planted trees.
Lessard Group from D.C. is the architecture firm for the project.
The project is at the infantile stages of the design process and the developers are very open to public input on the project. Any comments concerning the conceptual elements of the project are welcome, and if you are a resident of the Boylan Heights area feel free to let us know in your comment.
Plans: City Space
Images of Plans: NewRaleigh.com