291 replies to this topic

[thewhister]

RaleighRick, on Jan 26 2006, 09:34 PM, said:

Since someone brought up the NC Museum of Art, can anyone explain how this great musuem is not moving to the Dix property.  The State owns the property.  The Museum also wants this grand outdoor museum space.  What grander place than Dix Hill.  This spectacular design overlooking Downtown.  Talking about making a statement.  ALL of our museums should be DT.  The City should be fighting for this.  They want to create this incredible urban park.  They keep comparing it to Central Park, Balboa Park, etc.  Well those parks and many others around the country all have some major drawing cards like a museum or arboritum or zoo to attract people there.  We have already let almost every large entertainment draw be built away from DT.  Is there such a leadership void that this move is not even being considered?  I know the current council is making progress, but there are only so many chances to land projects like the NCMA for our DT.  Can someone in power step up and try to do something grand.  

End of rant!

That would be a great idea...if only the investment has not been that great.  Like one person already said they have sunk in enough money on the existing property.  Sounds like Raleigh needs the equivalent of Booth Amphitheater in Cary that fits on on the Dix campus.  Glad that you mention Dix.  Ever since the final presentation has anyone heard anything about what the plans are?

[bikwillie]

thewhister, on Jan 27 2006, 12:04 AM, said:

Sounds like Raleigh needs the equivalent of Booth Amphitheater in Cary that fits on on the Dix campus.  Glad that you mention Dix.  Ever since the final presentation has anyone heard anything about what the plans are?

AT that same luncheon Meeker discussed this as well, and it sounds like the NIMBYs have really been hard at work.  He mentioned the city/county proposal and that there was a lot of opposition to it, and he said it was being scaled down and he knew the hotel was out for sure.  He said he would still like to see some residential there.

These friends of Dix will stop at nothing until the whole damn thing is an "arboretum"  or something.  

To me, this raises a larger issue that Dana has touched on eloquently with the Marriot plans.  We need to be more politically active.  If we feel strongly about these issues, we need to use this forum to mobilize folks who share our values and try and influence political/public opinion just as these grassroots NIMBY groups have done.

[bdp]

yeah... we can be the 'Foes of Dix Park'                       (just kidding)

[Jones133]

More on the site plan for Green Square via State government internal memos and such....it will be two buildings actually (I originally thought it would be one).....the office component will sit at the corner of Jones and Salisbury with the Credit Union, Nature Research Center and DENR employees housed in what looks to be 4 or 5 stories with the previously mentioned pedestrian bridge over Salisbury at about the third story. A parking structure with ground floor retail will (about 4 stories total) sit at Jones and McDowell. Both buildings will incorporate "Green" building design and fancy architectural elements....it will look alot like a modern art museum imo.

[Justin6882]

^Awesome, thanks for the update.  That area could use some sprucing up, in my opinion (as in more pedestrian level activity).  You would think with all the government workers down there, there would be more than just the quiznos next to the days inn.

[Jones133]

Jones133, on Feb 1 2006, 10:30 AM, said:

More on the site plan for Green Square via State government internal memos and such....it will be two buildings actually (I originally thought it would be one).....the office component will sit at the corner of Jones and Salisbury with the Credit Union, Nature Research Center and DENR employees housed in what looks to be 4 or 5 stories with the previously mentioned pedestrian bridge over Salisbury at about the third story. A parking structure with ground floor retail will (about 4 stories total) sit at Jones and McDowell. Both buildings will incorporate "Green" building design and fancy architectural elements....it will look alot like a modern art museum imo.

Little more on this...the project will actually occupy 3/4 of the block, everything except the old Education building. Everything public to date sounded like it would be 1/2 of the block. Still two buildings with the office building on the north side of the block and the parking/retail building in the SW quadrant. One of Raleigh scourges, parking lots, will be reduced in number yet again.

[pdxheel]

Sources familiar with the project indicated to me that it may be delayed (not sure how long) for two reasons. First, there is some concern over the schematic lay out of the new building(s) and parking. Also, Fed funds were initially going to help finance this project. As I understand it the project will no longer receive Fed funds so the gap must be closed using other sources.

[urbanesq]

pdxheel, on Feb 16 2006, 01:06 PM, said:

Sources familiar with the project indicated to me that it may be delayed (not sure how long) for two reasons. First, there is some concern over the schematic lay out of the new building(s) and parking. Also, Fed funds were initially going to help finance this project. As I understand it the project will no longer receive Fed funds so the gap must be closed using other sources.

that's too bad-- it's a really cool project.  Hope it can get legs and get going again.

I'll make another pitch for the previous design with the more classical, traditional architecture.  The new design looks like it will be dated and tired-looking within a couple of years of opening.

[Jones133]

pdxheel, on Feb 16 2006, 01:06 PM, said:

Sources familiar with the project indicated to me that it may be delayed (not sure how long) for two reasons. First, there is some concern over the schematic lay out of the new building(s) and parking. Also, Fed funds were initially going to help finance this project. As I understand it the project will no longer receive Fed funds so the gap must be closed using other sources.

I was always under the impression the Credit Union was building the whole thing and renting the space back to the State. I would not expect that extra planning time will delay the project significantly, on the order of months perhaps.

I checked out the architect's portfolio because I was unsure of the design as well...I believe it will look more like a modern art museum....like the stuff proposed out at the NCMoA, and ended up feeling pretty good about it.

[urbanesq]

Jones133, on Feb 16 2006, 01:35 PM, said:

I was always under the impression the Credit Union was building the whole thing and renting the space back to the State. I would not expect that extra planning time will delay the project significantly, on the order of months perhaps.

I checked out the architect's portfolio because I was unsure of the design as well...I believe it will look more like a modern art museum....like the stuff proposed out at the NCMoA, and ended up feeling pretty good about it.

I thought it was the other way around-- that SECU was a tenant in an otherwise state-owned and occupied building?

[Jones133]

urbanesq, on Feb 16 2006, 09:38 PM, said:

I thought it was the other way around-- that SECU was a tenant in an otherwise state-owned and occupied building?

The Credit Union, Museum and NCDENR are all occupants. I know for sure the credit union was financing some substantial portion of the building and had presumed it was 100%.

[DanRNC]

Yea, I didn't think any federal money was being used for this project. I had also heard all monies had been secured.

[avery]

I thought the credit union was moving into the new Quorum.

[Justin6882]

The Local Government Federal CU is moving into the Quorum.  The State Employees CU will be in Green Square.  However, both CU's operate out of SECU branches and are serviced by SECU employees for the most part.

[DanRNC]

Here is an article about the project. Looks like work should begin this summer.

Story

[pdxheel]

I just had a quick look at the Governor's budget which was released to the public today. It looks as thought there is a DENR office building schedule to be built on Blue Ridge Road. Not sure how this affects the Green Square project considering a major component of the project was the DENR office building. Also in the Gov's budget was funding for a parking deck for part of that site. Looks as though Green Square as we know it will not happen.

[DanRNC]

Quote

Also in the Gov's budget was funding for a parking deck for part of that site. Looks as though Green Square as we know it will not happen.

This is for the underground parking deck. Not all DENR employees were slated to be in this location. It was mainly for SECU. I don't believe this affects the project.

[jlblaes]

pdxheel, on May 9 2006, 01:17 PM, said:

I just had a quick look at the Governor's budget which was released to the public today. It looks as thought there is a DENR office building schedule to be built on Blue Ridge Road. Not sure how this affects the Green Square project considering a major component of the project was the DENR office building. Also in the Gov's budget was funding for a parking deck for part of that site. Looks as though Green Square as we know it will not happen.

I'm not sure how to interpret this, but it may not be as dire as first thought...
On page 212 at  Budget link in PDF

9. DENR - Nature Resource Center
Funding is recommended for the construction of a 79,400 square foot annex of the
Museum of Natural Sciences. An appropriation of $10,000,000 would be combined with
$40,000,000 of non-appropriated funds raised by the Friends of the Museum. The Nature
Resource Center will engage teachers, students, and the general public in scientific
research in an interactive environment.
Requirements - Nonrecurring $50,000,000
Receipts - Nonrecurring $40,000,000
Appropriation - Nonrecurring $10,000,000

10. DENR - Office Building
Capital funding is recommended for the acquisition, planning, design, and construction of
a 250,000 square foot office building for DENR employees on Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh.
Currently, approximately 636 DENR employees are in leased space (including the Parker
Lincoln Building). Leases will expire in three years, and this facility will provide space to
relocate these employees and DENR employees now in the downtown complex.
Appropriation - Nonrecurring $50,005,300

JB

[DanRNC]

I guess DENR is out of the project which may be good. This will allow for future expansion of the nature resource center.

[DanRNC]

It was also good to see that NCMoA got its $40 million. NCSU also got $60 million for its new engineering complex on Centennial Campus.