230 replies to this topic

[Transplant]

This project should sail through all the planning councils.

I can't see any NIMBYs for this one. This should be rubber stamped.

The article is interesting, I'm wondering where the saturation point is, seems like in 2008 we'll have 100s of new condos. My only hope is their all filled. If they are, the ball will continue to roll. Hopefully other areas of DT will start getting major announcements like this.

[Raleighsfinest]

Allllllllrighty then!!!!!!!!

[Eastwestrob]

ncsugrad204, on Apr 27 2006, 09:21 AM, said:

I was trying to beat everyone to the punch to annouce this but the site kept giving me a error message.    Anywho this is exciting.  I know Downtown and raleigh as a whole is moving in a more urban direction.    Lets hope the city council or NIMBY do not try to push the height down.    it is nowhere near any historic neigborhoods and is in city overlay district which should push the approval process along.  

The NIMBY's are the ones that should be way out in the burbs...Let the true city folk reach for the sky. Its crazy to hear people say don't build high DT. Against the grain.

[Raleighsfinest]

I know. That is crazy.

[Jones133]

Perfect project for the location...density by the rail stop, mixed use building, adds depth to Glenwood (e.g., its off Glenwood but in proximity to it)......guess Capital fitness will have to deal with fewer parking spaces...

[Subway Scoundrel]

I have always thought the this area, between GlenSouth and Capital would make the perfect location for mid to high rize condos and more street shops for citizens i.e  more retail, shops, etc.

This area use to be called "Smokey Hollow" because the coal/steam trains use to come through and it would leave smoke in the area.  There were only houses there at the time.  

Ijust hope the buildings have some character.

[bdp]

Is this sort of near 42nd street?  If so, there is a little white house, all by itself over there, and the lady who lives there told me what the neighborhood used to be like when she was a child.  she said she never imagined their little house would be the last one standing.  she is outside gardening all the time, and is happy to stop and talk with passersby.  Ask her about the pomegranite trees on the sidewalk.  i am glad that there are finally going to be some condos in the area that i can entertain the idea of moving into... it's about time.

Edited by bdp, 27 April 2006 - 06:40 PM.

[RALBOI]

Eastwestrob, on Apr 27 2006, 02:42 PM, said:

The NIMBY's are the ones that should be way out in the burbs...Let the true city folk reach for the sky. Its crazy to hear people say don't build high DT. Against the grain.

Thank god for Soliel Center because it help kill that argument that we should not reach for the skys in downtown Raleigh, meaning if you can build your tallest building outside the city center then why in the world would you try and keep the downtown from having tall nice buildings.  

[RaleighRick]

Here is the first rendering of the West.  Found it in this weeks TBJ.  I had to scan it because the online TBJ doesn't have it yet.  What a great looking building.  JDavis Architects designed the building.  This is going to be a huge addition to downtown/Glenwood South.  The article said that the building should be ready in, you guessed it, 2008.  Nice art deco style on first few floors with good street level activity.  I'm really getting excited about the latest proposed buildings in downtown.  They are great architecturally and should add charactor to our skyline.

Edited by RaleighRick, 29 April 2006 - 09:52 PM.

[jermainew]

looks pretty good, but is that actually '14 stories'??

[RaleighRick]

jermainew, on Apr 29 2006, 11:04 PM, said:

looks pretty good, but is that actually '14 stories'??

I thought the same thing.  It appears from the rendering that the front is 13 stories but as the site slopes down there may be an additional floor below in the back.

[jermainew]

yeah that makes sense- comparable to the configuration of the 'paramount'

[Justin6882]

I think it looks nice...I just hope this style of architecture doesn't get old anytime soon, otherwise there are going to be some very dated looking buildings in downtown Raleigh (Dawson, paramount, this one, 222, etc...).  I kind of wish they would have done something just a *little* different.

[plus2]

I prefer the slimmer buildings like the Quorum, where height is greater than width.  But this is still nice looking.

[ChiefJoJo]

I really like it.  Yes, it has some derivative features, but overall, it looks classically appealing to me--not likely to fade with time IMO (I tend to enjoy JDavis designs I think--they are doing Site 1 as well).  The exciting this is that this will be the first project to bridge Glenwood South across the RR tracks toward the TTA Govt Ctr station area.  Although the condo market looks pretty full for 2008-09, with plenty of developable land to the east of GlenSO this could be a catalyst for more development in that direction.

[Raleighsfinest]

Ahh man, this is going to look nice. I'm not worried about the styling at all. This is a very safe design.

[avery]

This design looks good.  It will fit in with the area very nicely.

[orulz]

I'm not so sure that this style of architecture will stand the test of time.

Dividing the facade horizontally with small, repeating setbacks like that is a relatively new trend, and to me it smacks of McMansions and their hyper-numerous false dormers. In other words, an attempt to circumvent the need to make a well-proportioned building, by giving it a false sense of depth, and making an otherwise blank and boring flat space more visually interesting without adding any elements of design and architecture.

I think the actual architecture will look dated within a couple decades.

However, this building's urban form appears to be exemplary- and that alone will lend the building a timeless quality. Everything else is secondary.

[avery]

I do see a trending simalarity of certain architectural elements in many of the projects around Raleigh.  I wonder if this styling is unique to Raleigh or if it is evident across the country.  If it is the former, than that may explain why we are seeing the common elements here in Raleigh in an effort to create uniformity and uniquity at the same time.  

I personally think that it can create a "dated" look in time, but this may not be a bad thing.  Take art-deco design for instance.  Sure it is easy to date a building by looking at its style, but it still look good as hell.  Same for the Mutual Life building in Durham.  Its design is very dated, but I still think it looks cool.  It certainly adds to diversity over time.  The more I look at Boylan Flats, the more I applaud the fact that they are breaking the mold.  It certainly is a fine line and currently, I am fine with this style of architecture.  However, if the next 10 proposals for downtown Raleigh look similar, then I might experience boredom.

Edited by avery, 01 May 2006 - 09:09 AM.

[Transplant]

For those who do not like the design style of "the West", can you provide a style (with pics please) that you feel WILL stand the test of time?

I would also like to know what other materials can be used aside from Brick, Glass, Stone and EIFS? I've heard complaints about the over use of Brick or EIFS but can't recall options.

-Thanks in advance!

--T