230 replies to this topic

[Raleighsfinest]

I accept the design. Especially considering the fact of skyrocketing building costs. Imagine building structures like the buildings in the earlier 20th century. The costs would be astronomical.

[RALBOI]

Hey folks the News and Observer did a story in the Real Estate section on Downtown Raleighs housing boom saturday April 29, they said most of the condo's  that are already built have soldout or will be very soon, but anyways website for WEST AT NORTH is WEST AT NORTH.COM

[avery]

It looks good in color.  Look almost like an extension of Site 1

[orulz]

Yeah, thanks for finding out the website RALBOI!
As you pointed out, the site is westatnorth.com.

This really reminds me of both Site I and 222 Glenwood. Again, I'm a little worried that the design may look dated before long, but I'm not really picky about design after all. It's dense, urban, and exciting, and that's what really counts. Is it just me or does it look like there's some fourth-story retail with more restaurant space on top of the parking deck? coool!

Something a lot like this (well, perhaps with a different facade) on the lot south of the Dawson would go over well, too.

[RALBOI]

orulz, on May 1 2006, 11:42 AM, said:

Yeah, thanks for finding out the website RALBOI!
As you pointed out, the site is westatnorth.com.

This really reminds me of both Site I and 222 Glenwood. Again, I'm a little worried that the design may look dated before long, but I'm not really picky about design after all. It's dense, urban, and exciting, and that's what really counts. Is it just me or does it look like there's some fourth-story retail with more restaurant space on top of the parking deck? coool!

Something a lot like this (well, perhaps with a different facade) on the lot south of the Dawson would go over well, too.

Hey thanks for taking care of that Orulz i was wondering why i couldn't pull that site up my computer skills suck, but anyway thanks again you do a great job up hear playa !

[dmccall]

Thanks for finding that, yall. (I hope that you dont mind me using it on raleighing.) Anyway, I like the look, but yes, we are starting to reach a saturation point with the look. I dont mind us using a dated look. All periods in which weve built downtown look like their era. Its just that weve never built this heavily at one particular time! (tough problem to have eh?)

[avery]

Transplant, on May 1 2006, 10:41 AM, said:

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

I like the design, I just think that this style might get old if we see it much more.  Obviously, this is a good problem to have.  I love seeing all of these proposals, especailly with the ground level activity.  I'm not an architect and don't pretend to be one so I'm not going to be overly critical.  I'm sure we will see greater variety in the coming months/years.

[Subway Scoundrel]

I have said it before but look at areas like Vancouver that built so much in the last 20 years.  So many new buildings were built that they almost looked dated as they were being built.  Also, with these condo buildings, they will stand for a long time since they are owned by multiple persons.    It is not like someone will come in and buy up all the condos and rebuild.  That may happen but will be 50 years (my guesstimation) so whatever is built, will be there for a long, long time.  

I know it will not happen but I would love to see a limestone building be built with stone ornate "extras" (gothic or Empire) on the outside with large windows, and maybe inset balconies, instead of the balcony that sticks out with railings right on top of each other top to bottom.

[ChiefJoJo]

It looks like Site 1 + 222 Glenwood + The Dawson... which makes sense since J Davis Architects did Site 1 and Sandreuter developed The Dawson.  It looks like EIFS on the top, but that's probably over 100 ft up, so who really cares?  I agree with orulz, that the main urban features we'd look for are there:  good ped environment, ground floor retail, residential mixed use, near transit (TTA), etc.

[ncwebguy]

From the picture on their website, it looks like there is a plaza on the Harrington side of the fourth floor.  It could be for shops/restaurants, or maybe just residents with a pool (a la Paramount).  I hope this doesn't take away street life from street level and plop it down on top of the parking deck.  There would be a lot of nice downtown views from here, at least until the area east of here is built up.  Land slopes down north of here, so buildings there could be even taller but still have the same height.  The state and county owns a fair portion of this area until you get to Peace Street to the north and Capital Blvd to the east.

The ground floor could have a small neighborhood market for TTA commuters to stop in and pick up a packaged dinner, drink, snack, etc.  I hope this will be used by TTA to say "see, TOD is going on near this stop, and these residents could easily be train commuters".

This and the North Street announcements are nice in that they fill in gaps that already exist.  As a Capital Fitness member, I won't be sad to see that parking lot go.  It is always easy to find a place to lock up my bicycle, and think other people should follow suit.  Even on nice days, why do people who have enough money for a nice car drive to the gym and then walk, run, or bike?

[ericurbanite]

ChiefJoJo, on May 1 2006, 01:33 PM, said:

It looks like Site 1 + 222 Glenwood + The Dawson... which makes sense since J Davis Architects did Site 1 and Sandreuter developed The Dawson.  It looks like EIFS on the top, but that's probably over 100 ft up, so who really cares?  I agree with orulz, that the main urban features we'd look for are there:  good ped environment, ground floor retail, residential mixed use, near transit (TTA), etc.

ditto looks just like site 1

[dmccall]

Check out the right building on Site 1 compared to the left facade of The West:

[Jones133]

The architecture is just a sign of the times imo.....I don't particularly care for its conversative look but am still more than pleased to welcome the building, as proposed, into the city. Actually, for me to live in a cool, different type of building, it is a requirement that some stock supply of condo be supplied.....Boylan Flats, Hudson....different.....West at North, Site 1, Dawson, Paramount....stock.....no problem......the stock supply in Raleigh kind of reminds me of new stuff around Balston Metro in Arlington...nice, tidy...not inspiring, but works in the big scheme of things.

[only]

The building is a disappointment. It looks like everything else that J Davis has done - Site 1, Dawson, Palladium, Sky Sail, Arboretum, Davis Park.... just look at their website. It's competently done, but no more than that.

Hopefully some better things will be built nearby, and this will fade to the background.

[CliffyB]

only, on May 1 2006, 03:39 PM, said:

The building is a disappointment. It looks like everything else that J Davis has done - Site 1, Dawson, Palladium, Sky Sail, Arboretum, Davis Park.... just look at their website. It's competently done, but no more than that.

Hopefully some better things will be built nearby, and this will fade to the background.

Ever see the Brady Bunch movie where the dad can only design buildings that look like his house?

Yeah, it's kinda like that.

[Damien]

Is it really a surprise to see so many buildings being built that resemble each other around here? Just look at the kind of upheaval the chandeliers caused. People around here are afraid of anything different for some reason. I think right now we are in a transition period, where we are seeing a change in mindset from "Who would want to live downtown?" to " I want to live downtown." People are starting to get used to new tall buildings, and I think that in the near future we will start seeing a lot of different, interesting styles of achitecture.

Edited by Damien, 01 May 2006 - 08:17 PM.

[dmccall]

CliffyB, on May 1 2006, 09:55 PM, said:

Ever see the Brady Bunch movie where the dad can only design buildings that look like his house?

Yeah, it's kinda like that.

   At least the buildings don't "look like a powder puff"! (remember the episode with ?Zsa Zsa?)

[ncsugrad204]

Hey guys, we all know these are not the final renderings and the developer will deliver something that will improve the areas in which these projects are going.  I personally love the designs.  They have a charcter to them that has been raleigh's identity.  Brick.  Plus if you want to compare projects that look alike and still make a city center look great don't look to far to your southwest to see our big sister city of charlotte..  But none of us will complain.

[Raleighsfinest]

I love Charlotte's downtown architecture, it's kinda like Neo Gothic. Charlotte is kinda underrated when it comes to their downtown architecture.

[Transplant]

Raleighsfinest, on May 2 2006, 11:03 AM, said:

I love Charlotte's downtown architecture, it's kinda like Neo Gothic. Charlotte is kinda underrated when it comes to their downtown architecture.

Are there any pics of these?

thanks.