1. business and industrial
2. construction

2015 | DOWNTOWN RALEIGH ALLIANCE
LETTER FROM DRA
PRESIDENT AND CEO
THE STATE OF DOWNTOWN 2015: THE RISE OF THE CREATIVE URBAN CENTER
A critical mass of activity has positioned Raleigh’s downtown as a creative urban
center that is anchoring the Triangle region.
•D
owntown is adding 1,840 new residential units, which will attract over 3,000
residents
• Dynamic tech companies have made downtown their campus
•O
ver 700,000 square feet of Class A office space, nearly 300 hotel rooms, new
greenspace, a sparkling new multi-modal station, and more than $500 million in
new construction will be completed in 2015 or underway by 2016
• Hotel occupancy is up, and millions attend our attractions and festivals
• Downtown’s retail base has grown by over 35% in five years
• Downtown is now home to an award winning restaurant scene
This year’s State of Downtown report is nearly 50% longer with even more data on market trends, population,
demographics and development, as well as peering into the future with projections and a summary of exciting
upcoming projects and plans for downtown. Each chapter provides a detailed look at all of the interrelated aspects of
downtown that reinforce each other and make downtown a vibrant and exciting place. We provide both previouslyreported, industry-specific data collected by others, as well as original analysis and data from our staff here at DRA on
retail, population, density and many other areas.
Furthermore, this report benchmarks downtown Raleigh to peer central business districts and regional trends, as a
way of showing our tremendous success, as well as opportunities for improvement and further growth. Given the
extraordinary amount of exciting upcoming projects about to start in downtown, we also added a new chapter on
future investments in downtown, as well as the Downtown 2025 Experience Plan, to help illustrate downtown’s rise in
the coming years.
This report is a major, multi-month effort led by Bill King, Manager of Planning and Development; designed by Stacey
Simeone, Graphic Designer; and aided by other project team members Lacie Lindstaedt, Director of Communications,
and Roxanne Coffey, Office Manager.
Lastly, at DRA, we strive to be an excellent resource for our community and our real estate and economic development
partners. Please contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions or comments about how
DRA can help you invest or expand your footprint in downtown.
DAVID A. DIAZ | Downtown Raleigh Alliance, President and CEO
04 | INTRODUCTION TO DOWNTOWN
14 | DEVELOPMENT + INVESTMENT
22 | FUTURE PLANNING + INVESTMENT
30 | LIVING
36 | OFFICE + EMPLOYMENT
48 | RETAIL
52 | DINING + NIGHTLIFE
56 | TOURISM
60 | ARTS + CULTURE
66 | CONNECTIVITY + SUSTAINABILITY
76 | DRA IMPACT
ARTS + CULTURE
|
3
Seaboard/Person
Street District
Glenwood
South
District
Capital
District
Moore Square
District
Warehouse
District
Fayetteville
Street District
1-mile Radius from the Center of Downtown
Greater Downtown
DRA Municipal Services District
© Tierney Farrell
DOWNTOWN DEMOGRAPHICS
POPULATION DENSITY:
AGE:
• 5,063 per square mile in downtown¹
• 2,977 per square mile in City of Raleigh as of 2013²
• 1,197 per square mile for Wake County²
• Average age of Raleigh resident: 30.1²
• 40.5% of residents between the age of 25 and 44 in CBD⁹‚²
• Median age is 29.1 for residents within 1 mile of downtown¹‚²
#2 Most Educated Cities 2014
#7 America’s Smartest Cities
- WalletHub, September 2014
- Forbes, November 2014
POPULATION AND HOUSING:
OFFICE/EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION:
• Downtown population has increased 53% since 2000²
• Raleigh has grown by 46% since 1990⁶
• Greater downtown population: estimated 7,800¹‚²
•P
opulation within one mile of downtown: 14,964¹‚²
• Vacancy rate for multi-family: 2.73%⁷
• Average rent: $1,265⁷
• Commercial office space: 5 million+ square feet
• Class A occupancy: 90.8%⁴
• Class A lease rate: $26.53 (Average of JLL, Cushman
Wakefield, Avison Young, DTZ Americas)
• Overall office occupancy: 90.39%⁴
• Employees in downtown: 50,000+⁸
• Enrollment of higher education institutions (within 3 miles
of downtown): 40,078 (Based on information supplied by
universities)
RETAIL/RESTAURANTS IN DOWNTOWN:
• Stores: 80²
• Restaurants: 129²
•S
torefront vacancy rate: 8.8%³
•O
ver 35% growth in retail in last four years³
CULTURE/ENTERTAINMENT/HOTELS:
• 1,127 hotel rooms³
•H
otel occupancy rate: 67.6% up 11.2% from 2013⁵
• Visitors to downtown: 3.4 million¹⁰
•N
umber of art galleries and entertainment venues in
downtown: 39
TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Number of parking spaces: 35,000⁶
On-street metered spaces: 1,200⁶
Parks in or near downtown: 6*
Acres of public park space within 1 mile: 105*
Miles of greenway in Raleigh: 110⁶
Bike racks in downtown: 135⁶
*D
oes not include planned space such as 308-acre Dorothea Dix property being
purchased by City of Raleigh
¹ESRI Projections ²US Census ³DRA ⁴Triangle Business Journal ⁵STR Global ⁶City of Raleigh ⁷Integra Realty ⁸Bureau of Labor Statistics ⁹STDBonline ¹⁰Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau
ARTS + CULTURE
|
5
© Tierney Farrell
INTRODUCTION TO DOWNTOWN
By every measure, downtown Raleigh is exploding with growth. Since 2005, downtown has seen over $2.5 billion
in development completed, which has added new residences, convention space, offices, retailers, entertainment
venues, hotels, and restaurants.
• Downtown’s population has increased 53% since 2000
and is poised for an increase of nearly 40% with the new
supply of apartments and condos being completed.
•4
8% of downtown’s hotel rooms have been built since
2008 with strong demand for even more rooms, as the
convention center, major events, and festivals continue
to draw thousands of visitors to downtown. Hotel
occupancy is up over 11% since 2013.
• In addition to the convention center and the Duke
Energy Performing Arts Center, new events and
festivals, such as the IBMA World of Bluegrass,
museums, and attractions, bring over 3.5 million visitors
to downtown each year.
• Downtown’s retail base has grown by over 35% in
the past four years, helping create one of the largest
concentrations of local, independent retailers in the
region.
•D
owntown has become a foodie destination with some
of the best restaurants in the Triangle and is home to
the 2014 James Beard Award winner for the southeast
region, Ashley Christensen, who owns four restaurants in
downtown with more to open in 2015.
• In 2014, downtown added 37 new storefront businesses,
ranging from running shoes, leather goods, clothing, and
craft beer bottle shops to every day services for medical
care, exercise gyms, and haircuts.
Google Fiber and AT&T U-Verse with Gigapower will add
ultra-high speed Internet to downtown and the Triangle and
give our rising technology sector a competitive advantage.
© Tierney Farrell
• Food and beverage tax revenue is up 10.42% for downtown establishments
compared to 2013, with Moore Square District alone increasing by over 15%.
• Over the past five years, downtown has established itself as a magnet for
technology companies with the addition of Red Hat, Ipreo, and Citrix, in addition
to numerous other innovative firms, bringing nearly 2,000 jobs with an average
salary of $75,000 to downtown.
• First Friday draws over 15,000 people into downtown every month for a
celebration of art, music, and culture.
• Downtown generates 7.3% of the property tax base for Raleigh, despite being
only .05% of the city’s developable land and 30% of the CBD is tax-exempt.
• Public investment in downtown has yielded a more than 2 to 1 return on
investment with over $2.5 billion in completed and under-construction projects.
Downtown Raleigh has over $730,000,000 in current and planned new investments, including over 2,000 residential
units and 700,000 square feet of Class A office space.
INTRODUCTION TO DOWNTOWN
|
7
© Carolyn Scott
While the recent past has been good for downtown Raleigh, the present and future are poised to be even better,
helping make downtown into a world-class center of vibrancy and activity.
Raleigh ranked #1 for Best Places for Business and Careers 2014
- Forbes, July 2014
• $385 million in current and recently completed construction
in downtown, adding over 2 million square feet of new space.
•A
t the end of 2014, downtown Raleigh had over 1,800
residential units under construction with hundreds more
planned for the near future resulting in an increase of
over 60% more residential units for downtown. These new
apartments and condos will add density to downtown,
making this a center of activity for the Triangle.
• Increasingly, companies are looking to locate in vibrant
centers with access to talent, amenities and larger business
networks. In response to more and more employers entering
downtown, office space construction is also rising as
downtown adds at least 700,000 square feet in new or
renovated office space over the next two years with nearly
350,000 square feet in office space opening in 2015 on
Fayetteville Street alone and two more Class A office towers
beginning construction in 2015.
• Over $100 million in major public investments begin
construction in 2015 and 2016 with the new Union Station
breaking ground, followed by renovations of both the Moore
Square Transit Center and Moore Square itself, which will
improve park space and transit in downtown. Additionally,
construction will begin on the Blount and Person Street
corridor projects, as well as the redesign of the Market and
Exchange Plazas.
•3
00+ acres of parks and greenspace will be enhanced in
greater downtown when the Dorothea Dix Park becomes
the City of Raleigh’s property, along with the city’s future
Devereux Meadows project near Glenwood South and
renovations of downtown’s historic squares and nearby
Chavis Park.
•M
ore than $275 million in planned new building
construction to begin in 2015 and 2016 with additional
projects expected to be announced in the near future.
ON THE MAP | DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS
440
1
PERSON ST
70
CAPITAL BLVD
GLENWOOD AVE
440
40
401
SEABOARD/PERSON
STREET DISTRICT
WILLIAM
PEACE
UNIVERSITY
RDU AIRPORT
PEACE ST
BOUNDARY ST
PELL ST
EUCLID ST
JOHNSON ST
POLK ST
Glenwood
South
District
TUCKER ST
Capital
District
OAKWOOD AVE
LANE ST
LANE ST
BLOUNT ST
MCDOWELL ST
JONES ST
SALISBURY ST
NORTH ST
DAWSON ST
NORTH ST
JONES ST
CAMPBELL
SCHOOL
OF LAW
EDENTON ST
440
HILLSBOROUGH ST
440
NEW BERN AVE
STATE
CAPITOL
BUILDING
MOORE
SQUARE BUS
TERMINAL
PERSON ST
HARGETT ST
Moore Square
District
MOORE
SQUARE
Warehouse
District
DAVIE ST
CABARRUS ST
WEST ST
R-LINE
CHAVIS WAY
BLOODWORTH ST
MARTIN ST
EAST ST
HARRINGTON ST
FUTURE
SITE OF
UNION
STATION
NASH
SQUARE
Fayetteville
Street
District
FAYETTEVILLE ST
WEST ST
HARGETT ST
64
MORGAN ST
RALEIGH
CONVENTION
CENTER
LENOIR ST
Parking Deck
Charging Station
Railroad Tracks
STE
R
L
SA
WE
NB
440
40
70
T
YS
UR
ISB
LVD
WILMINGTON ST
SAUNDERS ST
SOUTH ST
DUKE ENERGY
CENTER FOR
PERFORMING
ARTS
SHAW
UNIVERSITY
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD
INTRODUCTION TO DOWNTOWN
|
9
© Tierney Farrell
CAPITAL
© Carolyn Scott
FAYETTEVILLE STREET
© Carolyn Scott
MOORE SQUARE
© Cheryl Gottschall
GLENWOOD SOUTH
© Tierney Farrell
© Carolyn Scott
WAREHOUSE
SEABOARD/PERSON STREET
DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS
Warehouse District
Characterized by its red brick warehouses, the Warehouse
District has transformed into a vibrant mix of art museums,
restaurants, destination retail, technology firms, and will
soon add transit-oriented development to the mix with the
addition of Union Station breaking ground this year. Residents,
visitors, and employees find plenty of entertainment as the
Warehouse District is home to great restaurants, galleries and
entertainment venues. In recent years, the district has also seen
the addition of new destination retail, where retailers make their
products and sell them on site.
• Over 200,000 square feet of office space for technology
companies opening or planned
• Home to Citrix and HQ Raleigh
• Over 10 restaurants, 11 stores, six art galleries with more
coming each year
Capital District
The Capital District is the power center of North Carolina and
home to some of the state’s biggest tourist attractions. With
the State Capitol, Legislative Building, Governor’s Mansion, and
3.5 million square feet of government office space, many of the
most important decisions in the state are made in this district.
The NC History Museum and NC Museum of Natural Sciences
drew a combined 1.3 million visitors to the Capital District last
year—more than any other attractions in the state. With new
apartments and townhomes opening on the northern edge of
the district and a renewed interest in redeveloping the state
government campus by Governor Pat McCrory, this district will
transform into a more vibrant district for downtown.
• 276 new residential units under construction
• 1.5 million visitors annually
• Approximately 9,000 employees
#3 Best Up and Coming Cities for Art and Culture
- Women’s Health,
September 2014
Glenwood South District
One of downtown’s signature streets holds an eclectic mix
of restaurants, art galleries, stores, nightlife, and residences.
New restaurants blend in with established favorites, while the
exploding population of young workers find plenty to do in the
active bar scene, which just added the massive new Carolina Ale
House. With over 600 units under construction and more on the
way, Glenwood South will build on its existing residential base
to become one of downtown’s most distinctive neighborhoods.
• 684 new residential units opening in 2015 and 2016
• Over 20 bars and clubs
• 32 dining establishments
• 21 retailers offering many types of goods
Fayetteville Street District
Home to the civic spine of the city and state with the iconic
Fayetteville Street, this district has something for everyone with
skyscrapers of Class A office space and condos mixed with
award winning restaurants, a major performing arts center, large
outdoor event space and amphitheater, independent retailers,
galleries, the convention center, and exciting nightlife. This
district has also added unique boutiques and a wide array of
restaurants over the past few years.
• 40 dining establishments
• 12 stores and boutiques
• Home to the four tallest buildings in Raleigh and six of the top
10 overall
Moore Square District
Major public investment stimulating large private development
will spur drastic change for Moore Square. The park will
undergo a $12.5 million renovation beginning in early 2016,
while the nearby Moore Square Transit Center will begin a $7
million renovation in 2015. Residential development such as
SkyHouse Raleigh and The Lincoln will help make this district
one of the densest neighborhoods in Raleigh. The district is
already a destination for retail and the arts as it’s home to the
unique Historic City Market, which has independent retail stores
and restaurants, and Artspace, featuring 25 artist studios.
• Over 500 apartment units opening in 2015
• Over 15% increase from 2013 in food and beverage tax revenue
• 600,000+ attend Marbles Kids Museum and Wells Fargo IMAX
Theatre each year
Seaboard/Person Street District
Containing the commercial centers of Seaboard Station and
Person Street Plaza, the district has a neighborhood feel
with locally-owned businesses. This area is home to historic
anchor institutions like William Peace University, as well as
contemporary landmarks like the AIA Center for Architecture
and the new Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Nearby residential
development like Blount Street Commons, Elan City Center
Apartments, and Peace Street Townes will bring more residents
to this area and increase the demand for retail and services,
along with better connectivity to the rest of downtown.
• Both Seaboard Station (92,000 square feet) and 111 Seaboard
(15,248 square feet) are 100% occupied
• Over 15 retail stores and services
• Over 10 dining establishments
INTRODUCTION TO DOWNTOWN
|
11
POPULATION
GROWTH | PERCENTAGE INCREASE SINCE 2000
POPULATION | CURRENT SHARE BY DISTRICT
Downtown Raleigh’s population has grown by 53% since 2000
with the addition of over 1,000 new residential units in buildings
like Park Devereux, PNC Plaza, The Hudson Condominiums, The
Dawson, Hue Apartments, Palladium Plaza, West at North, 222
Glenwood, 712 Tucker, and St. Mary’s Square.
Capital and Glenwood South districts could potentially see a
larger share in the growth of residents in the coming years,
relative to other districts, in part due to current construction
at The Gramercy, The Link, Devon Four25, Elan City Center,
Blount Street Commons, and Peace Street Townes.
Glenwood
South
DOWNTOWN RALEIGH
Warehouse
Capital
15%
4%
17%
CITY OF RALEIGH
Seaboard/
Person Street
Fayetteville
Street
23%
19%
STATE OF NC
Moore Square
22%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
[ SOURCE: U.S. Census, 2000, 2010. Portions of Census Block groups 501, 503, 504, 509, 510 ]
[ SOURCE: HR&A Advisors ]
DENSITY | PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
AGE | YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Downtown Raleigh is 70% more dense than the City of
Raleigh and 369% denser than Wake County.
40.5% of downtown residents are between the ages
of 25-44 compared to 30% for the City of Raleigh
and 26% nationally.
United States of America
Raleigh-Cary Metropolitan Statistical Area
Central Business District
CBD
City of Raleigh
Wake County
5,063/SM
2,977/SM
1,079/SM
[ SOURCE: U.S. Census, 2000, 2010. Portions of Census Block groups 501, 503, 504,
509, 510 ]
Under 19
25 - 34
45 - 54
20 - 24
35 - 44
55 - 64
[ SOURCE: American Community Survey, 2007-11 ]
65+
© Carolyn Scott
POPULATION | GROWTH EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN YEARS TO COME
Downtown Raleigh’s current population is an estimated
5,975, though, inclusion of some nearby blocks, often
considered part of downtown, bring that estimated
population total to just over 7,800. Within one mile of
downtown’s center point, the current population is an
estimated 14,964.
Downtown’s population is projected to be near 9,000
residents by 2019, over 11,000 including some adjacent
neighborhoods, and over 18,000 residents will reside
within one mile of downtown’s center. There is opportunity
for even more growth if the present rate of development
continues.
20,000
CBD
18,000
Within 1 mile
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2000
2010
2014
2019 (Projected)
[ SOURCE: U.S. Census, 2000, 2010. Portions of Census Block groups 501, 503, 504, 509, 510, DRA Projections based on new development ]
INCOME | AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS BETWEEN 25-34
Nearly 54% of greater downtown residents are between the ages of 25-54 and that demographic is expected to see
growth in their average household income.
The annual rate of growth in median household
income between 2014-2019 will be 4.1% for the
greater downtown area compared to 2.98% for the
state and 2.74% nationally.
$90,000
$85,000
$80,000
$75,000
$70,000
12.8% growth in average household income for
$65,000
residents between the ages of 25-54 from 2014-2019.
$60,000
2014
2019 (Projected)
[ SOURCES: U.S. Census, ESRI Business Analyst ]
INTRODUCTION TO DOWNTOWN
|
13
2009: CITY PLAZA OPENED
PAST DOWNTOWN
A premier outdoor event location that
now hosts thousands of visitors for
festivals, concerts, movies, a farmers
market, and other events
REVITALIZATION
2010: RED HAT AMPHITHEATER
OPENED
2003: LIVABLE STREETS PLAN
Provides a unique outdoor venue for
the region
Five transformative projects planned for
five years
2011: CAM RALEIGH OPENED
Contemporary Art Museum opened
anchoring the Warehouse District
2004: TWO PROGRESS PLAZA
OPENED
2013: JUSTICE CENTER AND SECU
TOWER OPENED
• Justice Center: $153 million
investment and LEED Silver certified
• SECU: $45 million investment and
LEED Gold certified
2014: CITRIX MOVES DOWNTOWN
Citrix moved into the Warehouse
District occupying a 171,000 square
foot modern office building in a
restored warehouse and joined
other tech companies to help
make downtown a destination for
innovation and cutting edge firms
Downtown kicks off plan for future
with public events drawing over
1,000 people to create a 10 year
vision for downtown’s future
Massive boom in residential
construction: 11 residential buildings
under construction in downtown at
one time with 1,840 residential units
being built
© Tierney Farrell
© Carolyn Scott
© Tierney Farrell
2008: $630 MILLION IN COMPLETED
PROJECTS
• Raleigh’s tallest building at 538
feet, RBC Plaza (now PNC Plaza)
completed
• 426 luxury condo units completed at
222 Glenwood, West at North, and
RBC Plaza (now PNC Plaza)
• Ipreo relocated, bringing over 250
jobs to downtown
• Red Hat moved into Red Hat Tower
after a $30 million renovation,
bringing over 900 jobs
© Carolyn Scott
Provides over 500,000 square feet
of exhibition and meeting space,
along with 390 rooms in the heart of
downtown.
© Carolyn Scott
2008: RALEIGH CONVENTION
CENTER AND MARRIOTT CITY
CENTER OPENED
The Nature Research Center Green
Square completed and currently
draws 1.2 million visitors annually
© Monica Slaney
Currently draws over 600,000 visitors
to downtown every year
© Carolyn Scott
2007: MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM
OPENED
© Carolyn Scott
The Hudson, The Paramount, and The
Dawson gave new residential options
2012: THE NATURE RESEARCH
CENTER GREEN SQUARE OPENED
2013: TECH COMPANIES
MOVED DOWNTOWN
Two Progress Plaza (now Red Hat Tower),
the $100 million project added over
350,000 square feet of office space
2005: $60 MILLION IN
RESIDENTIAL UNITS COMPLETED
© Carolyn Scott
© Carolyn Scott
© Carolyn Scott
1. F
ayetteville Street reopened to
vehicular traffic
2. Built new Raleigh Convention Center
3. Pedestrian environment
improvements
4. Upgraded business climate through
regulatory reform
5. Expanded downtown management
and marketing
© Tierney Farrell
RESIDENTS WILL FLOCK
TO DOWNTOWN AS NEW
DEVELOPMENTS OPEN
REVITALIZATION
• Over 1,800 units will be
completed in 2015 and early 2016
with more planned for the future
• SkyHouse Raleigh opens in Spring
2015 with 323 units and 23 floors
of panoramic views of Raleigh
• The L, Elan City Center, The
Lincoln, Link Apartments, The
Gramercy, The Ten at South
Person, Peace Street Townes,
Blount Street Commons, 220 The
Saint, and Edison Apartments
all add substantial population to
downtown and help make it the
densest urban core in the Triangle
UNION STATION BREAKS
GROUND
•$
79.8 million multi-modal station
in the Warehouse District, which
will enhance downtown’s transit
accessibility, connectivity to the
rest of the region, and stimulate
transit-oriented development begins
construction in summer 2015
MORE OFFICE TOWERS WILL OPEN
•C
harter Square: 243,000 square
foot, Class A office tower opens
on Fayetteville Street, providing
more high quality office space to
downtown’s tight market
•2
27 Fayetteville: renovation is
completed of a 101,439 square
foot office tower on Fayetteville
Street, providing easy access to
government centers, restaurants,
retail, and nightlife
•M
ore office towers, such as The
Edison and the north tower of
Charter Square will break ground
HOTEL ROOMS WILL BE ADDED
TO MEET GROWING DEMAND
Buoyed by a rising occupancy rate,
more business travelers visiting
downtown, and a strong interest
in expanding Raleigh’s successful
convention center, more hotels are
coming to downtown
•R
esidence Inn by Marriott opens
in 2016 with 145 rooms near the
convention center
•O
ther hotel projects are also
currently in the works, which look
to break ground in 2015-2016
DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE PLAN
WILL BE IMPLEMENTED
The Downtown Experience Plan will
bring more greenspace, walkability,
transit, bicycle infrastructure, retail,
connectivity, housing options, and
new development to downtown
Raleigh
WEST STATION ENTRY
© Tierney Farrell
FUTURE DOWNTOWN
MORE GROUND-LEVEL SPACE
WILL BE ADDED
© Tierney Farrell
Space will help accommodate
the growing retail demand. Given
downtown’s retail base has grown
by over 35% in the past four years
and storefront vacancy continues
to hover in the single digits, more
ground-level space will bring new
stores and life to downtown’s
streets
• New residential and office towers
add both customers and groundfloor space to lease to new stores
seeking to build off downtown’s
growing retail base
• 90,000 estimated square footage
in new ground-floor space
MORE GREEN SPACE WILL BE
ADDED INCLUDING DOROTHEA
DIX PARK:
• Devereux Meadows provides
much needed green space near
Glenwood South and the north
side of downtown
• The 308-acre Dorothea Dix Park
gives downtown and Raleigh a
signature, urban green space for a
wide variety of recreational uses
• Exchange and Market Plazas
will complete a $2 million
restoration and allow for smallscale community gatherings and
some space for rest and reflection
amidst Fayetteville Street’s towers
INTRODUCTION TO DOWNTOWN
|
15
© Carolyn Scott
DEVELOPMENT + INVESTMENT
Downtown Raleigh is exploding with new construction and development. Over the past decade, downtown has
seen approximately $2.5 billion in investment, which has resulted in more residents, workers, and visitors, along
with more retail, restaurants, bars, and services.
Downtown will see major growth in 2015 with several new projects nearing completion as the year began with $357
million in ongoing construction and over 15 new buildings opening this year. Furthermore, more than $350 million in
new construction will begin in 2015 and 2016, continuing downtown’s revitalization and development boom. Every
district will see significant private and public investment.
•2
88 new hotel rooms within walking distance of the
Raleigh Convention Center
• 1,840 new residential units
• More than $140 million in public investment
Downtown Raleigh currently has over 2 million square feet of
space under construction.
TAX REVENUE | RALEIGH’S SHARE OF THE TAX YIELD OF EACH PARCEL ON A PER ACRE BASIS
The additional tax revenue generated by dense downtown development can provide needed funds for new or
additional government services from police and fire protection to affordable housing or new infrastructure such as
sidewalks, bike lanes, green space, and a bike share system for Raleigh. This additional tax revenue is generated on far
less land than development outside the CBD.
Tax Billed (per acre)
$0
$200,000+
City Limits (Tax Exempt)
Raleigh Municipal Boundary
[SOURCE: Wake County Revenue Department
By Ray Aull, City of Raleigh Planning ]
DEVELOPMENT + INVESTMENT |
per acre basis as of 10/29/2013.
17
© Citrix Systems, Inc
CITRIX EMPLOYEES work in a former warehouse turned into an innovative office space after a $45 million overhaul of the
building completed in 2014. The environmentally-friendly building boasts a private cafeteria, a rooftop garden, game areas, and
many co-working spaces to facilitate collaboration.
Downtown Raleigh is home to the most valuable land and development in the city and continues to increase in worth. In
2014, major building sales included One Bank of America Plaza and Citrix, which saw their value per square foot increase
dramatically.
PRICE BY SQUARE FOOT | VAST INCREASE
THROUGH THE YEARS
TAX YIELD | HIGH RISE BUILDINGS PAY
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PROPERTY TAX
This graphic illustrates that the Wells Fargo building pays
$959,785 more per acre than a big box store in Raleigh.
CITRIX
BANK OF AMERICA BUILDING
$380
$227
$130
$18
2014
2012
[ SOURCES: Triangle Business Journal, News and Observer ]
2014
2005
BIG BOX STORE
WELLS FARGO BUILDING
[ SOURCE: DRA analysis of Wake County Property Records, 2014 ]
TAX YIELD | DOWNTOWN DENSITY GENERATES GREATER TAX YIELD PER ACRE
With over 15 multi-story buildings under construction and
several more major projects planned, new developments
will continue to add more value and tax revenue from
downtown investments. Additionally, denser development
in downtown results in more efficient use of land and
much higher value per acre than low-rise commercial
development. For example, a downtown office tower pays
an average of $844,570.71 in property taxes per acre, per
year, while a big box retailer in Raleigh pays an average of
$7,520 per acre annually.
Downtown multi-family apartment buildings also yield
more efficient tax revenue per acre, as they average
$136,718 per acre in property taxes to the city and county
governments versus just over $8,000 per acre for large
apartment complexes throughout the rest of the city.
$2,837
Single family
home
Big Box Store
(Raleigh)
$7,520.71
Apartment
complexes
outside MSD
$8,370.19
$57,175.90
Crabtree Valley
Mall
Downtown multifamily apartment
building
$136,718.72
$844,570.71
Downtown Office
Tower
Property Tax Yield (per acre)
[ SOURCE: DRA analysis of Wake County Property Records, 2014 ]
DISTRICT-LEVEL INVESTMENT | PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, RECENTLY COMPLETED IN
LATE 2014/EARLY 2015, AND PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN 2015/2016
DISTRICT
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PUBLIC SECTOR
TOTAL
CAPITAL
$43,000,000
$40,000,000
$83,000,000
FAYETTEVILLE STREET
$116,500,000
$2,000,000
$118,500,000
GLENWOOD SOUTH
$135,500,000
$2,000,000
$138,500,000
MOORE SQUARE
$274,400,000
$20,000,000
$294,400,000
WAREHOUSE
$25,000,000*
$79,000,000
$104,000,000
TOTAL
$594,400,000
$143,000,000
$738,400,000
Note: Investment numbers are estimated costs and will likely change during the course of construction
* Cost for HQ Raleigh expansion is not finalized so this figure will increase
DEVELOPMENT + INVESTMENT
|
19
© Carolyn Scott
© Carolyn Scott
MCCLATCHY INTERACTIVE
CAROLINA ALE HOUSE
© Carolyn Scott
© Tierney Farrell
DEVON FOUR25
HIBERNIAN PUB
CITRIX
2015 IMPRINT
AWARD WINNERS
© Carolyn Scott
Carolina Ale House
This 37,000 square foot building provides a
prominent anchor establishment for Glenwood
Avenue. The restaurant’s patio space can
accommodate 200 diners and includes radiant
heated floors, a retractable roof system, and
custom-made, motorized vertical windows,
which are the only windows of their kind in
the United States.¹ At a cost of nearly $8
million, this new building also has additional
restaurant and retail space for future
concepts.
Devon Four25
This eight-story, mixed-use building includes
261 apartment units and 11,000 square feet
of ground floor retail and office space in
the vibrant Glenwood South neighborhood.
Construction of this $35 million building
included a significant amount of concrete
framing, as opposed to wood framing often
used for similar projects, which reduces sound
leakage from the outside and between floors,
as well as providing a sturdy frame for a
durable building to last for years to come.
With a mix of renovations, rebuilding, and new
construction, these award winners total over
$90 million in downtown investment.
Hibernian Pub
Rising from the ashes of a fire that destroyed
the previous location, the Hibernian Pub came
back even better than before after the $1.8
million rebuilding. This Glenwood Avenue
institution now has 8,000 square feet with two
levels and an outdoor deck, which provides
even more space for the community to gather
for dinner after work or a big event like St.
Patrick’s Day.
McClatchy Interactive
The online division for McClatchy Company,
owners of The News and Observer, is now
headquartered in this $2.6 million project,
which renovated 23,903 square feet of the
Martin Building and included a 7,325 square
foot addition. This project preserved the
architecture of the 1951 Art-Moderne-inspired
building, while making it look sleek and
modern for the tech company.
¹ TBJ
Citrix
Opening in September 2014, this 171,000
square foot $45 million overhaul of an old
warehouse brought new life to downtown’s
already burgeoning Warehouse District and
serves as the Raleigh home to tech company,
Citrix. The design of this massive rehabilitation
retains the character of the former warehouse,
while adding new and innovative workplace
elements that reflect the cutting-edge tenant.
The environmentally-friendly building includes
conference areas made out of retrofitted
transatlantic shipping containers, a rooftop
garden, indoor racquetball court, and a 55foot living wall.
DEVELOPMENT + INVESTMENT
|
21
WHAT’S NEW | CURRENT AND PLANNED INVESTMENT BY DISTRICT
Capital
Warehouse
Fayetteville Street
Glenwood South
Moore Square
11%
14%
16%
19%
40%
WHAT’S NEW | DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN DOWNTOWN
PROJECT NAME
INVESTMENT
STATUS
DESCRIPTION
MOORE SQUARE DISTRICT
BLOUNT + PERSON ST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS
$750,000
Planned
Infrastructure
EDISON APARTMENTS
$55,000,000
Under Construction
239 apartments
EDISON OFFICE
$120,000,000
Planned
315,000 SF
THE LINCOLN
$35,000,000
Under Construction
224 apartments
MOORE SQUARE RENOVATION
$12,500,000
Planned
Renovation
MOORE SQUARE TRANSIT CENTER
$7,000,000
Planned
Infrastructure
SKYHOUSE RALEIGH
$60,000,000
Completed
323 apartments
STONE’S WAREHOUSE RENOVATION
Not Announced
Planned
Mixed Use
THE TEN AT SOUTH PERSON
$2,400,000
Under Construction
10 townhomes
PROJECT NAME
INVESTMENT
STATUS
DESCRIPTION
WAREHOUSE DISTRICT
CITRIX
$45,000,000
Completed
171,000 SF
HQ RALEIGH EXPANSION
Not Announced
Planned
30,000 SF
UNION STATION
$79,800,000
Planned
26,000 SF
PROJECT NAME
INVESTMENT
STATUS
DESCRIPTION
CAPITAL DISTRICT
BLOUNT STREET COMMONS
$8,000,000
Under Construction
46 townhomes
ELAN CITY CENTER
$30,000,000
Under Construction
213 apartments
PEACE STREET TOWNES
$5,000,000
Under Construction
17 townhomes
PEACE ST/CAPITAL BLVD BRIDGE REALIGNMENT
$40,000,000
Planned
Infrastructure
PROJECT NAME
INVESTMENT
STATUS
DESCRIPTION
FAYETTEVILLE STREET DISTRICT
200 S. SALISBURY (DEATH AND TAXES)
$3,000,000
Completed
10,903 SF
227 FAYETTEVILLE ST.
$8,000,000
Under Construction
101,439 SF
BOYLAN-PEARCE BUILDING
$5,500,000
Under Construction
31,820 SF
CHARTER SQUARE
$63,000,000
Under Construction
243,000 SF
CHARTER SQUARE II
Not Announced
Planned
23 stories
EXCHANGE & MARKET PLAZAS RENOVATION
Not Announced
Planned
Infrastructure
HILTON GARDEN INN
Not Announced
Planned
143 hotel rooms
THE L
$17,000,000
Under Construction
83 apartments
RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT
$20,000,000
Planned
145 hotel rooms
STATUS
DESCRIPTION
PROJECT NAME
INVESTMENT
GLENWOOD SOUTH DISTRICT
220 THE SAINT
$7,000,000
Under Construction
17 townhomes
CAROLINA ALE HOUSE
$7,500,000
Completed
37,000 SF
DEVON FOUR25
$35,000,000
Completed
261 apartments
THE GRAMERCY
$30,000,000
Under Construction
203 apartments
LINK APARTMENTS
$30,000,000
Under Construction
203 apartments
PEACE STREET STREETSCAPE
$2,000,000
Planned
Infrastructure
RALEIGH BEER GARDEN
$2,000,000
Under Construction
8,670 SF
WEST AND WEST II APARTMENTS
Not Announced
Planned
330 apartments
DEVELOPMENT + INVESTMENT
|
23
© Hunter Laughlin
FUTURE PLANNING + INVESTMENT
With several thousand new residents and office workers coming to downtown over the next few years, the future
is bright for downtown Raleigh. Today, downtown Raleigh looks very different with greater density and vibrancy
than a decade ago. Downtown’s revitalization came together through a mixture of strategic public investments,
pioneering developers, a vibrant arts and cultural scene, along with residents and business owners seeking to
build a community in an urban core. The future of downtown looks to build off that base and create a true,
vibrant center with its best years ahead.
DOWNTOWN 2025 EXPERIENCE PLAN
The City of Raleigh and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance
partnered to create a 10-year plan for downtown Raleigh,
which builds off the successes downtown experienced in
recent years. The 2003 Livable Streets Plan brought new
life to downtown with the reopening of Fayetteville Street
and construction of a new convention center.
Much like that plan, the Downtown 2025 Experience Plan
provides a new map for guiding growth and development
in downtown and addresses both opportunities and
challenges facing downtown over the next decade.
In many ways, downtown’s future is not just predicated
on large investments or projects, but also requires looking
at the fabric of downtown and filling the gaps or creating
new connections to elevate downtown to a new level.
Several of the next big project ideas are already planned,
such as Raleigh Union Station, the Devereux Meadows
park, the extension of West Street and renovation of
Moore Square and the adjacent transit center. This
plan seeks to connect them with broader themes and
ideas for downtown’s future, which improve park and
common spaces, provide more transportation options,
maintain authenticity and character, create a robust retail
environment, improve affordable housing options, and
establish stronger partnerships for downtown’s future.
The plan embeds these actions within four broad themes,
Breathe, Move, Stay, and Link with each theme given a
physical form through catalytic projects to help transform
Raleigh’s urban core.
RETAIL STRATEGY | ROBUST RETAIL LANDSCAPE
© Carolyn Scott
© Carolyn Scott
Improving the retail environment is one of the most
important goals for the downtown community and the
Downtown Experience Plan highlights this need by
building off of DRA’s existing retail efforts (outlined in the
Retail chapter on page 51). Initiatives will:
•T
arget specific locations for retail incentive area with
streetscape improvements and improved wayfinding,
public art, and parklets
SOURCE: City of Raleigh
© Carolyn Scott
© Carolyn Scott
•E
xpand on existing downtown Raleigh retail strategy to
target local, authentic retailers
• Identify a toolkit for retail recruitment, such as a retailspecific grant or incentive, to assist new retailers
• Explore partnerships to recruit a grocery store, movie
theatre or other neighborhood services
• Encourage pop-up shops, food trucks, and mobile
vendors to activate more isolated parts of retail
corridors
FUTURE PLANNING + INVESTMENT
|
25
Halifax Park
A GREENER RALEIGH
PARKS + GREENWAYS
William Peace
University
Devereux
Meadows
Caswell
Square
Oakwood Park
Burke
Square
Chavis-Oakwood
Greenway Connector
Dix- Devereux
Greenway Connector
Nash
Square
Moore
Square
Halifax Mall
Amphitheater
City Plaza
Chavis Park
Shaw
University
Dix property
KE CIRCUIT
CONNECTIVITY
DOWNTOWN BIKE CIRCUIT
Pedestrian-oriented street
Civic / symbolic spine
Safe intersection for all modes
Major vehicular street
Primary green street or greenway
Key bicycle connection
to Mordecai
to Cameron Village
to Oakwood
to NC State
to New Bern Ave
to East Raleigh
to Boylan Heights, Dix
property and Rocky
Branch Trail
to Southeast Raleigh
and South Park
BREATHE | IMPROVE, EXPAND, AND CONNECT
DOWNTOWN’S GREEN SPACE
The goal of “Breathe” is to transform downtown Raleigh into a center for innovative urban parks and appealing green
spaces, as well as improve existing parks and expand park access to underserved areas of downtown.
Actions:
• Renovation of existing parks such as historic Moore and Nash Squares
• Build new parks and greenspaces in downtown such as Devereux Meadows
• Extend the greenway system to better connect downtown’s greenspace to the rest of the city
• Create a funding and governance structure for the acquisition, creation, and maintenance of downtown parks
MOVE | TURN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH INTO A
MODEL FOR WALKABILITY, TRANSIT, AND BIKING
The goal of “Move” is to enhance street character and uses along key streets to make walking, biking, and transit the
preferred ways to get in and around downtown, while still accommodating automobile traffic.
Actions:
• Create a complete pedestrian network
• Provide on and off-street bicycle facilities and infrastructure to link downtown’s districts and major cycling routes
into the rest of the city
• Enhance transit service through service improvements, such as route consolidation, increased frequency, an
improved R-LINE and upgraded passenger amenities
• Accommodate automobile use through a multi-modal grid of complete streets, as well as on- and off-street parking
facilities in areas of high demand
SOURCES: City of Raleigh, Sasaki Associates
FUTURE PLANNING + INVESTMENT
|
27
STAY | REALIZE DOWNTOWN’S POTENTIAL AS A
DYNAMIC REGIONAL CENTER
The goal of “Stay” is to provide a balance to
downtown, where all are welcomed through
strategic growth and redevelopment to
transform the city into a regional center for
tourism, entertainment, and culture.
Actions:
• Maintain downtown character and
authenticity through historic preservation
and adaptive reuse, public art, and highquality new construction
• Ensure downtown remains clean and
hospitable
• Encourage the development of vacant and
underbuilt sites to fill the entire downtown
with active uses
• Create a robust retail environment in
downtown to include a combination of local
and destination retail
• Ensure downtown has a diversity of housing
opportunities at different price points
• Partner with non-profits and Wake County
to address homelessness and work to secure
facilities for the homeless population
LINK | BRING TOGETHER INSTITUTIONAL, PUBLIC,
AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
LINK
NETWORK & PARTNER
The goal of “Link” is to bring together institutions,
the private sector, and public partners to
accelerate the implementation of the downtown
vision.
University
Partners
Actions:
• Partner with public agencies, downtown
universities, local non-profits, and the private
sector on key initiatives and projects
• Work with the state government on projects
related to the Capital District, Shaw University
and William Peace University for their campuses
and properties, DRA on retail recruitment, and
private property owners of key buildings or land
to help unlock downtown’s potential
SOURCES: City of Raleigh, Sasaki Associates
DT
Raleigh
Non-profits &
Civic Organizations
Public-Private
Partnerships
Cross-jurisdictional Collaborations
CATALYTIC PROJECT AREAS
Five areas of downtown have been identified to serve as examples of how the themes and actions translate into physical
form. These areas are titled: Gateway Center, Glenwood Green, North End, Moore Square, and Nash Square-Union Station.
GATEWAY CENTER
On downtown’s southern edge,
the opportunity exists to extend
downtown several city blocks,
facilitated by large parcels,
consolidated ownership, and
city-owned property.
GLENWOOD GREEN
This project focuses on creating
a new urban park at Devereux
Meadows, an improved block
pattern created by the Peace
Street Bridge replacement, and a
greenway connecting Glenwood
South with areas to the north and
south.
SOURCES: City of Raleigh, Sasaki Associates
FUTURE PLANNING + INVESTMENT
|
29
NORTH END
This project focuses on improving connectivity through renovations of Peace Street and streetscape improvements
to Blount and Person streets with better bicycle and pedestrian access providing connections between urban
neighborhoods like Oakwood and Glenwood South.
HALIFAX
PARK
Pe
S
ax
lif
Ha
rso
Bl
et
tre
ou
nt
St
nS
tre
et
re
et
ry
on
gt
in
t
ee
Str
ilm
W
bu
lis
Sa
et
re
St
MOORE SQUARE
More than any other catalytic project area, this one focuses on large public investment in the park and transit center
renovation, along with redevelopment of key, publicly owned parcels near the square to help revitalize this historic district.
© Carolyn Scott
SOURCES: City of Raleigh, Sasaki Associates
NASH SQUARE-RALEIGH UNION STATION
A renovation of Nash Square, improved streetscaping, and programming for the Hargett and Martin street
corridors toward more pedestrian and retail-oriented uses, and connecting Raleigh Union Station to the rest of
downtown are all a part of this project area’s vision.
RALEIGH UNION STATION
This $79.8 million project will transform downtown’s Warehouse District and the city, as a whole, by providing
a top-notch transit facility to move thousands of riders and visitors each day. Not only will this project
dramatically improve Raleigh’s transit facilities and help the connectivity of downtown to the rest of the city
and region, but also could stimulate transit-oriented development in the Warehouse District. The first phase of
the project, the passenger rail facility, will be housed in a renovated Dillon Supply Warehouse building located
at 510 W. Martin St with construction beginning mid-2015 and completion scheduled for 2017.
SOURCES: City of Raleigh, Sasaki Associates
FUTURE PLANNING + INVESTMENT
|
31
© Tierney Farrell
© Cheryl Gottschall
LIVING
One of the major trends transforming downtown Raleigh is the boom in new residential construction. At the
beginning of 2015, downtown had 1,840 units under construction or preparing to open with more planned in
the near future. Over the next year, all these units will open and add an estimated 3,000 new residents to
downtown in one square mile.
Several districts will see dramatic increases in their
population and density, including Moore Square and
Glenwood South, which will bring even higher demand
for retail, services, and dining. Meanwhile, the previously
quiet Capital District will see a major infusion of new
residents, helping connect the rest of downtown with
nearby neighborhoods and shopping districts on the
north side, such as Seaboard Station, Person Street Plaza
and Oakwood.
Raleigh will see a more than 50% increase in the number of
housing units in downtown in 2015 and 2016.
2.73%
796 new units
within two blocks
of Moore Square
684 new units
within three blocks
of Glenwood Avenue
Average rent: $1,399/month for
Class A multi-family in downtown,
$1,265 for all apartments within
one mile of downtown¹
Vacancy rate for multifamily apartment Class A
buildings¹
Median rent per
square foot:
$1.63 per sf²
6% vacancy rate for multifamily apartments within
one mile of downtown area
overall¹
With a diverse array of dining, nightlife, and local retail options as well as a myriad of events and festivals, downtown
Raleigh residents live in the center of cultural activity in the region.
¹Integra Realty Resources ²Kwelia
LIVING
|
33
© Tierney Farrell
RESIDENTIAL | UNITS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
BY DISTRICT
"Living downtown, I save thirty minutes to an hour
5%
a day with no commute so I gain time for work, for
15%
43%
running, or anything else I want to do. But I mainly
live downtown because it’s more fun. My wife and
37%
I walk to bars, restaurants, street festivals, and live
shows that we just wouldn’t go to if we didn’t live
nearby."
Moore Square
Fayetteville Street
Capital
Glenwood South
[ SOURCE: DRA ]
-David Meeker, Downtown Resident
DOWNTOWN BUILDING BOOM | HOUSING CONSTRUCTION IN CBDs (under/about to begin construction
and recent completion)
Downtowns across the southern U.S. are seeing major booms in housing construction in their CBDs with downtown Raleigh
keeping pace.
2800
Number of Units
2100
1400
700
0
Raleigh
Austin
Nashville
Richmond
Memphis
Atlanta
Greenville, SC
[ SOURCES: City of Austin, Nashville Downtown Partnership, Venture Richmond, Downtown Memphis Commission, Central Atlanta Progress, Upstate Business Journal, City of Greenville, SC. ]
RESIDENTIAL | PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION/OPENING
PROJECT
NUMBER
OF UNITS
INVESTMENT
TYPE
DISTRICT
EXPECTED
TO OPEN
220 THE SAINT
17
$7 million
Townhomes
Glenwood South
2016
BLOUNT STREET COMMONS
46
$8 million
Townhomes
Capital
2015
THE EDISON APARTMENTS
239
$55 million
Apartments
Moore Square
2016
ELAN CITY CENTER
213
$30 million
Apartments
Capital
2015
DEVON FOUR25
261
$35 million
Apartments
Glenwood South
2015
THE GRAMERCY
203
$30 million
Apartments
Glenwood South
2015
THE L
83
$17 million
Apartments
Fayetteville Street
2016
THE LINCOLN
224
$35 million
Apartments
Moore Square
2015
LINK APARTMENTS
203
$30 million
Apartments
Glenwood South
2015
PEACE STREET TOWNES
17
$5 million
Townhomes
Capital
2015
SKYHOUSE RALEIGH
323
$60 million
Apartments
Moore Square
2015
THE TEN AT SOUTH PERSON
10
$2.4 million
Townhomes
Moore Square
2015
* Note: one unit being constructed at Boylan-Pearce Building, Fayetteville St.
[ SOURCE: DRA ]
LIVING
|
35
© Carolyn Scott
© Carolyn Scott
APARTMENTS
Downtown Raleigh’s multi-family apartment market is booming with low vacancy rates driving the demand. For
multi-family apartment buildings within downtown, the vacancy rate is a mere 2.73%, while the vacancy rate for all
apartment buildings within one mile of downtown is 6.0% and the vacancy rate for Class A apartments within one
mile of downtown is 7.3%. (These numbers do not include brand new buildings currently in their lease-up phase.)
DEMAND | MULTI-FAMILY APARTMENT VACANCY
7.5%
3.75%
0%
Downtown Class A
MSD
Greater Downtown
Class A
Greater Downtown
B/C
Greater Downtown
Class A/B/C
Triangle
Average
*Note: “Greater Downtown” refers to apartments within one mile of downtown.
Need for affordable options:
The vacancy rate for Class B/C apartments within one mile of downtown is 2.8%, indicating a strong demand
for affordable options in and near downtown. Affordable housing, though, increasingly will become an issue as
downtown’s new housing supply is mostly priced on the higher end of the multi-family market in the Triangle and
median rent per square foot is expected to increase. Furthermore, with little existing supply in downtown built
before 2000 and a rapidly increasing population in the city and region, most of the current apartments that may
decline in value due to new supply will not likely be in the CBD.
Source: Intregra Realty Resources, Colliers (for regional average)
PRICE | AVERAGE RENT FOR DOWNTOWN MULTI-FAMILY APARTMENTS
Average rent for downtown is $1,399, while the average rent for apartments within one mile of downtown is $1,265,
including all classes of multi-family apartments.
$1,500
$1,425
$1,350
$1,275
$1,200
Downtown MSD Class A
Greater Downtown Class A/B/C
Greater Downtown Class A
*Note: “Greater Downtown” refers to apartments within one mile of downtown.
[ SOURCES: Integra Reality Resources ]
COMPARISON | MEDIAN RENT PER SQUARE FOOT (CBD ONLY)
Downtown Raleigh has a lower median apartment rent per square foot than several peer CBDs. Downtowns like Austin
and Nashville, along with more established CBDs in the north, have median rents well above $2.00 per square foot.
$4.00
$3.50
$3.00
$2.50
$2.00
$1.50
$1.00
$0.50
$0.00
gh
ei
l
Ra
[ SOURCES: Kwelia ]
in
st
Au
lle
d
C
S
e,
i
hv
s
Na
e
Gr
ll
vi
en
on
Ri
m
ch
O
on
gt
o
nd
rla
as
W
n
hi
s
lla
Da
is
a
nt
la
At
ph
M
em
a
hi
lp
e
ad
il
Ph
LIVING
|
37
© Carolyn Scott
OFFICE + EMPLOYMENT
Downtown Raleigh is attracting new companies, tech incubators, Class A office projects, ultra-fast Internet
service, and is home to an increasingly talented workforce.
In 2014 tech company Citrix moved over 600 employees
into its new 171,000 square foot building in the Warehouse
District. Citrix joins Red Hat, Ipreo, and other tech firms
in transforming downtown into a hub of technology and
innovation. In addition to large tech employers, incubators
HQ Raleigh and American Underground house over 100
startups and will accommodate even more when HQ
Raleigh expands by an additional 30,000 square feet.
Downtown and the Triangle’s tech and innovation base
should continue to grow with the introduction of Google
Fiber, along with AT&T’s U-Verse with Gigapower. These
new ultra-fast Internet services will provide a competitive
advantage to the Triangle and allow downtown firms to
transfer huge amounts of data and research and connect
even faster with clients and servers.
The next two years will also see the delivery of over
700,000 square feet of Class A office space in response
to historically low vacancy levels in the downtown office
market over the past few years. Charter Square, the
renovation of 227 Fayetteville, and the planned Edison
Office tower and Charter Square II will add significant
supply to downtown’s Class A office market.
New tech companies and new office space are also
in response to downtown’s educated and talented
workforce. Raleigh is home to over 40,000 college
students with five colleges and universities in or near
downtown and in a metro area where 36% of graduates
hold a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or
Mathematics (STEM).¹
FLOW CHART | TALENTED WORKFORCE LEADS TO STRONG NEED FOR OFFICE SPACE IN RALEIGH
New Companies Starting
and Relocating to Raleigh
Increasing Demand
for New Office Space
© Citrix Systems, Inc
Educated and
Talented Workforce
Over 600 Citrix employees moved into their brand new state of the art facility in 2014. The building
boasts a private cafeteria, outdoor games, and gorgeous views of downtown’s skyline.
¹ Brookings Institute, Burning Glass
OFFICE + EMPLOYMENT
|
39
OFFICE MARKET
Downtown Raleigh’s office market is booming as new supply is built to respond to very low vacancy rates and strong
interest in companies moving into downtown over the past few years.
9.2%
9.2% vacancy rate at the
beginning of 2015
4% lower vacancy rate than the
Triangle region
[ Average based on five market reports,
Cushman Wakefield, JLL, Avison
Young, Triangle Business Journal, DTZ
Americas ]
[ Average based on five market reports, Cushman
Wakefield, JLL, Avison Young, Triangle Business
Journal, DTZ Americas ]
$71 million in current office
construction with over $150 million
planned to begin construction in
2015.
Downtown Raleigh boasts over 5 million square feet of
privately-owned office space in the 110-block MSD in addition
to over 5.7 million square feet of government office space.
SOURCE: Avison Young
Charter Square
HQ Raleigh expansion
• 243,000 square feet
• $63 million
• Speculative Class A office
space with ground floor
retail
• Open Spring 2015
•3
0,000 square feet of new
incubator and startup space
• Renovation and expansion of
an existing, adjacent building in
Warehouse District
• Expected delivery in 2016
© Tierney Farrell
© Tierney Farrell
UPCOMING OFFICE PROJECTS | OVER 700,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW CLASS A OFFICE SPACE BEING
DELIVERED IN 2015 AND 2016
The Edison Office
227 Fayetteville
• 315,000 square feet
• $120 million
• 290 foot tower
• Construction begins in
2015
• 1 01,439 square feet of Class A
office space
• Renovation of office building in
heart of Fayetteville Street
• Delivers to market in 2015
© Tierney Farrell
"Our downtown is a very different place and a very different office market than it was 10-15 years ago
with the breadth of amenity choices and, seemingly, there is always something going on; it’s vibrant!"
- Ed Fritsch, President, Highwoods Properties
VACANCY | RATES FOR SUB-MARKETS IN THE TRIANGLE REGION
Within the region, downtown Raleigh has some of the lowest office vacancy rates.
20%
15%
10%
5%
Sources: Avison Young, Triangle Business Journal, 4th Quarter 2014.
ion
Re
g
tire
En
Ch
ap
el H
ill
m
rha
Du
uth
So
o/R
TP
I-4
ry
Ca
igh
Ra
le
We
st
s
Fo
rk
Six
Gle
Cre nwoo
ed
mo d/
or
pit
a
Blv l
d
-1/
Ca
US
me
Vil ron
lag
e
Ca
Do
wn
t
Ra own
leig
h
0%
OFFICE + EMPLOYMENT
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41
© Carolyn Scott
DEMAND | CLASS A AND OVERALL AVERAGE OFFICE RENT PER SQUARE FOOT
Downtown Raleigh has a competitively priced CBD with high enough rates to encourage new office development, but
lower rates than several peer downtowns on the east coast and in the southern U.S.
Overall Rate
Class A Rate Only
Washington,
DC
Houston,
TX
Austin,
TX
Philadelphia,
PA
Raleigh,
NC
Charlotte,
NC
Nashville,
TN
Orlando,
FL
Richmond,
VA
Columbia,
SC
Atlanta,
GA
$0.00
$10.00
[ SOURCES: Colliers 4th Quarter Office data, JLL ]
$20.00
$30.00
$40.00
$50.00
$60.00
COMPARISON | CLASS A RENTAL RATES IN TRIANGLE SUB-MARKETS
Low vacancy rates and increasing demand have pushed Class A rental rates higher in downtown Raleigh relative to
other sub-markets in the Triangle.
$25.00
$20.00
$15.00
$10.00
$5.00
ion
En
tire
Re
g
ill
el H
ap
Ch
uth
So
We
st
I-4
Du
rha
m
o/R
TP
ry
Ca
Ra
leig
h
s
Six
Fo
rk
Gle
Cre nwoo
ed
mo d/
or
ap
ita
Blv l
d
-1/
C
US
Ca
me
Vil ron
lag
e
Do
wn
t
Ra own
leig
h
$0.00
[ SOURCE: Avison Young ]
VACANCY | CBD RATES LOW AMONG COMPARABLE CITIES
Among peer CBDs, downtown Raleigh has some of the lowest total and Class A vacancy rates, showing how strong
demand is for office space in downtown.
Total Vacancy Rates
Class A Space Only
20%
18%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
Raleigh,
NC
Atlanta,
GA
Columbia,
SC
Orlando,
FL
Nashville, Richmond,
TN
VA
Austin,
TX
Charlotte,
NC
Houston, Philadelphia, Washington,
TX
PA
DC
[ SOURCES: Colliers 4th Quarter Office data, JLL ]
OFFICE + EMPLOYMENT
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43
EMPLOYMENT
Downtown is home to an estimated 54,600 employees
across all sectors and is projected to add 15,000
employees including 11,500 office and service employees
between 2010 (most recent census) and 2030, according
to estimates from HR&A and CAMPO. With potential new
investments that make downtown even more attractive,
such as mass transit, downtown’s employment growth
could exceed these projections.
Top Five Best Markets for Office Investment (Raleigh)
- National
Real Estate Investor, January 2015
2010-2030 | PROJECTED EMPLOYMENT
GROWTH¹
69,100
DOWNTOWN WORKERS | LARGEST EMPLOYERS
COMPANY
7,800
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
6,700
DUKE ENERGY
WAKE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
54,600
CITY OF RALEIGH
RED HAT, INC.
CITRIX
EMPIRE EATS/EMPIRE PROPERTIES
Downtown Raleigh
2010
2010-2020 Growth
2020-2030 Growth
EMPLOYMENT HUB | SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING + MATH (STEM) HIGH IN REGION²
#1
#3
#4
#5
in STEM Employment Growth
best region for STEM
professionals in the nation
in percentage of all workers
in STEM jobs
in job openings per capita for
STEM graduates
¹HR&A, CAMPO ²WalletHub, Jan. 2015
SHAW UNIVERSITY
#8
market in
High Tech Job
Growth
CBRE, August 2014
© Carolyn Scott
EMPLOYMENT | RALEIGH-CARY METROPOLITAN AREA
89%
49%
33%
higher share of employees in
Computer and Mathematical
occupations compared to the
national economy
higher share of employees in
Life, Physical, and Social Science
occupations compared to the
national economy
higher share of employees in
Architecture and Engineering
occupations compared to the
national economy
[ SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics “May 2013 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates” ]
EMPLOYMENT | DOWNTOWN EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR
Downtown Raleigh still has a strong government sector anchoring its workforce, though, growth in private firms,
particularly tech companies, is changing that dynamic and making downtown’s workforce more diverse by sector.
Government
Other Services
Accommodation and Food Services
Arts and Entertainment
Health Care
Education
Professional Scientific and Tech Services
Administrative, Support and Waste Management
Finance and Insurance
Information
Retail Trade
Manufacturing
Construction
Utilities
0%
[ SOURCE: ESRI Business Analyst, U.S. Census, Dun & Bradstreet ]
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
OFFICE + EMPLOYMENT
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© Tierney Farrell
© Monica Slaney
© Cheryl Gottschall
© Tierney Farrell
© Nick Pironio
INCUBATORS +
INNOVATION
Downtown Raleigh’s technology and innovation
scene has grown tremendously over the
past few years and will continue to do so by
attracting large companies and incubating
smaller tech firms.
• Citrix, Red Hat, and Ipreo added nearly 2,000
tech employees to downtown in the past two
years
• HQ Raleigh and American Underground are
home to a combined 100+ startups
• Number of startups at HQ Raleigh has grown
over 133% since 2012
• Ultra-fast internet service with Google Fiber
and AT&T U-verse with Gigapower providing
competitive advantage
• New tech jobs average approximately $75,000
a year in salary, bringing jobs and more
business for downtown restaurants and retail
#5 Digital City in America
Downtown is not only home to large firms,
but also has a vibrant startup culture housed
in incubators like HQ Raleigh and American
Underground, along with downtown’s historic
and unique lofts and warehouses. HQ Raleigh
and American Underground are home to over
100 startup companies and provide access to
shared resources, collaboration and provide the
type of flexible leases needed for new startups.
Renowned startup American Underground
expanded its footprint to downtown Raleigh
in early 2014 with a 5,300 square foot location
on Fayetteville Street, anchored by Bandwidth
Labs. The hub was named as one of nine
“Google for Entrepreneurs” tech hubs.
HQ Raleigh plans to expand by 30,000 square
feet in 2016.
- Center for Digital Government,
November 2014
#4
city for finding a
Great Tech
Job
TechRepublic, July 2014
"HQ Raleigh has seen incredible momentum since
moving to the Warehouse District. It has been
so exciting to see all of these original companies
come together to support each other and succeed
in downtown Raleigh, and we are looking forward
expanding our space to welcome even more
innovation and creativity."
- Liz Tracy, HQ Raleigh Director of
Community Engagement
OFFICE + EMPLOYMENT |
47
© Tierney Farrell
#2 Fastest Growth in U.S. Patents Received
- U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office, June 2014
STARTUP SPOTLIGHT
WedPics
•P
hoto and video sharing app for
wedding couples and guests
•Located in downtown Raleigh’s
Warehouse District
• Staff of 16 and expanding
• 400,000+ couples have subscribed
• Reached 2.5 million users
• Sells 20,000 prints per week
• 15% of the U.S. market, 33% of U.K.
and 25% of Australian markets,
presence in 188 countries
• Raised $4.25 million Series B
funding in 2014
[ SOURCE: TechCrunch, December 2014 ]
"Downtown Raleigh boasts a great landscape that's really conducive to startup
culture - it's fast paced, highly concentrated, and has plenty of amazing drink
and food spots to help ease the never quiet brain of us entrepreneurs. In
addition it's really blossomed into a hot bed of startups from the tech space
to medical to the culinary space and most all of these companies operate
within a block or two of one another, and along side of two giant co-working
spaces that sort of bookend the downtown area. Growing and scaling a
company here costs a fraction of what it would take, in say San Francisco, and
the appeal to this area continues to increase. And while we have larger tech
companies around us like Red Hat and Citrix, downtown Raleigh feels like a
true startup hub."
-Jason Miller, WedPics, Founder & President
TALENT
One of the major reasons for downtown’s rising profile as a tech hub and new office development is its strong talent and
employment base. Raleigh’s universities and colleges, along with other major research universities and higher education
institutions in the region, help drive more jobs and companies to downtown.
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
(within three miles of downtown)
TOTAL ENROLLMENT
(as of Fall 2014)
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
33,989
MEREDITH COLLEGE
1,885
SHAW UNIVERSITY
1,638
WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY
1,076
SAINT AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE
1,064
CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
426
TOTAL
Approximately 100,000 students
attend universities in the Triangle,
providing cutting edge research and
a well-trained workforce. In addition
to the strong academic institutions
near downtown, the region boasts
several other prestigious universities:
• University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill: #5 Top Public University
in the nation
• Duke University: #9 Overall Top
University in the nation
• N.C. Central: #11 Top Historically
Black Colleges and Universities
40,078
EDUCATION | ATTAINMENT FOR POPULATION 25 YEARS+
Downtown has a higher share of residents with bachelor and graduate
degrees than the state and national proportions. 43% of downtown
Raleigh residents 25 years and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher,
compared to 28.47% of North Carolinians and 29.68% of Americans.
[ SOURCE: U.S. News and World Report ]
STEM | NUMBER OF GRADUATES AS A
SHARE OF POPULATION (AGES 20-34)
40%
35%
100%
30%
80%
25%
60%
20%
40%
15%
20%
10%
0%
Downtown Raleigh
Less than 9th Grade
North Carolina
9-12th Grade/No Diploma
Some College/No Degree
Graduate/Professional Degree
[ SOURCE: ESRI Business Analyst, U.S. Census ]
Associate’s Degree
United States
High School Diploma
Bachelor’s Degree
5%
0%
Raleigh
U.S.
[ SOURCE: Brookings Institute, Burning Glass ]
OFFICE + EMPLOYMENT
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© Carolyn Scott
RETAIL
NÜVONIVO
ARROW HAIRCUTS
© Tierney Farrell
© Tierney Farrell
FATHER AND SON
© Tierney Farrell
© Carolyn Scott
Downtown has seen tremendous growth in its retail base over the past four years with an increase of over 35%
in new retail businesses since 2010, which is the largest growth in any storefront use for downtown. In that time,
downtown has added 32 new stores still open today, nearly all of which are independent, locally-owned retailers.
NORA AND NICKY’S
"Downtown Raleigh has this great energy right now. You can feel that it’s on the brink of some really amazing
things, from development to the creative community that surrounds it. I’ve met the most supportive people here
that are excited about the growth, and are willing to collaborate and join forces in order to build a stronger community.
This support keeps me inspired and speaks to why I chose downtown for Ramble Supply Co."
Over the past four years, downtown has added locallymade clothes like Raleigh Denim, High Cotton, and Lumina
Clothing, designer consignment clothing at Nora and
Nicky’s, leather goods from Lisa Stewart Designs, children’s
clothing from Nüvonivo, music at Sorry State Records,
furniture at Furbish Studios and TRIG Modern, jewelry and
accessories at Dogwood Collective and Moon and Lola,
flip flops at Feelgoodz, new styles at Social Status, and
everything funky and local at Deco Raleigh. Downtown also
has added specialty in-production-style retail like Videri
Chocolate Factory and Oak City Roasters, which make
their products on site, in addition to having showrooms for
local customers. All these stores add to mainstays like Holly
– Jessie Connor, Ramble Supply Co.
Aiken’s Stitch, vintage store Father and Son, and legendary
music store Harry’s Guitar Shop.
In 2014, downtown added even more great stores,
including Runologie, Ramble Supply Co., Edge of Urge,
State of Beer, ABV Cocktail Supply, Honor Raleigh, Stag’s
Head, and Ivivva. Additionally, downtown saw more
service-based retail with Arrow Haircuts, MedFirst Medical
Center, Element Beauty Bar, and SunTrust Bank among
others. These new retail locations bring running shoes,
yoga apparel, apothecary home goods, fashionable clothes
and accessories, craft beer, cocktail supplies, haircuts,
banking and medical services to downtown’s customers.
The Downtown Raleigh Alliance created the Shop Downtown Raleigh program to promote downtown as a
retail destination. Participating merchants receive flags and decals to make their storefronts more noticeable.
RETAIL
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© Carolyn Scott
"From a business standpoint, downtown Raleigh has a growing number of businesses, residents, and runners,
but no running specialty store, so we saw a great opportunity there. We also enjoy being downtown on a daily
basis; walking down the street for coffee at Muertos, grabbing lunch at Happy and Hale, or getting our dark
chocolate fix at Videri, amongst other great places to eat, drink, and shop. It’s just more fun to be downtown
day to day than it is to be in the traditional retail areas."
#4
in Metro Areas for
–Laura Berry, Runologie
2011-2014 | PERCENTAGE OF NET GAIN IN BUSINESSES BY
STOREFRONT CLASSIFICATION
35%
35.2%
30%
Economic
Growth
25%
(Raleigh)
CityLab, September 2014
10%
20%
19.3%
15%
14.3%
8.8%
5%
0%
Retail
[ SOURCE: DRA]
Dining
Bars/
Nightclubs
Personal
Services
FUTURE RETAIL DEMAND | GROWING NEED FOR MORE STORES
As downtown continues to grow, demand for more retail
will attract even more retailers. According to recent
analysis by HR&A Advisors, once downtown’s current
development pipeline is built out, downtown residents,
office workers, and visitors could provide $165 million in
total future potential retail sales. An estimated $42 million
of that spending potential could be captured by downtown
and support thousands of square feet of new retail. These
projections demonstrate the priority to continue bringing
new stores downtown and broaden the retail base to
reduce sales leakage and meet the growing demand to
provide more stores and services in the CBD.
Total future potential retail spending by
downtown residents, visitors, office workers
Future Spending Estimated to be
captured by Downtown
RETAIL
$165 million
$42 million
GROCERY
$49 million
$20 million
[ SOURCE: HR&A Advisors ]
DRA RETAIL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES | IMPROVING DOWNTOWN’S RETAIL ENVIRONMENT
As part of its role as the primary retail recruiter for the downtown services district, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA)
has a number of initiatives to maintain and improve our retail base.
Downtown Raleigh App:
DRA is working with a team
of software developers and
community leaders to develop
an app, which will have parking
information, along with store
locations and advertising
opportunities. This app will
make downtown easier to
navigate for shoppers and
allow merchants to advertise
deals and specials.
Downtown Raleigh Gift Card: DRA launched a gift
card program to keep shopping dollars local and
support downtown merchants. The card can be used
at over 100 participating retailers and restaurants in
downtown.
Shop Downtown Raleigh: This program helps
promote downtown as a shopping destination through
coordinated promotions and events. Downtown
retailers also participate on a committee to strategize
on new efforts and address common challenges.
© Carolyn Scott
Recruiting retail prospects: DRA works to identify and
connect with retail prospects and brokers to bring them
to the downtown market. Our assistance includes helping
identify locations, connecting with brokers and landlords,
and providing resources for business planning, market
data, tours, and guidance. DRA recruits a wide range of
prospects from small boutiques to national retailers and
grocery stores.
Pop-Up Retail: DRA is working with the Urban Design
Center and other interested parties to provide pop-up
tenants for vacant storefronts in order to test new retail
concepts and activate empty stores.
Sharpening marketing materials and data/analytical
capabilities: DRA provides client-specific recruitment
materials, including data and analysis on specific
markets or locations. DRA has added a more data-driven
approach, including sales leakage and market share
information, and comparative statistics, all of which are
targeted at specific types of retailers missing from the
current market.
Storefront Inventory: DRA conducted a comprehensive
survey of all downtown storefronts to identify trends in
vacancies, business mix, openings, and closings. This
analysis improves the targeting and recruitment of stores.
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© Carolyn Scott
DINING + NIGHTLIFE
Downtown Raleigh has become a major food destination regionally and nationally with over 120 dining
establishments providing a broad range of cuisines and experiences.
JAMES BEARD AWARD | ASHLEY CHRISTENSEN
© Travis Long
In 2014, one of downtown’s most prominent chefs and restaurateurs
received the highest culinary award in the country with the James Beard
Award for Best Chef in the Southeast going to Ashley Christensen,
who owns five establishments downtown with Poole’s Diner, Beasley’s
Chicken + Honey, Chuck’s, Joule Coffee & Table, and Fox Liquor Bar.
Later this year, Christensen will add to her downtown empire with the
opening of Death and Taxes and Bridge Club in a restored, historic
building.
DRA’s Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week attracted over
16,000 diners to downtown, increased online reservations by
61% and generated nearly $300,000 in restaurant revenue
.
RYE BAR
LUCETTEGRACE
This past year saw the addition of more local, authentic
concepts like bakeries Lucettegrace, Boulted Bread,
and Night Kitchen and Bakehouse; healthy fast-casual
HAPPY AND HALE
© Tierney Farrell
© Carolyn Scott
© Tierney Farrell
© Stuart Jones
MOMENTUM | DOWNTOWN GAINS NEW DINING HOT SPOTS
TASTY 8’S
from Happy and Hale; coffee shop, Café De Los Muertos;
gourmet hot dogs from Tasty 8’s, and southern cuisine
from Rye Bar and Southern Kitchen.
The Glenwood South District gained a new anchor restaurant when Carolina Ale House opened their new location on
Glenwood Avenue in early 2015. The 37,000 square foot establishment has enough seating for up to 200 diners to
enjoy.
DINING + NIGHTLIFE
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55
68 establishments feature outdoor dining connecting people
with the street environment.
© Cheryl Gottschall
© Carolyn Scott
© Carolyn Scott
© Stuart Jones
THE PIT
MORNING TIMES
ZINDA
BEASLEY’S
Another acclaimed restaurant group, Empire Eats, brings thousands of visitors to downtown with a wide range of cuisines
including Lebanese at Sitti, Italian at Gravy, North Carolina BBQ at The Pit, and neighborhood gathering spots at The
Raleigh Times and Morning Times. Additionally, Eschelon Experiences has contributed to the revitalization of downtown
through several of its restaurants, including Zinda and The Oxford on Fayetteville Street.
MOMENTUM | FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX
REVENUE: 2013 VS. 2014
GROWTH | PERCENT GAIN IN TAX REVENUE BY
DISTRICT: 2013 VS. 2014
Downtown’s success as a dining and nightlife destination
is evident in the rising food and beverage tax revenue
generated downtown, which was up 10.46% in 2014 over
the previous year.
Moore Square District experienced the largest year to
year gain in food and beverage tax revenue with a 15.45%
increase in 2014, showing new vibrancy in this rapidly
growing downtown district.
18%
$1.8
Dollars (in millions)
16%
$1.7
14%
12%
$1.6
10%
$1.5
8%
6%
$1.4
4%
$1.3
2%
0%
$1.2
2013
[ SOURCE: Wake County Tax Assessor ]
2014
Glenwood
South
Fayetteville
Street
[ SOURCE: Wake County Tax Assessor ]
Moore Square
Warehouse
© Tierney Farrell
NIGHTLIFE
Downtown Raleigh’s nightlife has been thriving for years
and has become well known in the area. It is home to craft
beer breweries, such as Crank Arm, Trophy, Natty Greene’s,
and Clouds; classy cocktail lounges; dive bars; and has some
of the best beer bars in the country like Busy Bee Café and
The Raleigh Times, according to DRAFT Magazine.
In recent months, downtown nightlife experiences have
expanded by adding two new “barcades” which combine
bars with video game arcades to provide a fun experience
for millennials seeking a nostalgia trip.
The Raleigh Mix is a nightlife promotion produced by
DRA in the summer that brings over 20,000 patrons to
downtown’s bars and clubs and saw a 55% increase in
participating merchants this past year.
The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Garden
and Gun, Huffington Post, and Southern Living have brought
national attention to downtown’s restaurant and nightlife scene.
Hospitality District
Residents and merchants came together in Glenwood
South to form a hospitality district that includes a noise
ordinance, which promotes communication and
cooperation between business owners and residents. This
ordinance will help nightlife co-exist with residents and
keep this district a growing and vibrant part of downtown.
DINING + NIGHTLIFE
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© Tierney Farrell
TOURISM
© Stacey
© Simeone
B Taylor
Downtown Raleigh is home to some of the state’s largest attractions and events. Each year, downtown hosts
millions of visitors at a diverse array of museums, festivals, music venues, and art galleries. From bluegrass to
electronica, historic attractions to contemporary art, downtown Raleigh has something for every kind of visitor.
TOP DOWNTOWN EVENTS
Downtown Raleigh hosted over 600,000 people at over
180 outdoor festivals and events held in 2014, ranging
from holiday celebrations to music festivals to art and
design events. Some of downtown’s largest events
include: IBMA World of Bluegrass, Capital City Bikefest,
“The ‘Works” 4th of July Celebration, First Friday
(monthly), WRAL Christmas Parade, First Night Raleigh,
Hopscotch, Artsplosure, SPARKcon, and the African
American Festival.
Downtown Raleigh hosted over 3.4 million visitors at its top 15
downtown attractions in 2014.
TOP DOWNTOWN ATTRACTIONS
VISITORS
NC MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES
973,738
MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM/WELLS FARGO IMAX® THEATRE
644,013
RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER
493,701
DUKE ENERGY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
390,819
NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY
335,861
NC STATE CAPITOL
111,356
Festivals
RED HAT AMPHITHEATER
111,295
in downtown in 2014
ARTSPACE
92,908
180
outdoor
Events
and
The Raleigh Convention Center (RCC) hosts thousands of tourists at 150+ conventions each year. In 2014, RCC saw
a 47% increase in visitors over 2013. The 500,000 square foot state-of-the-art building is LEED certified with a 500
kilowatt solar energy system.
SOURCES: Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, Red Hat Amphitheater
TOURISM
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© Carolyn Scott
© Cheryl Gottschall
© Tierney Farrell
© Tierney Farrell
© Tierney Farrell
Raleigh Convention Center
The Raleigh Convention Center had a banner year with
a 47% increase in visitors in 2014 versus 2013. Nearly
500,000 people attended conventions and events at the
facility. Built in 2008, the convention center has:
•
•
•
•
•
500,000 total square feet
150,000 square foot exhibit hall
32,620 square foot ballroom
32,600 square feet of meeting rooms
500 kilowatt solar energy system, comprised of 2,080
panels, producing more than 725,000 kilowatt hours of
electricity
IBMA World of Bluegrass
The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)
held their annual convention in downtown Raleigh for the
second year in a row. The convention and accompanying
music festival brought 180,000 people to downtown, a
29% increase over the previous year’s attendance. The
Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates
the event created:
• $10.8 million in direct visitor spending, up 16% from 2013
• Boosted area hotel rooms reserved by 15% to 23,000
• Brought an estimated 88,000 attendees from outside
Wake County, up 5% from previous year
Largest event in Raleigh’s history: 180,000 attendees for IBMA
World of Bluegrass festival with 29% increase over 2013
Hotels
Downtown Raleigh hotels improved in every metric in 2014, demonstrating a growing visitor base and increasing
demand for hotels in Raleigh’s CBD. Furthermore, downtown’s hotel market growth outperformed Wake County as a
whole, according to STR Global.
•
•
•
•
Downtown has 1,127 hotel rooms
Hotel room occupancy: 67.6%, up 11.2% over 2013
Average daily room rate was $136.33, up 7% compared to 2013
Revenue per room saw a 19% increase to $92.14 per room
2014 GROWTH | HOTEL MARKET PERFORMANCE
11.2%
increase in
Hotel
Room
Occupancy
over 2013
Downtown Raleigh
Wake County
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Hotel Room
Occupancy Growth
Average Daily Room
Rate Growth
Revenue Per Room
Growth
Note: Applies to four hotels: Marriott, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, and Hampton Inn, which
comprise 95% (1,072 rooms) in downtown market.
SOURCE: STR Global, News and Observer
TOURISM
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© Tierney Farrell
ARTS + CULTURE
Downtown Raleigh is a center of arts and culture for the city and region with over 40 art galleries and arts
organizations, entertainment venues and performance groups based in downtown. The arts and culture community has
been a driving force in downtown’s revitalization, bringing thousands of people to downtown and providing a diverse
and unique dynamic to downtown Raleigh.
The arts and cultural sector is an important economic driver for
downtown and the city, as the arts generate $143.5 million in
economic activity in Raleigh, which supports 5,699 full-time jobs
and creates $109.3 million in household income for residents in
the region.¹ Downtown is home to a wide range of institutions,
venues, and organizations from the Contemporary Art Museum
and Mahler Fine Art Gallery to events such as Artsplosure and
SPARKcon to performance venues like The Lincoln Theatre and
Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. All of these bring
energy and vitality to downtown and Raleigh.
The arts generate $143.5 million in economic activity, supporting
5,699 full-time jobs and creating $109.3 million in household
income for local residents.¹
MUSIC
In recent years, downtown Raleigh has emerged as a destination
for live music with festivals, large outdoor shows, concert halls
and theaters, along with intimate clubs all over downtown. The
area is home to a range of venues from the Duke Energy Center
for the Performing Arts, which contains four different theaters
and auditoriums to the outdoor venue Red Hat Amphitheater,
which hosts thousands of visitors each year to concerts from
nationally-renowned acts. Downtown also has a strong stable of
smaller music venues, including The Lincoln Theatre, The Pour
House Music Hall, Kings, Southland Ballroom, Slim’s Downtown,
Deep South The Bar, Tir na nOg, C. Grace, and others. Any night
of the week, music fans can find everything from hip hop to
heavy metal to experimental electronica, jazz, and rock and roll.
Downtown Raleigh also hosts some of the premiere music
festivals in the region. In addition to the massively successful
and well-attended IBMA World of Bluegrass festival, Hopscotch
Music Festival brings thousands of music fans downtown
every year for three days to see over 140 bands, including
experimental and underground artists, at venues across
downtown. Additionally, 40% of performers at Hopscotch are
from the state of North Carolina.
Hopscotch Music Festival was named one of Rolling Stone
magazine’s “Must-See Music Festivals in 2014.”
Other festivals include the Oak City 7 and Pickin’ in the
Plaza, both of which are located on City Plaza, and alternate
every Thursday in the summer. Many other festivals, such as
Artsplosure and SPARKcon, take place downtown and provide
exposure for the Triangle’s strong and diverse local music scene.
Downtown Raleigh is also home to an emerging music scene
of its own. Local band American Aquarium hosted its new
record release shows over two sold-out nights at The Lincoln
Theatre and created a map on social media of the band’s favorite
restaurants and bars in downtown. The new record was streamed
online at Wall Street Journal and received critical praise.
Local circus arts company Cirque de Vol performs in the Lichtin Plaza area in front of the Duke Energy Center for the
Performing Arts.
¹ Arts and Economic Prosperity IV: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences in the City of Raleigh,
North Carolina, 2013
ARTS + CULTURE
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© Tierney Farrell
band. Every night, every show, we start off by saying "We're American Aquarium
from Raleigh, North Carolina.” I've lived downtown for seven years now and have
really enjoyed becoming a part of such a diverse community. Whether it’s the
food, the bar scene, or the museums, there is always something to do."
- BJ Barham, American Aquarium
© Alysse Gafkjen Photography
"Raleigh is one of the first things our fans think about when they think about the
© Tim Lytvinenko
© Holly Jacques
© Curtis Brown
© Curtis Brown
RED HAT
AMPHITHEATER
Opened in 2010 and located in the heart of downtown,
Red Hat Amphitheater stands out among outdoor
venues in the region due to its stunning skyline views
and location among all the restaurants and nightlife
in downtown Raleigh. The venue hosted over 111,000
visitors last year at 33 events between April and October,
which included nationally known touring acts like Beck,
John Legend, Widespread Panic, Ray LaMontagne, and
Counting Crows, among many others.
DUKE ENERGY CENTER FOR
THE PERFORMING ARTS
Anchoring the southern end of Fayetteville Street, the
Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts hosted
600 events in 2014 with nearly 400,000 attendees.
Combining the historic Raleigh Memorial Auditorium with
three modern venues, the center hosted everything from
bluegrass and pop music to Broadway and ballet.
This facility includes:
• Meymandi Concert Hall: 81,000 square feet, 1,750 seats
• Raleigh Memorial Auditorium: 88,000 square feet, 2,251
seats
• Fletcher Opera Theater: 36,000 square feet, 600 seats
• Kennedy Theater: Experimental Theater, 170 seats
In 2015, the performing arts center will receive $10
million in upgrades and renovations such as new lighting,
rebuilt concessions area, safety systems, and new paint
throughout the building, as part of an ongoing $17.7
million renovation plan, which began last year.
North Carolina Theatre
Based at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing
Arts, the Theatre seeks to build community and interest
in the arts through high-quality theatre productions with
both local and national talent.
North Carolina Symphony
Founded in 1932, the North Carolina Symphony is a
full time, professional orchestra with a reputation for
innovative programming and collaborative projects.
Based at Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy
Center for the Performing Arts, the NC Symphony
performs 175 shows a year throughout the state and
provides an extensive educational program to children all
over North Carolina.
Carolina Ballet
Carolina Ballet has staged over 80 world premiere
ballets, toured internationally, and performs frequently
at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The
company performs a broad array of ballet from newly
commissioned works to traditional classics.
North Carolina Opera
Dedicated to presenting high-level operatic
performances to the Triangle, North Carolina Opera
brings international level artists to downtown Raleigh
through a wide-ranging repertoire from Mozart to Philip
Glass.
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© Stacey Simeone
© Tierney Farrell
© Carolyn Scott
© Tierney Farrell
© Tierney Farrell
A SAMPLING
OF THE ARTS
CAM Raleigh (Contemporary Art Museum)
Opened in a spectacular space in 2011 and
located in a renovated warehouse in the
Warehouse District, CAM Raleigh exhibits works
in emerging and new areas of art with the goal
of stimulating creative thinking in the community.
CAM Raleigh shows works in a wide variety of
mediums that both educate and challenge visitors.
SPARKcon
Started as a grassroots initiative, SPARKcon is a
three-day interdisciplinary festival of art, design,
music, film, fashion, poetry, food, theatre, and
ideas, which is meant to support emerging
artists and creative movements. The annual
celebration has showcased the cultural richness
of downtown since 2006.
#3 Best Up and Coming Cities for Art and Culture
- Women’s Health, September 2014
First Friday Gallery Walk
A staple of downtown for more than two
decades now, over 15,000 people come
downtown on the first Friday of each month
to sample downtown’s art galleries, museums,
stores and alternative art studios, many of which
stay open late for attendees.
Artsplosure
Since its first festival in 1980, Artsplosure
has presented numerous festivals and
outdoor programs featuring thousands of
established or emerging visual, performing,
and interdisciplinary artists with the goals of
bringing recognition and exposure to a wide
range of artists and continuing to elevate the
arts community of Raleigh.
Raleigh Arts Plan
In 2014, the City of Raleigh began a process
for creating a 10-year community plan to
strengthen the arts and culture in the city. The
purpose of the plan is to articulate a shared
vision and goals for improving the cultural life
of the community, including increasing support
and participation in the arts, as well as nurturing
creativity and opportunities to live creatively in
Raleigh. The plan is currently in development
after an extensive public engagement process
and will be prepared for review by the public
and adoption by Raleigh City Council later this
year.
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© Stuart Jones
CONNECTIVITY + SUSTAINABILITY
Downtown Raleigh is becoming a center for connectivity and sustainability in the Triangle. Downtown is the most
walkable part of the Triangle and includes a transportation network with over 30 bus routes and train service
with a new multi-modal station breaking ground this year. New buildings in downtown are receiving LEED
certification, which makes them more environmentally friendly and energy efficient, while Raleigh is becoming
a leader in solar panel usage. More parks and greenspace in downtown are being planned or renovated. Plus,
downtown is home to a growing local food and urban farm movement, which helps make downtown a more
sustainable and healthier community.
RIDERSHIP | BUS TRIPS BY BLOCK
Downtown is the hub for Raleigh’s transportation system. Moore Square Transit Center accounts for approximately 28%
of all weekday boardings/alightings in the GoRaleigh (formerly CAT) system. Each pillar in this graphic shows the total
weekday trips by person passing by each individual block of downtown to give a sense of downtown's transit accessibility.¹
Moore Square
Capital
Fayetteville Street
Warehouse
Glenwood South
Urban farm startup Raleigh City Farm planted rows of arugula in the spring as part of downtown’s emerging local food
movement. This community-supported farm grows food and encourages new urban farms and farm entrepreneurs.
¹Capital Area Transit Short Range Transit Plan 2012, Graphic by Ian Hamilton
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© Cheryl Gottschall
TRANSPORTATION HUB
Downtown Raleigh is a transportation hub for the region,
moving thousands of residents, visitors, and employees
every year. Public transit, street infrastructure, bike lanes,
extensive sidewalks, charging stations, and thousands of
parking spots allow for residents and visitors to access
downtown in numerous ways. Downtown Raleigh is poised
to continue to improve its accessibility and mobility
with new investments in a multi-modal station, corridor
improvements, additional bike lanes, conversion of oneway streets, and the potential for increased mass transit
in the future through the Wake County Transit Plan. With
the existing infrastructure and new investments, downtown
Raleigh will become a gateway for transportation at a local,
regional, and national level.
Over 250,000 riders took advantage of the R-LINE in 2014,
downtown’s FREE circulator featuring hybrid buses.¹
•O
ver 30 bus routes connecting to other parts of the city,
county, and region
• The R-LINE: downtown’s free circulator service, which
features hybrid buses that connect all of downtown’s
districts, had over 250,000 riders in 2014¹
•A
mtrak passenger train service to other cities in the state,
region, and U.S.
•3
5,000 parking spaces to handle large crowds, residents,
workers, and visitors
Biking
Downtown Raleigh’s bike infrastructure has increased
considerably over the past few years with more bike lanes,
racks and corrals being constructed. Downtown now has 135
bike racks with capacity for 460 bikes. New bike lanes are
being constructed throughout downtown, as part of projects
like the Blount and Person Street corridor improvements.
Other improvements include the Art to Heart corridor, which
connects downtown to the North Carolina Museum of Art
and current consideration of a Bike Share program, which
would feature stations throughout downtown and has been
deemed feasible by a recent study.²
Parking
Downtown has more than 35,000 parking spaces spread
across decks, surface lots and streets with a 60% average
occupancy rate during weekdays in downtown’s parking
garages. Downtown Raleigh’s monthly parking rate is 36%
below the U.S. national average, according to a 2012 report.
Nightlife in downtown benefits from 8,200 free parking
spaces in city-owned decks in addition to 1,200 spaces
on the street, which are free after 5pm and on weekends.
Coming later in 2015, a downtown app will help direct
drivers to available decks and improve efficiency in finding
parking downtown.
¹City of Raleigh ²Colliers International, Central Business District Parking Rate Survey 2012
WALK SCORE | DOWNTOWN RALEIGH HIGHEST IN TRIANGLE REGION
DOWNTOWN
DURHAM
76
DOWNTOWN
RALEIGH
85
DOWNTOWN
CHAPEL HILL
78
AVERAGE
OF CITIES IN
TRIANGLE
28
Walkability
Downtown Raleigh is the most walkable area in the Triangle, where residents, employees, and visitors can easily access
transit, restaurants, nightlife, services, retail, and destinations all while on foot. The city is continuing improvements in ADA
compliant curb ramps and pedestrian signals throughout downtown. Downtown Raleigh’s average walk score is more than
55 points higher than the Triangle average. The region’s three largest downtowns are highly walkable and provide access
to offices, stores, restaurants, nightlife, and transit all on foot.
Driving
Downtown is located at the intersection of 10 major citywide arterial streets, which makes downtown accessible
from every direction. I-40 runs south of downtown,
while major streets quickly carry traffic out of the central
business district. The state is moving forward on a
massive reshaping of downtown’s northern gateway with
replacements of bridges and interchanges along Capital
Boulevard at Peace Street and Wade Avenue, which should
ease rush-hour traffic and improve automobile flow through
the area.
Flying
Downtown Raleigh is served by Raleigh-Durham
International airport (RDU) with 400 flights daily on eight
major airlines to nearly 40 non-stop destinations. Located
just 20 minutes from downtown, the airport offers nonstop
service to London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami,
Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and Washington, along with
many other cities.
SOURCE: walkscore.com. Average of each community and downtowns (or corresponding zip codes), based on Walk Score’s
criteria of walkability and access.
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© Carolyn Scott
© Cheryl Gottschall
© Carolyn Scott
WEST STATION ENTRY
Y
FUTURE TRANSPORTATION
INVESTMENTS + INITIATIVES
Downtown’s connectivity and transportation
infrastructure will continue to improve through major
investments over the next few years:
Raleigh Union Station
Construction is set to begin in 2015 on Raleigh Union
Station, which is a $79.8 million multi-modal station that
will host bus and train service and possible
additional mass transit and high speed rail in the future.
Wake County Transit Plan
Citizens and leaders in Wake County are discussing
possible enhancements to mass transit, as the county
expects to welcome substantial population growth over
the next two decades. The Wake County Transit Choices
Report, authored by Jarret Walker & Associates and
Kimley-Horn & Associates, provided some context and
assessment of Wake County’s current infrastructure and
potential needs. Over the past few months, consultants
have developed corridor analysis, governance
framework, financing models, investment strategies, and
tradeoffs for various transit alternatives, which will be
unveiled and discussed publicly in spring 2015 with the
goal of a recommendation for transit coming later in the
year.
Blount Street/Person Street Corridor Plan
These heavily trafficked corridors will receive new
bicycle lanes, reconfigured on-street parking, altered
intersections and traffic flow, and other streetscape
improvements to make these streets more attractive to
all users.
Peace Street/Wade Avenue Bridge Replacements on
Capital Boulevard
NC Department of Transportation will replace bridges
on Capital Boulevard at Peace Street and Wade Avenue,
as well as reconfigure those interchanges. This project is
estimated to cost between $40-$74 million and start with
property acquisition in 2015 and construction in 2016.
Bike Share
The City of Raleigh is exploring the feasibility of
bringing a bike share system to Raleigh, which would
include stations throughout downtown for short-term
bicycle use, as well as connecting downtown with other
parts of the city. The city is currently examining various
funding and implementation options to determine the
best plan for Raleigh.
Conversion of One-Way Streets
Several streets in downtown are being converted from
one-way to two-way traffic, which reduces confusion for
drivers, increases safety for pedestrians, and improves
visibility and access for storefront businesses. Lenoir
and South streets are currently being converted with
city leaders considering future conversion of Jones and
Lane streets.
Downtown App
DRA, the City of Raleigh, and other partners are
currently working on a downtown app, which could
provide parking maps and help improve parking
accessibility in downtown to make downtown an even
more attractive destination.
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© Matt Robinson
SUSTAINABILITY
Downtown Raleigh is becoming a leader in sustainability. In addition to walkability and transit, downtown boasts a
substantial amount of greenspace, numerous energy efficiency initiatives, and a growing urban food system movement.
Parks and Greenspace:
Downtown Raleigh has a strong system of parks and
greenspace, which is being enhanced with renovations
and new parks in the near future. The downtown area’s
park space includes historic squares, an expansive mall,
recreation fields, and a greenway.
•O
ver 100 acres of public park space within one mile of
downtown
• 10 parks within one mile of downtown
• 110 miles of greenway in Raleigh
The future of downtown’s greenspace is bright with
projects already underway and more planned in the
Downtown Experience Plan:
•M
oore Square Renovation: A $12.5 million renovation
of one of Raleigh’s original, historic squares, which
will provide a world-class public space for downtown.
Construction begins in 2016.
• Market and Exchange Plazas Renovation: $2 million
renovation of two plazas connecting Fayetteville and
Wilmington streets to provide small areas of rest in the
bustle of downtown’s core with construction expected
to begin in 2015.
• Devereux Meadows: A future park planned for a flood
basin on the northern end of downtown, which will
provide much-needed greenspace near the growing
Glenwood South District.
• Chavis Park Renovation: Located just east of downtown,
this 28 acre park, featuring a carousel, swimming pool,
nature trail, and athletic field, will receive a $12.5 million
renovation.
• Dorothea Dix Park: The City of Raleigh and state of
North Carolina have reached a preliminary agreement
for the city to purchase 308 acres of the former
Dorothea Dix psychiatric hospital campus on the
southern end of downtown, which would provide the
city and downtown with a destination park.
ON THE MAP | GREEN AND CIVIC SPACE NETWORK
HALIFAX
COMMUNITY
CENTER &
PARK
FRED
FLETCHER
PARK
FUTURE
DEVEREUX
MEADOWS
MORDECAI
HISTORIC
PARK
RALEIGH
CITY
FARM
HALIFAX
MALL
OAKWOOD
CEMETERY
NC MUSEUM OF
NATURAL SCIENCES
NC MUSEUM
OF HISTORY
PULLEN
PARK
MARBLES
KIDS MUSEUM
NASH
SQUARE
CITY
CEMETERY
MOORE
SQUARE
CAM
DIX SPORTS
FIELDS
RED HAT
AMPHITHEATER
LENOIR ST
PARK
CITY
PLAZA
DUKE ENERGY
CENTER FOR THE
PERFORMING
ARTS
Green Space
Plaza
Greenway or On-street Bicycle Link
SOURCES: Sasaki Associates, City of Raleigh
Campus
CHAVIS
PARK
Museum or other Civic Building
Creek
CONNECTIVITY + SUSTAINABILITY
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© Carolyn Scott
© Carolyn Scott
© Stacey Simeone
© Stuart Jones
ENERGY +
FOOD SYSTEMS
Energy
•L
EED Certification: Numerous new buildings in downtown
are being constructed to LEED standards, such as the
Citrix building which received LEED Gold certification
and Charter Square, which will be LEED Platinum. These
buildings will be more environmentally friendly and
energy efficient.
• Solar: Raleigh is becoming a leader in solar panel
installation and was recently ranked one of the top
20 solar cities in the country based on capacity and
installation.¹
• Charging Stations: Downtown Raleigh is a leader in
electric vehicle infrastructure with 11 public charging
stations located throughout downtown, which offset CO2
emissions and reduces gasoline use.
Urban Food System
Downtown Raleigh is home to an emerging local food and
urban farm movement. Food security and access to fresh
food is an important aspect of building a true live-workplay community in downtown and helps residents remain
healthy and connected to the land. In addition to public
health benefits, local food systems and urban farms and
gardens have economic impacts, which make downtown
neighborhoods more attractive places to live.
Downtown is home to several educational gardens at
locations like Marbles Kids Museum and Moore Square
Magnet Middle School. Additionally, three farmers markets
take place in downtown with several more nearby,
providing access to fresh produce for downtown residents
and workers. Numerous other efforts are underway by
groups like Community Food Lab and many others to
improve the local food system by providing fresh food to
underprivileged populations, mapping edibles, and teaching
residents about farms and gardens.
Raleigh City Farm
The Raleigh City Farm is an urban farm startup in
downtown Raleigh and an anchor of downtown’s emerging
local food movement. This community-supported farm
grows food and encourages new urban farms and farm
entrepreneurs, as part of improving access to fresh food
and small-scale urban agriculture for downtown residents.
Produce from this farm is purchased and used by local
restaurants in downtown, as well as sold directly to
neighbors and residents through a Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) farmshare, a farmers market, and farm
stand. Raleigh City Farm also helps rural farms access
the downtown market by helping sell their products,
thus, improving urban-rural food connections and access
to even more fresh food. The farm has contributed to
the revitalization of the nearby Person Street Plaza
and surrounding neighborhood, which was named
by USA Today as one of the “10 Best Up and Coming
Neighborhoods around the U.S.”
Raleigh Food Corridor
This initiative attempts to build off the local food cluster
emerging in a two-mile stretch along the east side of
downtown. The goal is to engage the community and
create a dialogue about building a dense food system
in downtown, which can bring food security, economic
development, and public health benefits to the downtown
community.
Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market
Each Wednesday from May-September, DRA brings the
Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market to City Plaza in the
heart of downtown, featuring over 30 vendors selling fresh
produce and locally made goods. On average, over 3,000
people attend the Market every week to take a break from
work and enjoy the festive atmosphere and support local
farms and businesses.
¹ Environment North Carolina, “Shining Cities: At the Forefront of America’s Solar Energy Revolution”, April 2014.
CONNECTIVITY + SUSTAINABILITY
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© Tierney Farrell
DRA IMPACT
The Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) has established a strong track record for positioning downtown as an
economic engine for the city. As stated in the DRA mission, we provide services on a day-to-day basis that have
both a short-term and long-term impact on downtown’s revitalization. The services include: Safety, Hospitality,
and Clean Ambassadors; Strategic Branding and Community Communications; Special Events Production; Retail
Attraction and Merchant Promotions; Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement; and Strategic Planning.
Downtown Raleigh’s Clean & Safe Program
A clean and safe downtown attracts more investors,
enhances the image of the entire city and plays a major
role in revitalization. DRA utilizes 36% of its overall budget
to fund the Clean and Safe Ambassador Program.
The Ambassador Clean Team contributes by picking
up litter, removing graffiti, and performing special
maintenance projects. In 2014, DRA purchased two clean
machines and added Sunday cleaning services.
The Ambassador Safety Team creates positive
experiences for downtown Raleigh visitors and residents.
The team serves as the additional eyes and ears for
the City of Raleigh police in downtown by patrolling
streets and sidewalks seven days a week. They also act
as safety escorts and provide directions to visitors. The
ambassadors also address quality of life issues, such as
deterring aggressive panhandling, and providing parking
deck security.
According to the Downtown Raleigh Stakeholder Perception
Survey, over 77% of stakeholders find downtown clean and over
84% of stakeholders find downtown safe.
25,140 pounds
of trash removed by the new
Clean Machines alone in just
four months in 2014
equals the weight of
2 adult male
elephants
Safety Ambassadors
spent
7,000+ hours
patrolling nine parking decks
and four surface lots in 2014
In 2014, the DRA Board of Directors approved an increase in funding towards the clean program to purchase new
clean machines and add ambassadors to provide Sunday cleaning services for the first time in the program’s history.
These changes demonstrate the Clean Team’s dedication to keeping up with our growing downtown.
DRA IMPACT
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79
© Christer Berg
© Carolyn Scott
RALEIGH WINTERFEST
© Tierney Farrell
DOWNTOWN RALEIGH MOVIE SERIES
© Shaun King
© Carolyn Scott
RALEIGH MIX
ANNUAL MEETING
© Tierney Farrell
MEET DOWNTOWN
RALEIGH DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET
2014 IMPACT
An Attractive Downtown
• 69,520 pounds of trash removed by the Ambassador
Clean Team and the clean machines combined
• 170% increase in trash pickup with new clean machines
• 140% increase in number of blocks cleaned
A Friendly Downtown
• 7,000+ hours patrolling nine parking decks and four
surface lots
• 5,400+ hospitality assists
• 1,639 safety escorts provided
A Vibrant Downtown
• 5 major merchant programs to promote downtown
merchants (First Friday Raleigh Art Gallery Walk,
Downtown Raleigh Gift Card, Downtown Raleigh
Restaurant Week, Shop Downtown Raleigh, and Raleigh
Mix)
• 80% of downtown merchants participate in at least one of
the five programs
• 1,686 gift cards sold to downtown supporters
An Engaging Downtown
• 8,600,000 pageviews on DRA websites
• 67,784 social media followers
• 16,000 subscribers for DRA e-newsletters
2014-2015 COMBINED BUDGETED EXPENSES
7%
SB
A Memorable Downtown
• 150,000+ visitors attended DRA Outdoor Events (Raleigh
Winterfest, Downtown Raleigh Movie Series and Raleigh
Downtown Farmers Market)
• 18,000+ ice skaters visited the downtown Ice Rink
• $200,000+ in vendor sales on local agriculture and artisan
food products at the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market
A Prosperous Downtown
• 36 street-level businesses opened
• 95% of new businesses are locally owned and
independent
• 35% increase in soft goods and specialty gift retailers
since 2010
A Connected Downtown
• 431 dues-paying members
• 1,850+ attendees at networking events
• 12 grand-opening ribbon cutting ceremonies
A Collaborative Downtown
• 4 downtown districts benefited from DRA community
organizing initiatives
• 6 downtown events and programs sponsored by DRA
• 14 downtown events and programs benefited from
tailored promotions from DRA
2014-2015 COMBINED BUDGETED REVENUES
6%
SP
5%
MD
36%
SH
9%
RA
19%
CS
50%
PA
10%
SE
32%
AO
26%
FS
Safety, Hospitality + Clean (SH)
Property Assessment (PA)
Advocacy + Operations (AO)
Fee for Service (FS)
Special Events Production (SE)
Corporate Sponsorships (CS)
Retail Attraction + Merchant Programs (RA)
Member Dues (MD)
Strategic Branding + Community Communications (SB)
Strategic Partnerships + Stakeholder Engagement (SP)
DRA IMPACT
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81
DRA BOARD
OFFICERS + EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rebecca Quinn-Wolf
Chair
PNC
Mary-Ann Baldwin (Ex-Officio)
City of Raleigh
Chad T. Lefteris
Rex Healthcare
Pam Blondin
Deco Raleigh
J. Rich Leonard
Campbell University School of Law
Clymer Cease, Jr.
Clark Nexsen
D. O’Hara Macken
Ipreo
Ashley Christensen
AC Restaurants
David Meeker
Downtown Raleigh Resident,
West at North Condominiums
Jason Smith
Treasurer/Chair-Elect
18 Seaboard Restaurant
Thomas S. Hill III
Immediate Past Chair
Highwoods Properties
Sharon Moe
Secretary
North State Bank
Marty Clayton
Duke Energy
Leon Cox
Sheraton Raleigh Hotel
Joseph “Bo” Dempster, Jr.
Legal Counsel
Poyner Spruill
Sally Edwards
Marbles Kids Museum/IMAX Theatre
Jill Wells Heath
At-Large
Mulkey Engineers & Consultants
Gaddis Faulcon
Shaw University
Jon Wilson
At-Large
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Sue Glennon
Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel at
Glenwood South
David A. Diaz (Ex-Officio)
President + CEO
Downtown Raleigh Alliance
Ruffin Hall (Ex-Officio)
City of Raleigh
Jim Hartmann
Wake County
Kathy Higgins
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Sarah Powers
Visual Art Exchange
Gregg Sandreuter
Hamilton Merritt
Harvey Schmitt (Ex-Officio)
Greater Raleigh Chamber of
Commerce
Nate Spilker
Citrix
Josh Stein (Ex-Officio)
NC General Assembly
Andrew Stewart
Empire Properties
Anthony Tata (Ex-Officio)
NC Department of Transportation
Caroline F. Welch
WTVD-TV/ABC 11
Andy Holland
Wells Fargo Bank
DRA STAFF
Jean Carroll
Special Events Coordinator
Bill King
Planning + Development Manager
Stacey Simeone
Graphic Designer
Roxanne Coffey
Office Manager
Carla Laird
Marketing + Communications Manager
Stephanie Wilser
Bookkeeper
David A. Diaz
President + CEO
Lacie Lindstaedt
Director of Communications + Membership
Kimberley Jones
Assistant to the President
Ashley Melville
Merchant Benefits Manager
American Aquarium
American Underground
Americans for the Arts
Artsplosure
Avison Young
Campbell University School of Law
Capital Area Metropolitan Planning
Organization
Capital Area Transit Authority
Carolina Ballet
CBRE
Chris Mears, State of North Carolina
Cirque de Vol
Citrix Systems, Inc.
City of Raleigh: Planning &
Development;
Urban Design Center; Parks and Recreation;
Public Works; Office of Sustainability; Office of
Transportation and Planning
Colliers International
David Langley, City of Raleigh
David Meeker
Downtown Living Advocates
Downtown Raleigh Alliance
DTZ Americas
Dun and Bradstreet
Erin White, Community Food Lab
ESRI
Grant Meacci, City of Raleigh
Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
Greater Raleigh Convention and
Visitors Bureau
Hibernian
HQ Raleigh
Ian Hamilton
Integra Realty Resources
Ipreo
JDavis Architects
JLL
Julie Brackenbury, Greater Raleigh
Convention and Visitors Bureau
Kelly Maness, Greater Raleigh Chamber
of Commerce
Kwelia
Kyle Vangel, HR&A Advisors
Loren Gold, Greater Raleigh
Convention and Visitors Bureau
M. Scott Smith, Integra Realty Resources
Marcus Kinrade, Wake County Revenue
Director
McClatchy Interactive
News & Observer
North Carolina Opera
North Carolina Theatre
Raleigh City Farm
Raleigh Convention Center
Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
Sasaki Associates
Shaw University
STR Global
State of North Carolina Office of State
Human Resources
Taylor Traversari, Red Hat Amphitheater
Tech Crunch
Triangle Business Journal
Tricia Hasch, City of Raleigh
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Census Bureau
Wake County: GIS, Revenue
Department
Walk Score
WalletHub
Graphic Design: Stacey Simeone
For errata visit: www.YouRHere.com
DRA MISSION
The Downtown Raleigh Alliance is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose mission
is to continue the revitalization of Raleigh’s downtown by enhancing its quality of life and
contributing to its economic success. On a day-to-day basis, DRA provides six core services that
have a short-term and long-term impact on downtown:
1. SAFETY, HOSPITALITY + CLEAN AMBASSADORS
2. STRATEGIC BRANDING + COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS
3. SPECIAL EVENTS PRODUCTION
4. RETAIL ATTRACTION + MERCHANT PROMOTIONS
5. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS + STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
6. STRATEGIC PLANNING
ARTS + CULTURE
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