Making growth choices that will stand the test of time

Russ Stephenson, LEED Accredited Urban Design Consultant and Architect (ret.), NC American Planning Association awards, Sierra Club Life Member, Raleigh Planning Commissioner, Raleigh City Councilor At-Large, GoTriangle Board Member, Livable Raleigh Advisory Committee

Russ’ LTE was published in the N&O August 31, 2025

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Shadow studies of the proposed West Street building. Current proposal at 30 & 25 stories casts deep winter shadows across the adjacent neighborhood at 10am. Alternate proposal matching the high density Publix building across Peace Street casts no winter shadows on neighborhood at 10am.

There’s an irony when folks hope for new good things at the expense of the good things we already have.

For example, urban growth visionaries planned an ill-advised commuter highway through the historic Oakwood neighborhood in the 1960s. Today’s version of Raleigh’s growth visionaries now support another extreme – building 30 story towers next to our historic neighborhoods.

Everyone agrees that more urban parks and walkable urban densities are good things, but promoters of 30 story towers next to the historic Glenwood Brooklyn neighborhood have offered no evidence that the new 12 story Publix building just across Peace Street isn’t an excellent example of what could go on the West Street site, giving the developer ample profits and urban high-rise densities without casting 30 story shadows over the neighborhood every winter morning and over the future Smoky Hollow Park every winter afternoon.

Growth choices that stand the test of time will always seek a balance that accommodates new ideas without sacrificing the best of what we already have.

Sign the Petition NOW!

The neighbors support the current zoning which allows for 12 stories.

12 stories IS DENSITY

12 stories provides needed housing

Read more about the West St proposal here: Raleigh Neighbors United

NOTE from Livable Raleigh – Mayor Cowell says she is keeping track of her email on the issue of the proposed 30-story tower at West St. If you are opposed to it and want to see Raleigh honor the Comprehensive Plan as Mayor Cowell said we should, then please email the Mayor and ALL the City Council to express your concerns. This email address will send your message to all council members: citycouncilmembers@raleighnc.gov or you can find complete contact information for each councilor and their social media accounts here: City Council Contacts

More on this proposal:

Stop Z-12-25 West St Tower – Sign the Petition

A Flawed Foundation for Deliberations

4 Easy Steps to Analyze Z-12-25

Putting Your Thumb on the Scale is Wrong!

Z-12-25 Fails Raleigh’s Three-Layer ReZoning Test

Growth with Consequences Risk to Neighborhoods

A Threat to Every Raleigh Neighborhood

Height Without Transition Risks Raleigh’s Future

The Impact of Cherry-Picking Policy – Part One

The Impact of Cherry-Picking Policy – Part Two

The Impact of Cherry-Picking Policy – Part Three