Chris Crew was born in Morganton, NC and moved to Raleigh in 1964. He’s been a resident of Historic Oakwood since 1975.
Educated at NCSU and UNC-Chapel Hill and is retired from Public Safety. Preservationist, Cook, Trombonist, Brewer, Choirboy, Grandfather.
Chris spoke to City Council February 10, 2026:
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
Tonight, it is my pleasure to come before you with a word of thanks for your support of preservation efforts in Raleigh. Your recent denial of Zoning Change Request Z-25-25 on Bloodworth St in Historic Oakwood was a positive move for preservation in our first neighborhood and historic district.
A number of similar cases will come before you soon, and I would like to ask you to apply similar sound logic in your decision-making process. Z-31-25, Z-40-25, and the as yet un-numbered New Bern Avenue Assemblage seek spot upzoning of certain historic residential properties opening them up to higher-impact commercial uses.
Raleigh has a shortage of housing. As such, it doesn’t seem wise to approve spot zoning that opens historic residential properties to commercial use. In an environment of rising land prices, such spot upzoning might encourage the destruction of existing historic buildings for replacement with structures more suited to commercial use.
Alongside Raleigh’s housing shortage, we are experiencing a glut of office space (particularly in the downtown area) and this glut will certainly grow when the new City Hall opens in 2027. Converting the historic housing that contributes so much to Raleigh’s neighborhoods and character into office space will be detrimental to neighborhoods, preservation, and the marketability of existing downtown commercial space.
In order to free your time and brain space for other concerns that will come forward tonight and in the future, I strongly suggest placing a moratorium on new zoning change requests and address any new proposals during the update of the Comprehensive Plan.
The current plan provides ample opportunity to reach Raleigh’s housing and density goals without threatening the character that makes Raleigh such a desirable address.
Please be mindful of these pending cases and listen carefully to the public input you have received and will continue to get as these cases move forward in the process.
Thank you for caring.
If you appreciate the kind of reporting we bring to you
|
Please donate $10 or $20, Thanks for supporting |
 |