HIGHLIGHTS
- Councilor Harrison and Mayor Pro Tem Melton absent and excused
- Updates and next steps presented on Downtown Southern Gateway Project and Red Hat Amphitheater Relocation
- Staff explained that a goal is to free up more land for Affordable Housing in Heritage Park
- City action to close block of South Street from McDowell to Dawson anticipated Quarter 3 of 2024
- Public comments focused on international issues, gentrification, preservation, LGBTQ solidarity resolution, CACs, Missing Middle, Election Reform, budget and taxes, city worker pay and benefits, alternative response program, and affordable housing.
A. 4:00 P.M. WORK SESSION CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
1. Downtown Southern Gateway Project Coordination and Red Hat Amphitheater Relocation Updates and Next Steps
- There are numerous public and private investments in planning or design in the southern gateway of Raleigh’s downtown. City staff has begun working across departments and with community partners to inventory and coordinate projects. These include, among others, Raleigh Housing Authority’s Heritage Park Investments; the Chavis to Dix Strollway; Downtown Mobility Plan; investments at Dix Park and the expansion of the Convention Center and the relocation of Red Hat Amphitheater.
- Representatives from Transportation; Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources; Planning and Development and the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex highlighted key projects, scope and anticipated next steps, including engagement opportunities. Hotel occupancy and prepared food tax revenues were allocated on August 15, 2023 from the Interlocal Agreement with Wake County to the Convention Center expansion and Red Hat Amphitheater relocation projects. The City Council authorized a contract with Ratio Architects on January 16, 2024 for design services. Given the aggressive timeline and anticipated next steps for the Red Hat Amphitheater relocation, staff provided a more detailed update on the project’s design and next steps.
- Staff explained that a goal is to free up more land for Affordable Housing in Heritage Park.
- Councilor Branch asked questions about neighborhood disruption and transit/transportation issues.
- City action to close block of South Street from McDowell to Dawson anticipated Quarter 3 of 2024.
- Councilor Forte asks about community engagement efforts.
- Councilor Patton asks for more clarity on the S-line. At-grade crossings on Hargett Street and Jones Street will be closed as part of NCDOT S-line project to connect Raleigh to Wake Forest.
- Cabarrus Street also may be closed at some point.
- Councilor Patton asks if Raleigh Housing Authority has any concerns, but Mayor won’t allow them to speak.
- Councilor Black asks about connections between Heritage Park and Western Boulevard and impact on housing affordability.
- Councilor Jones asks about impact on connectivity for Heritage Park residents and Raleigh Housing Authority’s viewpoint.
- Councilor Patton brings up previous urban renewal activities that decimated Fourth Ward and thanks Octavia Rainey for continuing to remind Council about that.
- Councilor Patton asks when decision points will be reached for Council to weigh in. Staff says next step would be petition for street closure in Q3.
- Mayor Baldwin suggests a walking meeting to help Council better understand proposals.
A. 7:00 P.M. EVENING AGENDA
B. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Rules of Decorum for Public Comment
2. Voice Mail Public Comment
- Public comments focused on international issues, gentrification, preservation, LGBTQ solidarity resolution, CACs, Missing Middle, Election Reform, budget and taxes, city worker pay and benefits, alternative response program, and affordable housing.
D. ADJOURNMENT
1. Adjourn Meeting