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 April 8, 2025:
Good evening Councilors. Yours is a difficult job. You can’t possibly know everything you need to without help. Some of that help can come to you on nights like this when we gather with our neighbors. I expect to learn something tonight that I didn’t know and probably should care about, as it concerns my neighbor. Please don’t consider limiting or removing this public input opportunity from the agenda.
For the last 233 years, Raleigh has been a growing and changing Capital City. We’ve seen mighty oaks and Universities rise from the ground and we’ve witnessed the growth of community and culture. As we grow, we need to give consideration to our built and natural environment. We need to preserve our unique buildings and trees and waterways.
A little more than 50 years ago, Raleigh recognized the importance of historic preservation by creating special zoning known as a Historic Overlay District. Now we have 8 of these districts. City documents suggest that “designation of historic neighborhoods or communities as local historic districts is a successful tool for maintaining a quality of life and providing economic security. Preservation has been proven to stabilize property values and stimulate new investment in older neighborhoods.” More recently, Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Districts have been established to preserve character, culture, quality of life and the environment in our established neighborhoods.
In the coming weeks and months, you will begin to hear from a variety of stakeholders concerning proposals that are counter to preservation. The threats to our city’s culture and character will come in the form of requests for zoning changes for private and individual gain.
At least one of you campaigned on a promise to curtail piecemeal changes to our 2030 Comprehensive Plan and our UDO. Broad stakeholder input led to these guidelines and prudent investors work within them. There will be ample opportunity for dialog in the coming months and years as we implement these plans and begin an update process. These protected neighborhoods are memorials to, and celebrations of, our culture and heritage.
I urge you to listen to the voices at meetings like these that will be sharing insights with you and calling for your active participation in the cultivation and preservation of this growing City of Oaks.
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