NEW PROJECTS (Raleigh)
Downtown Raleigh is not the only area to see growth and attract urban projects. Outside Raleigh's core, a lot of activity is about to transform this area into something more appealing to those who wish a more urban feel, without sacrificing the natural beauty that surrounds Raleigh.
- The Soleil Center (formerly Glen-Tree): By far the largest and most elegant project ever proposed for the city of Raleigh. At 46 stories and 480ft, The Soleil Center could become an iconic building for Raleigh, providing a much needed powerful image for Crabtree Valley and establishing the latter as a true focus center. The recently approved 600,000sf Soleil Center will include a 260-room Westin, Raleigh's first 4-star/4-diamond hotel, 40-54 residential condos priced between $800,000 to $3 million, and a 6-story parking deck incorporated into the structure. The projected cost will be around $100 million and the estimated time for breaking ground would be sometime around the end of 2006, although demolition of the existing 12-story structure is under way. It is worth mentioning that the contractor chosen to build this tower is Bovis Lend Lease, the same contractor currently building the 92-story Trump Towers in Chicago. Bovis Lend Lease has built the 30-story Wachovia Center, in Downtown Raleigh, the New North Hills, and the American Tobacco Project, in Durham.
Image is courtesy of The Soleil Group & Perkins + Will Architects
- Glenlake Four & Six: Crabtree Valley seems to be getting lots of interest as of late. The slow market of the late 1990's and early 2000's caused many projects to be stalled, and Glenlake Four & Six are two of them. The planned 6-story/158,000sf and 5-story/125,000sf buildings will complement Glenlake One and be supplemented by a 553-car parking deck. While these projects do not qualify as urban, Glenlake office park seems to be better intergrated than most such places, and also underlines the effort to make Crabtree Valley a true center of activity, both commercial and residential.
Glenlake Four - Image is courtesy of Highwoods Properties
Glenlake Six - Image is courtesy of Highwoods Properties
- 3700 Glenwood: A 5-story/110,000sf office building, located just South of the intersection of Glenwood Ave and I-440. Designed by Duda/Paine Architects and developed by Grubb Properties, 3700 Glenwood promises to be a marvelous design, and while not a pure urban development, it replaces an old, ultra-suburban office park. Across from this building a boutique hotel is in the plans.
Image is courtesy of Duda/Paine Architects
- Oberlin Court: A mixed-use development at the intersection of Oberlin Rd and Wade Ave, near Cameron Village. Oberlin Court will include luxurious residences, retail and offices. Currently, 261 luxurious 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments are under construction (Phase I). The remaining 110 apartment units and 27,000sf of retail/office space will be constructed later, as part of Phase II.
Image is courtesy of Crosland
Image is courtesy of Crosland
- The New North Hills & The Lassiter: Those familiar with this project have witnessed the most successful renovation story Raleigh has seen. Located in the true heart of Raleigh, this mixed-use development offers an upscale retail destination, as well as a place to live, work and play. Positioned to become Raleigh's midtown, the New North Hills is a living proof of what a great vision can achieve. Mr John Kane and his group have delivered a work of elegance, but it won't end here. During the next stage, a 7-story condominium building, called The Lassiter, a 4-star hotel and a couple of office buildings facing Six Forks Rd will complete Phase I. To the East of the existing project, a new development will add to the vision of this huge proposal, which may reach $1 billion in private investments. Renderings for the upcoming and future developments have yet to be released.
Image is courtesy of Kane Realty
Image is courtesy of Kane Realty & Venture Graphics
Images are courtesy of Kane Realty
- The Lassiter: This 7-story luxurious residential building will offer private gardens, fitness facilities and underground private parking for the residents. The range for the residential units in this 220,000sf mid-rise will be between 1241sf and 5352sf. Technically part of the New North Hills, this condo building deserves a separate mention due to its size and functionality. Construction is expected to begin some time in 2006.
Image is courtesy of JDavis Architects
- North Hills East: The success of New North Hills was the motivator behind John Kane's decision to expand his current development to the East. A more ambitious proposal, called North Hills East, made its appearance in the official web site of North Hills. The proposed urban center will feature 5 office buildings (950,000 square feet), 1400 condominiums, apartments and townhouses, 280,000 square feet of retail, 210 hotel rooms and a 300-unit retirement community. The 45-acre project will be located directly to the East from the New North Hills, between the current First Citizens Bank tower and I-440.
Image is courtesy of Kane Realty and Perkins Eastman Architects
Image is courtesy of Kane Realty and Perkins Eastman Architects
Image is courtesy of Kane Realty and Perkins Eastman Architects
- Stanhope Village: A New Urbanist, transit-oriented, mixed-use development on the west side of N.C. State University, on Hillsborough Street. According to developer, Val Valentine, prep work on the 7-acre site began five years ago. Underground fuel storage and machine repair work done there left the location in need of a $1 million cleansing. Stanhope Village will include 520 residential units, 45000sf of resturant, retail & office space, and a 900-spot parking deck in the areas around Friendly Drive and Concord Street, near North Carolina State University. The projected cost is $50-$80 million.
Image is courtesy of the City of Raleigh
- Brier Creeek Village Center: A bit hard to place a suburban area into this section, but this project seems promising. 300 acres of pure urbanity is nothing to ignore, even though its placement in the suburban Brier Creek community takes away some of the enthusiasm. Hopefully, we will see urban developments appearing in the suburban areas of Raleigh; this project may ignite more such visions in the future, for other areas of this city.
Image is courtesy of the American Asset Corporation
- Trilliums Place: A condo/townhome community on Hillsborough Street near NCSU, East of the intersection of Hillsborough and Gorman streets.
Image is courtesy of Winstead-Wilkinson Architects
- Five Points project: A residential/retail development, near the Five Points intersection, next to the Post Office. No updates for this project have been released recently.
Image is courtesy of Venture Graphics
- Pullen Place: Bordered to the north by Western Boulevard and the NCSU Main Campus and to the south by Centennial Boulevard and the NCSU Centennial Campus, Pullen Place provides a crossroads for university students and Raleigh residents alike.
Perched on a rolling 40-acre parcel, the project, along with the neighboring historic Pullen Park, also provides a new western gateway to the Raleigh CBD.
Combining convenience retail with specialty shops, restaurants, a cinema and nearly 600 residential units, Pullen Place offers a vital town center community.
The main street is anchored to the east by a 168-room hotel and to the west by the Catholic Student Center. The Catholic Diocese of Raleigh is also headquartered in the development.
Pedestrian friendly streets linking a village green, an entertainment plaza, residential amenities and transit stops are enhanced by architecture reminiscent of indigenous southern towns.
Image is courtesy of Carter & Burgess
- Arena Small Area Plan: One of the nicest visions for the Western edges of Raleigh, it will create a more urban, denser, mixed-use cluster of neighborhoods, in a district that has massive potential to become a great example of urbanity. No major updates have been released yet, but growth is slowly finding its way to this area.
Image is courtesy of the City of Raleigh
- Galleria: Proposed for the Northern tip of the former Kidds Hill Plaza, this mixed-use project promises to bring a great blend of residential options and retail destinations in Crabtree Valley. Currently under a redesigning phase, Galleria may get over 600 residential units, with about 400 of them delivered in the first phase.
Image is courtesy of Metro Magazine
- Lake Raleigh/Centennial Campus:
Image is courtesy of Craig Davis Properties
Image is courtesy of Craig Davis Properties
Image is courtesy of Craig Davis Properties
- Hillsborough Street renovation:
Image is courtesy of Russ Stephenson
