1 week Ago By Gilat Melamed
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Neighbors are pushing back against developers looking to build a 30-story development.
The proposed development would be at West and Peace streets near Glenwood South in Raleigh, which is also near a residential neighborhood. It would border the future Smoky Hollow Park.The area is currently zoned for 12 stories.
The initial request to rezone the site was denied in 2023.Several people who live in the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood showed up to a community meeting with the developer, Raleigh Development Company, Wednesday night to speak out against the proposal.The developers said not all of the building would go up to 30 stories, but that did not ease the concerns of Witt Kiernan, who lives in the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood.
"12 stories is incredible when I look at what is across the street at Smoky Hollow, and all the great bars and restaurants and public sites there," Kiernan said. "We would love to go and frequent that, but 30 stories just seems so incredibly large."Roy Attride, a member of the group Raleigh Neighbors United that opposes the plan, said the area is a transition to the downtown and should be treated as such.
"Definitely want Raleigh to grow, definitely want the additional density, and want the additional height," Attride said. "I think we've just got to take into account the neighborhoods that are already here, good urban planning policies that have things taper down."The proposed site is listed as a downtown transition area under the city's 2030 Comprehensive plan.
When asked about neighbors calling the area a "transition zone", Mayor Janet Cowell said, "It was voted on last year to be part of an expanded downtown business district. It is still on the edge of that, so I get the point."Larry Miller, who lives in the Glenwood South neighborhood, feels the site is a great fit being across from Publix and a planned taller building.
"It would be a nice presentation next to the proposed park there," Miller said. "It would just be a nice amenity, and it's an urban area."Miller said the apartments that would come with it are greatly needed too.
"The demand is here for housing in Raleigh, people keep moving here all the time," he said.A concern at the meeting was who would be able to afford those apartments.The developers are currently not putting affordable units in the building, but would commit $1.
2 million to the city's affordable housing fund.Cowell said she thinks the developers may revisit that."I do understand that the public sentiment seems to be more towards trying to include it in, but again, we cannot force that as a city," Cowell said.
"That is illegal under North Carolina law."The next step is another community meeting before anything would go to the planning board. The date for the second meeting has not been set yet.
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