I think people will start disappearing in some of the potholes before then

1/18/2007 6:54:46 PM

http://www.technicianonline.com/

theres a poll on the front page of the tech online

1/19/2007 8:26:14 PM

Stance of NC State University

--

Hillsborough Street Redevelopment
(Issues Management background; 1/22, 1700)

Situation: The Raleigh City Council is scheduled to again discuss a proposed redevelopment project for Hillsborough Street at the meeting on Jan. 23. A vote on the proposed engineering designs may take place, or it could be postponed for the second time.

Background: For the past two decades, redevelopment of the Hillsborough Street area has been discussed. Throughout the planning, NC State has been a strong proponent of improvements including cost-sharing for studies, funding of a prototype roundabout on Pullen Road, and significant investment of staff time and resources. NC State has offered to include the North Hall property as part of the redevelopment effort, helping to ensure a vital, upbeat area for businesses, residents and students. The university also has been sensitive to maintaining the character of the street and at times has chosen not to acquire or develop property along the street for office space or parking lots so that the street’s character and business vitality might be preserved.

City voters have approved $3 million in bonds to begin the street renovations, designated “Plan A.” The chancellor has written the mayor and city council to formalize his support of the project and to urge the council to approve Plan A. This project includes the stretch of Hillsborough from Gardner Street to Logan Court, spanning from D.H. Hill Library to Winston Hall. Plans include converting the street into a two-lane road separated by a median. The Horne Street and Logan Court intersections would be turned into roundabouts.

In addition to the mission of economic redevelopment of Hillsborough are the safety concerns. There is a high level of pedestrian traffic, mostly students, on Hillsborough in front of the university. There have been multiple accidents in which pedestrians have been struck by passing vehicles; also, about 90 people have been involved in crashes at the four intersections included in the project over the last three years. Slowing the traffic through this stretch would diminish the possibility of significant pedestrian injuries.

In addition to the potential for increased safety, Plan A could generate new revenue for the city. Estimates indicate that creating an additional 80 on-street parking spaces (as provided in Plan A) would generate $200,000 per year if priced at the same rate as existing off-street parking. (If priced at the same rate as existing metered parking, the additional revenue would be $100,000.).

Opposition to Plan A has centered on the issue of roundabouts with some people arguing that roundabouts are not needed as a part of the project, and would create traffic problems. However, the current use of traffic signals presents its own problems and actually impedes traffic flow at peak hours rather than maintain a continuous flow at reasonable speeds.

Key audiences:

General public: Voters have weighed in and passed a referendum providing $3 million for redevelopment of Hillsborough. They have a vital interest in seeing this project succeed.

Students and Alumni: Hillsborough is the university’s “front door.” It is not only part of the social fabric, but a part of NC State’s traditions. Students and alumni are looking to city and university leaders to make this project a success.

Messages:
• NC State is in full support of Plan A to begin revitalization of Hillsborough Street. The project will ensure the street is safer, more welcoming, more economically vibrant and a destination for visitors. Additionally, the plan could generate as much as $200,000 in additional parking revenue for the city.
o The university has been a conscientious partner throughout the decade-long redevelopment discussion and debate.
o The university’s commitment to the project includes redevelopment of the North Hall property (and perhaps other north side properties).

• To base decisions on the future of this street primarily on its function as a traffic corridor disregards its significant and unique heritage and importance to the City of Raleigh.
• Plan A as proposed will initiate a change in the street so that it will not only look different but truly will BE different - - a safer street for our students and visitors, in a vibrant, historic neighborhood with a strong economic base.

Statement:

If the vote is positive:
We thank the council members for their vote on Plan A and are grateful to the voters who passed a referendum providing $3 million for the project. The work that will begin soon is certainly a partnership between the city, the taxpayers and the university. We’re anxious to get started.

If the vote is negative:
“The university is disappointed in this decision. NC State has encouraged the City Council to support the roundabout concept, which we believe is critical to the redevelopment of Hillsborough Street as more than just a traffic thoroughfare. The business community and residents living in surrounding neighborhoods also supported the plan. NC State has been an active participant in the Hillsborough Street Partnership, including offering property the university owns in support of the redevelopment. The university will need to reassess the situation given today’s council action and determine what other options might be available.”

If the vote is postponed:
These discussions have been ongoing for more than a decade. The voters have spoken and provided $3 million in support of revitalization. We’re hopeful that this process will continue toward the passage of Plan A and are certainly willing to wait a little longer.

[Edited on January 23, 2007 at 1:04 PM. Reason : +]

1/23/2007 1:03:37 PM

Wow, that's pretty interesting right there. So NC State has been helping to fund the studies and purposfully leaving room in their development plans for the roundabouts. And then the dumbass city council can't get their act together?

Jesus H Christ in a chicken basket, WTF is wrong with them?

Quote :

"Dear Council Members, I found out today just how invested NC State University was in the proposed plans for the Hillsborough Street Revitalization. Were you aware that they were willing to give up their own property for this plan? And that's property on the main campus, where space is now at a premium. Honestly, what more will it take for you to realize that everyone wants to see this happen except you? Where are your supporters? What facts did you use to form your opinion on this decision? The public needs to know. I look forward to your reply, as I have not recieved a reply from my previous e-mail. Regards, E.S. Raleigh resident since 1983"

[Edited on January 23, 2007 at 2:38 PM. Reason : i wrote another letter...]

1/23/2007 2:32:01 PM

NC State is going to have to do this the old fashioned way and pressure the city council into doing this. The time has come for somebody with serious clout to light a fire under the council and get their asses in gear.

I'm sick of the "City of Raleigh" puppet show that they call a municipality. We could atleast get it through their thickheaded Neandertal skulls that this would be more beneficial to the community that some faggot ass downtown art display

1/23/2007 2:46:01 PM

The article in the technician today about redesigning Talley got me thinking. How would you feel relocating the bookstore to be on Hboro? Not only would it make it more accessible to the general public, but it would give more space over by Talley to be used for a new student center space.

1/23/2007 4:10:02 PM

That would be a great idea and would add to the revitalization. It would bring students to Hillsbrough street to buy the necessary books there. So long as off street parking is added, it wouldn't be more of a hassle.

1/23/2007 4:13:11 PM

hell it would be easier to get to the bookstore during back to school rush

1/23/2007 5:24:02 PM

when do we get to know the results of the council meeting ???

1/23/2007 8:14:53 PM

Quote :

"How would you feel relocating the bookstore to be on Hboro?"

honestly i dont really like that...i like the bookstore where it is

i like that whole area around there with the fountain and tacobell and all that other shit

i'd rather it be there than on hillsborough

1/23/2007 8:20:54 PM

^^they delayed the vote again asking the city planner to create a new plan without roundabouts

let the emails fly

1/23/2007 8:23:32 PM

student center is a pretty bad description of that building. there's really not much for students to do there (outside of eating and the very limited entertainment choices at the wolve's den). it's more of a cultural arts center than a student center. it'd be nice if we had a real place where students could go and hang out . . .

1/23/2007 8:25:58 PM

Quote :

"How would you feel relocating the bookstore to be on Hboro?"

I don't think they would do that. The bookstore would become less official. Part of me says that they wouldn't move because students would be more likely to go to one of the other bookstores if they had to go to Hillsborough Street anyway.

1/24/2007 7:18:45 AM

^^It's called the student center because you pay for it with your student fees.

[Edited on January 24, 2007 at 10:44 AM. Reason : ]

1/24/2007 10:34:36 AM

http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=458283

Have a look at this thread on the effectiveness of protests/rallies/campaigns for causes.
In that thread I'm trying to see, hypothetically, what would be required to get public attention and get the ball rolling on this issue? If you have any ideas, even if its a rally that you wouldn't go to yourself, feel free to share any ideas you have.

[Edited on January 28, 2007 at 4:58 PM. Reason : .]

1/28/2007 4:57:49 PM

http://tinyurl.com/35hu7z
Check out this technician article from today!

Quote :

"If the roundabout plan is passed through the council and approved by the DOT, then we will have one roundabout at Logan Court and one at Horne Street. It will also condense traffic into two lanes, widen the sidewalks and install a 7-foot wide median. I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy risking my life to cross Hillsborough to get a bagel and a cup of coffee at Bruegger's after I've already had to wait a couple minutes to cross in the first place. Campus needs to be pedestrian friendly - not traffic friendly. With all the congestion now, I can barely walk across the street, and I gave up trying to ride a Wolfline bus and actually make it to class a time long ago. The city has already paid engineers about $260,000 to draw up the plans, and it would be a waste to let it all go down the drain. The roundabouts will slow traffic and bring some much-needed life back into Hillsborough. Wouldn't it be nice if weekend plans could actually include Hillsborough Street for a change? The crazy part is they are sitting on more than $3 million in bond money from 2005 that is allocated for this project while we sit around and watch Hillsborough Street get worse. If one of the council members would sway his or her vote in favor of the plan, you and I could start looking forward to relaxing evenings on Hillsborough. "

Quote :

"Raleigh has been too timid with Hillsborough Street. The Fayetteville Street mall and Glenwood South renovations have brought some major improvements to Raleigh, and now they need to focus on making Hillsborough just as inviting. It's time for a change from drive-thru traffic to drive-to traffic. "

Quote :

"It's nice to see some students standing out in the Brickyard and passing out fliers and collecting signatures on petitions. Others are going to the city council meetings to advocate for the plan. I've cast my e-mail in with the many that council member Philip Isley has received from students in support of the plan. If more students would advocate for change, we could create a huge impact on the decision-making process. "

Here are a few hillsborough street related facebook groups.
http://ncst.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2213632833
http://ncst.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2200599023

[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 8:31 AM. Reason : .]

2/1/2007 8:07:36 AM

I don't get this - ok so you put roundabouts on Hboro street. Big whoop, so we can walk across it more...well what's on the other side of the street except for classes?

It doesnt change the fact that

a.) there isn't shit on hillsborough street worth going to outside of maybe Mitch's, Porters, and El Rodeo....the rest is just shitty college between classes food and bookstores, shitty coffee shop or two.

b.) the main problem with the street is that it's one sided...freaking State has nuked the ability to make it a TRUE street by lining shops on both sides (a la franklin street, or any big college street).

How does that make it a 'go to' destination. Just sounds stupid to me

2/1/2007 8:35:33 AM

UNC's campus goes up to the street in some places, but is receded in others.

Still I can think of a few places right away like capitol comics & sub conscious and like a bar and tattoo/piercing place around.

I don't think we should write off things getting better because they aren't great already... change has to start somewhere.

2/1/2007 8:54:36 AM

The changes will facilitate new businesses opening up. The reason there aren't more decent places there is because they can't survive -- the changes will make it a more viable business environment. The places you mentioned are reasons to show hope that businesses will be able to do well if they are just given a chance. Right now, no one wants to go down there because it's dirty, difficult to drive, and there's nowhere to park.

Seriously, I have a hard time understanding why anyone would be against this...I figured it was obvious

2/1/2007 8:54:48 AM

Big whoop?

a) installing roundabouts will improve asthetics and generate interests in moving businesses onto Hillsborough, the whole point of installing them in the first place!

b) i dont know about you, but i dont care to look like Carolina, plenty of other universities have main streets with businesses on one side (Auburn, UGA, UVA).

2/1/2007 9:26:10 AM

I read in the Independent that Kekas is reconsidering...she wants to review the plan again and has met with local leaders to get their opinion on the project.

What I think really they happened is she said "Oh shit, people really cared about this and I fucked up by voting against it!" but she can't just reverse her position or she'll look like an idiot. So she's going to "talk to leaders" for a few weeks, then come out and say she's now convinced that the plan will work.

Who agrees with my hypothesis?

[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 9:39 AM. Reason : ]

2/1/2007 9:39:39 AM

i don't believe anything's ever gonna happen

2/1/2007 9:41:50 AM

don't rain on my parade

2/1/2007 9:42:50 AM

haha

i'm with ya though

2/1/2007 9:44:51 AM

I think giving her a few more examples of things to point that the students & alumni in the area want this could help her.

Continuing the petition, e-mailing, and flyering stuff going should help.

I think it would be really cool to see students turn out for some kind of rally for this.

Like a group meets up in the brickyard during a busy traffic time of the day, collects whoever they can from students going between classes or hanging at the atrium and from the library. Once a crowd is gathered, pass out a few signs saying stuff like “Hillsborough Street Revitalization NOW” & “The Students Street!” Then head to a crosswalk on the other side of the library, and cross the road single file, and slowly, at the start of it saying its okay to walk, but making sure to outlast it and slow down traffic. Then walk down to the next cross walk, and go back, then the next and cross again. To zig zag all the way down to the bell tower.

It wouldn’t require a whole lot of effort and even though jay walking is about as peaceful of a protest as you can get, it would still make the technician and a few local news stations, and give her something real to point to when saying the people want this, we need to make it work.

All that would be required is someone who lives in Raleigh to spearhead the project, a few people to make signs, and someone to pick a good date... like the day before a talk or vote on the project, & a good time of day, like around lunch time when there are alot of students in the brickyard and alot of traffic passing through hillsborough street.

2/1/2007 9:54:04 AM

I understand the improvement to aesthetics - but I don't really see why that compels businesses to come risk it all in a shitty commercial area with high rent, bums, and a bullying university with their alcohol licensing.

2/1/2007 10:06:18 AM

crazy, but i like it ^^

2/1/2007 1:48:58 PM

lets make protest signs out of pcb's and hang them around the city

2/1/2007 1:57:29 PM

don't forget to illuminate them with battery powered LEDs

2/1/2007 2:10:47 PM

2/1/2007 2:19:30 PM

Quote :

"I understand the improvement to aesthetics - but I don't really see why that compels businesses to come risk it all in a shitty commercial area with high rent, bums, and a bullying university with their alcohol licensing. "

hmm..i dunno, maybe what attracts them is the THOUSANDS of prospective customers within a mile of the location.

the problem isn't really aesthetics, its simply that people don't currently want to deal with the utter bullshit of going to hillsborough st. trying to park somewhere along the road (or behind the buildings), being asked for money at every street corner and wondering if the crazy ass tow services are going to take their car while they eat doesn't make for an enjoyable experience.

2/1/2007 4:09:01 PM

hillsborough street sucks

i say bulldoze everything across the street from the school and start over

[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 4:16 PM. Reason : ]

2/1/2007 4:16:37 PM

Quote :

" understand the improvement to aesthetics - but I don't really see why that compels businesses to come risk it all in a shitty commercial area with high rent, bums, and a bullying university with their alcohol licensing."

This will not be a shitty commercial area at that point. Rent will be high, but will be worth it. Bums would not be there if you didnt give them money (they also will probably be reported more since the whole street will be cleaner)

2/1/2007 4:32:18 PM

the bums arent bad, theres only a few. if you want to see some bum action take a ride to franklin street on a weekend night.

2/1/2007 4:46:02 PM

hey instead of having a protest

let's just go grab pick-axes and start workin

NO MORE TALKIE TALKIE

2/1/2007 6:22:22 PM

Quote :

"but I don't really see why that compels businesses to come risk it all in a shitty commercial area with high rent, bums, and a bullying university with their alcohol licensing."

You forgot the broke-ass college students who make up the bulk of potential customers.

2/1/2007 6:52:36 PM

porter's stays pretty packed

and there's no reason why hillsborough street can't be as successful as glenwood south if allowed

broke-ass college students flock down there in droves

[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 6:55 PM. Reason : +]

2/1/2007 6:54:07 PM

"NO MORE TALKIE TALKIE"

Getting ncsu students out for a rally like that would be a big step towards curving apathy. Change has to start somewhere, even if it is with talkie talkie.

2/1/2007 7:04:11 PM

recent local news story on it
http://html.wral.com/news/local/story/1176235/



If I was still in Raleigh, I might spear head such a rally myself. Get a fraternity or two and some other groups to help spread the word. Get some friends involved. Make a face book group, and post on tww, campusblender, on other simliar facebook groups, and on myspace, to channel as many people into one group as possible to use it to organize things. And local news always like saying college internet sites like thefacebook. Now that I have a full time job, I could drop a little cash on signs. Alas, from Carrboro I can't lead a project like this.

Gather people in the brickyard at lunch time from the atrium/library on a date with some meaning, like the date of a vote or talk or something. Zip zag using cross walks, even after crosswalk light is out to hold up traffic. Get coverage in the technician and other local news, and give the people who are for this project one more thing to point to as a reason why it should be done.

Being involved with an event like this seems like fun. If anyone was interested, I'd help with the online stuff and technician contacts to get stories about it, and see if we could find anyone on 88.1 to announce it.

[Edited on February 1, 2007 at 7:25 PM. Reason : .]

2/1/2007 7:11:51 PM

i'm tellin ya man

GIVE THE RALLY SOME SHOVELS AND HAVE AT IT

2/1/2007 7:20:58 PM

bulletin ran an article about it today

but nc state hasn't updated http://www.ncsu.edu/bulletinonline

2/2/2007 1:10:01 PM

yeah, it's ridiculous that no quality commercial ventures are on hillsborough. i remember my arc 140 professor saying that real estate inside the (440) beltline was the most prized in raliegh, and yet hillsborough st is a black hole.

when i lived in becton hall, i used to walk to the Harris Teeter at Cameron Village to shop, and believe me, there's plenty of money around the university area to support hillsborough st businesses.

[Edited on February 2, 2007 at 2:57 PM. Reason : 440, not 400]

2/2/2007 2:55:51 PM

It looks like at least with a sports victory hillsborough street can be fun… it would be great if some of this energy could be channeled towards making hillsborough street fun all the time.

2/4/2007 11:42:45 AM

i really don't understand why things like the hillsborough hike can't happen more often

does anyone even do any first friday stuff on hillsborough?

i don't see why hillsborough st textbooks couldn't open up a gallery

i mean

even tiny ass firefly on glenwood south has art shows...aha

2/4/2007 12:18:04 PM

^ i dont see why hike night isn't every friday.

isnt that the point of friday.

Im going to open up an art gallery at my house and have awesome art shows with some sick art band and abunch of cool art people.

pm for address and time

2/4/2007 12:28:01 PM

what the hell are you hippies talking about

2/4/2007 12:53:15 PM

booze, wommenz & design

2/4/2007 3:36:31 PM

http://tinyurl.com/yovafn

Another tech article on the different plans today, including some quotes from Williams who ran for Student Pres with one of his issues being this hillsborough stuff. It seems like there are a few more meetings that need to happen before things move on, but atleast meetings are on going, which is better than the issue falling silent.

2/7/2007 8:12:56 PM

From Technician today:

These images are from Raleigh City Planner Mitchell Silver.



Option B:
Plans for roundabouts on the Pullen and Oberlin intersections on the east side of NC State's campus.



Proposed Hillsborough Street market areas:

Destination shopping:
• Dining, specialty shopping, arts & culture
• Leverage Cameron Village, Pullen Arts Center and Raleigh Little Theatre

Convenience shopping:
• Drug store, hardware store

Mixed-use village
• Student oriented
• Entertainment, night life, trendy retail, café cuture

[Edited on February 8, 2007 at 4:11 PM. Reason : "]

2/8/2007 4:10:17 PM

that looks kick ass

2/8/2007 5:48:00 PM