Best Sign of the Day

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/07/20/590187/16-protesters-arrested-at-school.html

And Back on the Development Channel ...

This notice from the City of Raleigh:

Please join us at the Raleigh Urban Design Center (133 Fayetteville Street, Suite 100) Lunch Forum on Wednesday July 21, 2010 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. for the following presentation.

Complete Streets
James Westmoreland, NC Deputy Secretary of Transportation

• What are Complete Streets?
• How does NCDOT plan to implement its Complete Streets policy?
• What role do Complete Streets play in developing Sustainable Communities?

Q& A Panel: Presenter, Eric Lamb, Manager, City of Raleigh Transportation Services, Raleigh Public Works Department, Elizabeth Alley, Planner II, Raleigh Urban Design Center

Contact trisha.hasch@raleighnc.gov, 919-807-8480, with questions or concerns.
All events are free and open to the public.

City of Raleigh | One Exchange Plaza | Raleigh, NC 27602 | US

Growing Pains

Cash Michaels has put together a PSA on the coming event for diversity in our schools.

HERE



And Steve Ford of the N&O explains how the clash of the cultures began.

HERE



Mayor Meeker certainly stepped in it when he recently tried to describe the problem facing older neighborhoods in Raleigh when it comes to the effect of this new school board's education policy. Quoting Steve Ford's article:

Don't be shocked, but Southern resentment of Yankees once was focused on the Northerners' determination to stamp out the Confederate rebellion and the practice of slavery, on which the ruling class of Southern whites believed their way of life depended.

Now we see a Southern mayor - albeit a District of Columbia native educated at Yale and Columbia - articulating that familiar cultural tension, but from the standpoint of someone convinced that the perspective of long-time Southerners (of whatever race) is more closely aligned with black residents' interests.

There is of course a disconnect in Wake between 1) the old-timers who went through desegregation of the schools, merger of the former city and county school systems and the crafting of diversity policies, and 2) the many newer arrivals, often settling in the rapidly growing suburbs, who put prime importance on stability in school assignments and on having their kids attend school with kids from the same kind of background.

No matter how it is pointed out, it is an important point. So hooray for the Mayor with goo on his shoes. Let's make sure all this sudden growth in Raleigh leaves no family behind.

Raleigh's Union Station

SHARING THIS TASTY TIDBIT:

Union Station

Raleigh's Multi-Modal Transit Center

A draft report for Raleigh's Union Station has been completed for public review. The objective of the design and development strategy is twofold: first, to prepare a conceptual multi-modal transit center design that coordinates the location of various existing and future transit service areas with convenient connections among service platforms; and second, to prepare a development strategy for properties within and in the vicinity of the transit center.

A public open house will be held on May 12 to present the report findings and answer questions. The Raleigh Urban Design Center (133 Fayetteville Street) will host two opportunities to attend:

12:00 to 1:30 p.m. - Informal information session with City staff available to answer questions

6:30 to 8:00 p.m. - Formal presentation followed by question & answer

After the open house, a 30 day comment period will be provided followed by the preparation of a final report. Comments must be submitted to Martin Stankus by June 11, 2010.

City Planning News

May 4, 2010

Planning Commission's - Committee of the Whole Meeting

Agenda HERE

May 4, 2010 Raleigh Municipal Building - Room 305 at 9:00 a.m.

of interest to neighborhoods:

TC-2-10 Rezoning Review Process. Amends the City’s rezoning process related to required neighborhood meetings, trip generation study, third party rezonings, time period for Planning Commission deliberation, prohibitions on certain zoning conditions, and specific time periods for submitting revised and amended zoning conditions

Springing forward

Fallonia Parker, she lay low.

Or to borrow from other famous philosophers -- this is a fine mess you've gotten us into this time, Stan.

Empty lots are still empty lots, where young families could be living, thriving, and paying taxes. Speculative mansions are still for sale at rock bottom prices, unless they have been rented out temporarily. Multimillion projects in process are stalled. No taxes there. I just don't see how this was good for the community or the city economics. Actually, Fallonia's neighbors are paying double the property taxes for their houses because of the (unsold) speculations up the street. But not the speculators?

The only positive developments in this neck of the woods have been owner driven. Several really nice private renovations up on Anderson. And on Cooleemee, a new neighbor is building an appropriately fitting home. Square footage is larger, but it tries to fit the era of the neighborhood, has its garage in the back, and does not take the entire lot.

This gives Fallonia hope that the excesses may give way to more reasonable revitalizations.

Fallonia does not want to be a negative force in this battle for sound economics and neighborhoods. Having posted examples of unsustainable practices, her focus can now shift to the search for positive examples of change for the better. Stay tuned.