A geologic walking tour of DTR

A neat thing to do, one day when you have the time, is to take the "Geology of Downtown Raleigh Architecture" walking tour. (Brochures are available at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.) This tour, which takes about an hour or so, will help provide "an appreciation of many different types of rocks and their origins. Take along a magnifier to examine some of the fine grains and crystals in the stones."

A number of the DTR buildings were built of either locally-found rocks or stone found in North Carolina. Part of the science museum itself was built from 300-million-year-old granite originally from Georgia but a type that is found throughout North Carolina.

The State Capitol Building was built from stones from a local quarry. "Raleigh Gneiss" is about 544 million years old. "Look for the characteristic streaks, bands, and lines," says the brochure. "Also notice the veins of igneous rock containing pink feldspar and gray quartz cutting across the gneiss."

On the capitol grounds is the state Veteran's Memorial and Confederate Memorial, both made of white granite known, appropriately, as Mount Airy Granite, about 335 million years old. It is also the N.C. state rock, "mined from the largest open-face granite quarry in the world, found in Mount Airy.

"This granite is a fixture in downtown architecture."

The Old Briggs Hardware Building, the site of the Raleigh City Museum, is red brick, "one of North Carolina's best-known exports" and made from the red soils of the Piedmont.

Another "locally-made" building is the First Citizens Building, at the corner of Fayetteville and Martin Streets. "This building exterior is made of a deep-red igneous rock known as syenite, mined near Concord. ... About 400 million years ago, a magman chamber full of molten rock sat below the surface of what is now the Charlotte-Concord-Kannapolis region. The chamber was more than 3 miles deep and 6 miles wide. The syenite, which is composed almost entirely of alkali feldspar, is the last bit of crystallized liquid from this chamber."

One more geolic note: We've noted before the uniqueness of Kobellite, which is a mineral that can only be found in two places in America: Wake County and Denver, Colorado. As far as I can tell, no buildings use this local product.

(Confederate Memorial photo from hanneorla, courtesy of Flickr)

Reminder: Be sure to take the survey

We've already had tremendous interaction with our latest survey on sports interest in the Triangle. Thank you to everyone who has participated. If you have not done so, go here.

This survey is aimed at gauging where Triangle citizens' sporting affinities lie. We want to know if you're "from 'round these here parts." And if you are, are you more of a college hoops fan? Maybe you prefer hockey, or soccer, or even NASCAR?

This admittedly unscientific survey is pure fun, but our thoughts may give us some insight on just how strongly some teams in the state and the area are supported.

Oh, and we WILL publish the results in the near future. Stay tuned!

N.C. State Design - Masters of Modern

This article first ran on NCSU.edu back in 2007, but is a look back at the College of Design's contributions to mid-century modern architecture -- appropriate today as the college will mark its 60th anniversary April 3-5.

It's a lazy, humid summer afternoon and a sudden shower breaks the monotony, tapping on the low, flat roof of Bern Walser's Raleigh home and stranding his cat under a patio table. Walser lounges in a comfortable chair by a large window in the living room, surveying the timeless paradox of suburbia: a lush, expansive garden that threatens to overrun the backyard and a cluster of patio deck chairs that offers an attractive alternative to hard work.

"One of my favorite things about this house is that the outside just comes right in," he says. "You sit here in this room and feel that you're out in the garden."

The single-story house is modest – at 1,900 square feet – and lacks many of the amenities commonly found in new homes, like garden tubs and walk-in closets. But it feels spacious. The living room is long and open, with wide, rectangular windows framing a stone fireplace and rich wood-paneled walls stretching up to a slanted, beamed ceiling.

"I love the simplicity of it, and the clean lines," Walser says. "They don't build them like they used to."

The house has sentimental value for Walser. His father, the late Frank Walser, built the home in 1951 during a long and productive career as a local builder.

The house – called the Ritcher House after the first family that occupied it – has historic value as well. It's a treasure of mid-century architecture and the product of a burst of creative energy that made Raleigh, for a time, one of the centers of modern design.

In his office in Brooks Hall at North Carolina State University, professor Roger Clark is very much at the crossroads of this history, following in the footsteps – literally and figuratively – of some of the most acclaimed architects of the 20th century, while challenging a new generation of students to chart their own direction into the 21st.

He recently completed a retrospective of the university's contributions to modern design, which began almost as soon as the School of Design (now the College of Design) opened its doors in 1948 under the leadership of Dean Henry Kamphoefner, who was recruited away from the University of Oklahoma for a salary of $750 a month.

"In many respects it is an unbelievable story – for a state university in a sleepy little city in the South to have created a school that became internationally known in just a few years is astounding," Clark says. "It was just absolutely amazing. You can go through a list of the most important people in the history of modern architecture and there are not many who didn't come here, either as visiting lecturers or as professors."

Kamphoefner recruited young, talented Modernists, luring them to North Carolina with the promise that they could practice their craft as well as teach it. The result was a faculty of working professionals who changed the landscape of Raleigh with bold, experimental designs built on what was then the outskirts of town. A handful remain standing today, including the Ritcher House, designed by George Matsumoto; the Paschal House, designed by James Fitzgibbon; the Kamphoefner House, designed by Kamphoefner and Matsumoto; the Small House, designed by G. Milton Small; the Fields-Fadum House, designed by Fitzgibbon; and the Matsumoto House, designed by Matsumoto. ...

(Photos by David Hunt)

'1960' to be performed at Burning Coal

Picked up a postcard at the gym today, advertising the production of "1960," which will be performed by Burning Coal at the Meymandi Theatre at the "old" Murphrey School. The play will be performed April 9, 10, 11, 12; 16, 17, 18, 19; and 23, 24, 25 and 26.

"In the summer of 1960, an event happened in the old Murphrey School Auditorium that would forever change the city of Raleigh," says the ad. Burning Coal will "close its first full season in Meymandi Theatre" with a "play commemorating that historic event."

The play is based on interviews with people from the community "who lived through the tumultuous Civil Rights era." There will also be lectures on the days of several of the shows.

Go to burningcoal.org for reservations and more information.
(Image from Burning Coal's website)

More Hollywood in Raleighwood

The Raleigh Downtowner/Chronicle posted this a few days ago ...

Justin Long, Hollywood actor, will join the cast of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet for five benefit performances as Romeo, at Theatre In The Park. Justin will be joined on stage by Hollywood actress and Raleigh, NC native, Evan Rachel Wood as his Juliet.

Justin’s many film and television credits include He’s Just Not That Into You, Accepted, Galaxy Quest, Live Free or Die Hard, The Break-Up, Jeepers Creepers and Ed, to name a few.

Evan Rachel Wood, returns to Theatre In The Park's stage where she made her acting debut when she was only months old. She, her father and brother acted together in her father's musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol. The special production run of Romeo and Juliet scheduled for May 15, 16 and 17 in Raleigh, North Carolina, will unite the theatrical Wood family once more, with Evan as Juliet, her father, Ira David Wood III as Capulet, and her brother, Ira David Wood IV as Mercuitio and director of this star studded fundraising production of Shakespeare’s most famous love story. Romeo and Juliet will be a special engagement for Ms. Wood.

Click here for the rest of the release.
(Image from about.com)

A Capital Conversation ... with John Morris of Goodnight, Raleigh!

We're honored with this edition of 'A Capital Conversation' [see past editions here and here] to converse with John Morris, founder of one of our favorite local blogs, Goodnight, Raleigh! John has spent the past couple of years documenting Raleigh's growth and changes through photography -- with a nocturnal bent. Check out the work of him and his colleagues at Goodnight, Raleigh! We guarantee you'll learn something about the City of Oaks that you didn't know before.

Raleigh Philosophical Society: Where did the idea for Goodnight, Raleigh! come from?

John Morris: I've been taking pictures of downtown pretty much as soon as I arrived here from Asheville in early 2004. But with a full-time job (bartending) and school, the only chances I got to make it out were at night. It was a good way to get to know the new city I moved to. I entertained the idea of a photo blog for a long time, but often couldn't find the motivation to get new material.

One night when walking down Glenwood Avenue and noticing all the activity (and growth of new clubs and restaurants), I thought it would be neat to document that growth. I've always loved 'then and now' photography, and realized if I wanted to have a 'now,' I needed a 'then' (meaning I had to start ASAP). I started going out and taking pictures every weekend during that summer (2007) and started the blog shortly thereafter.

RPS: How has it evolved?

JM: At first, I simply uploaded a picture and added little to no commentary. Later on I noticed that when I asked questions and provided a bit more info on the subject, more people were inclined to leave comments. Creating a dialogue with your readers is one of the
most important things as a blogger, so I started to spend more time researching the subjects of the photos.

The biggest evolution, however, was bringing on more photographers as contributors. It's always better to let a friend talk about a subject they know more about than you do (arts/music/etc). In particular, Raleigh Boy's photos and information on the history of Raleigh have added a unique perspective to the site.

RPS: You say that when you first got to Raleigh (from Asheville) that the scene at night was not very "thriving." Has that changed at all? If so, in what ways?

JM: It has changed a great deal. Back then, part of it was a lacking night life, and part of it was not knowing where to look. I didn't have a job and I didn't know a soul when I moved here, so I randomly drove around looking for places where people hung out - and at that time you had to really dig to find it. It's difficult to summarize that growth in a short space, but I think it's safe to say the biggest force of change commercially is Empire Properties/Empire Eats bringing bars and restaurants to the downtown area. The biggest change from an infrastructure standpoint is the easily the reopening of Fayetteville Street to auto traffic.

RPS: What would you like to see happen to or in Raleigh?

JM: It's painfully obvious, but more downtown (walkable) retail. If there are 15,000 residents within a one-mile radius of downtown, why is Cameron Village the only nearby option to buy new shoes, groceries, or rent movies? (It's worth noting that the Cameron Village library is one of the best I've ever been to.)

[Also] More regular culture activities: chess boards on Fayetteville Street, drum circles in Moore Square, public graffiti walls throughout the city.

[And] More effort on historic preservation and incorporating existing structures into new ones. We have too many surface parking lots to be knocking buildings down.

RPS: What response do you get from people when you ask to interview them or take their photos?

JM: When it comes to random people on the street, in most instances they approach me. Walking around with a camera and tripod usually arouses curiosity in people. ("What are you taking pictures of?")

Most everyone I approach is receptive, but there are a very small number of clubs and restaurants that are paranoid and won't allow me in with a camera.

RPS: What's the thing you like best about searching nighttime Raleigh for photos?

JM: Getting to know the the geography, history and hidden gems of the city. When wandering aimlessly on a road to nowhere, you tend to notice the things most don't.

RPS: What's your favorite nighttime Raleigh subject?

JM: Either architecture or interviewing small business owners. Architecture has always been an interest of mine, and small businesses are the lifeblood of an urban area.

RPS: Any harrowing experiences from taking nighttime shots?

JM: None that I can recall. I'm more frightened riding my bike on Hillsborough Street around campus than wandering around East Raleigh at night with camera in hand.

RPS: For folks who are amateur photographers, what kind of equipment do you use? And can you give us tips for quality nighttime photos -- especially those of us who tend to use basic digital pocket cameras?

JM: Until somewhat recently I used a Canon 10D (now six years old), which was my first digital camera, when making the switch from film. Last August I upgraded to a 40D, but for the past month or so I've been back to using my 10D while the 40D is being serviced.

When it comes to equipment, my biggest piece of advice is to invest in a quality lens rather than an expensive camera. Using a good lens will make more of a difference than the camera body will.

Regarding technique (with any camera), my best recommendation is to always use a tripod. Many seasoned photographers can look at a photograph and tell if a tripod was used. Using a tripod encourages you to frame it correctly (using the rule of thirds, making sure the horizon is level, etc.). It is more of a hassle, but the results will be evident in your photos.

I created a web site (darkphotography.org) with the intent of sharing the knowledge I learned while taking photos at night, but sadly haven't updated it in a long time.

RPS: What would you say to people who either don't get to downtown Raleigh at night much (or are scared to)?

JM: There's absolutely no reason to be afraid of being downtown at night. Between the various mounted police officers (bike, equestrian, Segway, etc.) and Raleigh Ambassadors, the area is far safer than more remote areas. I've been wandering around at night at least 3-4 times a week for the past couple of years, and have never felt scared for my safety. This includes explorations into the less glamorous areas, including the eastern part of the city.

If there's one reason to make it downtown at night, it's First Friday. If you've never done the art walk, I highly recommend it. You get to see some beautiful and unique creations by local artists, not to mention the free wine and snacks at all the galleries.

RPS: What do you do during the day?

JM: During the day I work as a Localization Engineer for Lulu.com. I make sure the web site/application works well for people who use it in other languages. I also do Quality Assurance, which means I write and execute tests to ensure the software is free of bugs.

RPS: Do you ever take daytime Raleigh photos?

JM: Occasionally I will if a night photo isn't feasible or a business isn't open after nightfall. I don't do any other photography except what is for GNR. I have a lot of fun with it, though, and thoroughly enjoy being an amateur (no weddings, portraiture, etc.).

RPS: If you could do a Goodnight, [fill in the blank City Name]!, where would it be?

JM: Well - I actually have two other sites I started with this idea: goodnightasheville.com and goodnightlondon.org. Unfortunately, as I devoted more time to adding commentary to the photos for GNR, I had less time for these sites and haven't updated them in months. I wish I could, but there just aren't enough hours in a day to keep up with three blogs.

If I could do a new city, it would probably be NYC. I've never been, but the history and sheer size would ensure plenty of fascinating subjects!


***
More thoughts from John Morris:

Running a blog isn't hard work, but it is incredibly time consuming and very demanding. When I first started I wasn't sure how long I would keep up with it. Now that it's a few months shy of two years, I certainly hope it will continue for some time. Even though what we cover isn't "news," there's never a shortage of stories to tell -- only a shortage of time to get it published.

I think it's great that so many new blogs have popped up recently, to join the longer established ones (such as the Raleigh Philosophical Society) in telling the stories of the city we live in. I hope to see more.
(All photos courtesy of Goodnight, Raleigh!)

Take our new sports-related survey

We have just released a new survey, our third, which you can take here.

This survey is a sports-related one, aimed at gauging where Triangle citizens' sporting affinities lie. We want to know if you're "from 'round these here parts." And if you are, are you more of a college hoops fan? Are you a Wolfpack fan? Are you a fan of the Tar Heels? If you're a "furriner," do you prefer hockey? Maybe you prefer Virginia Tech, or Ohio State? We want to know.

This admittedly unscientific survey is pure fun, but our thoughts may give us some insight on just how strongly some teams in the state and the area are supported.

Have a great weekend -- especially now that Spring is here!

Update: FYI, we WILL publish the results in the near future. Stay tuned!


(Pittsburgh Penguins logo from DetroitHockey.net; Canes logo from IceBullsHockey.com)

How great would something like this look in DTR?

Came across a Charlotte Observer article this a.m. that talks about an "iconic, cantilevered classroom" for UNC Charlotte that will "launch development of an urban village in First Ward." That, in and of itself is pretty cool. But the design is what really jumped out at me.

Imagine what a building like this would say about Downtown Raleigh?

UNCC Chancellor Philip Dubois told the Observer that the university has built many academic buildings in the past few years, but this one, aiming for 143,000 square feet, might be its most important.

“We are literally bringing our considerable intellectual resources to the heart of the Charlotte community,” he said.

The cantilevered design was done by Philadelphia-based KieranTimberlake in partnership with Charlotte's Gantt Huberman Architects.

"Harvey Gantt of Gantt Huberman said the Center City Building, close by ImaginOn and linked to the proposed First Ward Park and private development, 'promises to offer to citizens a new and memorable place in the center city.'

"University officials believe the building, which will have 25 classrooms, an 18,000-square-foot plaza, 7,000 square feet of ground floor reception and event space and a 300-seat auditorium, will become part of the cultural fabric of the central business district. ...

"Charlotte's Rodgers Builders will be construction manager of the project, which will seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification."

I know not everyone tends to agree on DTR's architecture now, but I think we could all agree that this type of design would make people stand up and notice Raleigh -- even more than they already do.

(Rendering from Kieran Timberlake/Gantt Huberman via the Observer)

Update on Hillsborough Street improvements

No need for me to try to reinvent the wheel on this, especially when The Indy's Bob Geary has an excellent look at Hillsborough Street's (finally!) approved improvements. Raleigh's council approved (by a 6-2 vote) a $9.9 million contract for Phase I between Oberlin Road and Gardner Street. As Geary writes, "It only took … how many years?"

The big idea has always been to preserve the street’s historic place and purpose while modernizing its function so businesses there can thrive and some new housing can be introduced — no easy task. Hillsborough Street connects just about everything that’s important in Raleigh’s history, from the State Capitol to N.C. State to the Fairgrounds (and the state’s agricultural heritage) to Raleigh’s first neighborhoods, gardens, businesses, and multi-purpose arena with skyboxes. But any more, it’s kind of a mess, when it should be — drum roll, please — a lovely street where people can stroll, stop, pop a brew and take it all in about the place they live. 'A great street,' in short.

Phase I of the project includes the first roundabout on Hillsborough Street itself, which will be in front of the NCSU Bell Tower at the Pullen Road intersection. A second, complementary roundabout will be located at Pullen Road and Oberlin Road, a brand-new intersection that will be created by extending Pullen Road across Hillsborough Street through what’s now a parking lot. There’s already a roundabout on Pullen Road that serves as an entrance to Pullen Park, the Theater in the Park and the west edge of the NCSU campus. ...

We're No. 1!

It's hard to turn on the news or pick up a paper (papers still exist?) this morning without learning that Raleigh-Cary is the nation's fastest-growing metro area, based on population growth.

Raleigh-Cary, N.C., and Austin-Round Rock, Texas, were the nation's fastest-growing metro areas between 2007 and 2008, according to July 1, 2008, population estimates for the nation's metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas and counties released by the U.S. Census Bureau [according to the Star-News].

Raleigh-Cary saw its population climb 4.3 percent between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, to 1.1 million. Similarly, Austin-Round Rock experienced a 3.8 percent increase, to 1.7 million. These two large metro areas were among 47 of the 50 fastest-growing areas located entirely in the South or West.

It should be cautioned, however, that the population estimates "cover July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008 – a period before unemployment had struck hard in the state. Since then construction jobs have dried up and the bottom dropped out of the banking industry. ...

"A number of factors make North Carolina attractive to new residents, said James H. Johnson of the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina, who is director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center at the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise.

"North Carolina metro areas are a lot better off than other communities in the country. In Raleigh and Wake County, Johnson cited an attraction for families with children because of good schools, quality of life and a cost of living that is relatively low compared to similar cities across the country.

“ 'We as a state are a major destination for retirees, including the half backs,' Johnson said, referring to people who moved first from the Northeast to Florida, and now are going halfway back, to North Carolina.

" 'Particularly with seniors who had a nice retirement package and homes and the retirement packages now don’t look as good, North Carolina compared to Florida and California – we were a much better deal,' he said. ..."

Update: Help needed in picking a tree

Nell requested an update on the Great Tree Situation of '09, so here t'is.

To recap: Earlier this year, my yard was flagged by the city's NeighborWoods program as a location for a new, free tree. At the time, I was given the choice between picking a Magnolia or a Gingko tree. After much soul searching-- and wonderful feedback from y'all -- I went with the Magnolia.

Well, in mid-February, I received *a* tree. I say that because I'm not exactly sure what type of tree it is; it had no label wrapped around it and no foliage to speak of. The same could be said for all the neighbors around me. One requested a Redbud, another an Oak and another a Gingko -- none are exactly positive that they got what they requested. Not that that's an issue; we were told that we may not get what we requested due to availability. And a free tree is still a free tree, so I'm not complaining.

The good news is the tree seems to be doing well -- whatever it is. (I'll try to remember to snap a photo and then maybe someone can ID it for me.) And it's much taller (around 6-7 feet) than I thought it would be. So I've got that going for me.

Best place to enjoy March Madness?

Well, the Wolfpack (once again) is not in the NCAA tournament (or any tournament, for that matter), so I don't have much of a team to root for, aside from Siena. Having said that, I'm sure come Thursday afternoon I'll be glued to the online tickers and then that evening glued to the tube.

But if you want to get out and enjoy some hoops and camaraderie -- you know, aside from the comfort of your man cave -- where is the best Raleighwood spot to do? I have friends who camp out in a booth at Sammy's all day long. And I know others will surely be hitting Tobacco Road. But where else can you enjoy scintillating hoops, fattening foods and wise-cracking friends? Especially if you don't want to go a place that's infested with, um, other team's fans?

(Image from WRAL.com)

Love it or loathe it?

One of the more prominent additions to Raleigh skyline of late is the RBC Plaza building downtown. This 33-story building is Raleigh's tallest, offering banking, street-front retail (fingers crossed!) and residential -- a terrific mix of use. In terms of size and what it signifies, the RBC Plaza is a big deal.

However, that hasn't kept it from being critiqued. And it should be; it's perhaps now the city's most prominent landmark, and thus should be open to criticism.

Mark, over at NewRaleigh, has begun a series on the building, "What It Means to Be Tallest." It's a fantastic study of the history of tall structures and what they mean to a community.

Every tall structure, from Roman Catholic Cathedrals to the Dubai Tower, evokes undeniable emotional and psychological responses in us humans. This stunning effect is inherent to the scale and sheer presence of such a large object. ... In short, tall buildings should inspire. With the use of technology or architectural style, mankind’s engineered structures have stirred the human psyche for thousands of years.

The comments section below the piece suggests that, well, the RBC Plaza does not inspire everyone. Some call the building's spire "ridiculous," others calling it a third-rate "glass box in a fourth-tier metro."

The folks I know who are architects or designers or art aficionados don't seem all that impressed with the building. (They also -- to a person -- seem to despise Bloomsbury Estates, referring to it as the "haunted mansion" and joking that it should be populated with horse and buggy.) Maybe I'm a rube, but I don't mind either one of these additions to Raleigh. I even think the RBC Plaza spire is quite striking at night. At a minimum, it fills in the vast expanse that previously stood between the BB&T and Wachovia buildings downtown.

But this discussion brings up an interesting one: is it better to have something -- ANYTHING -- worth discussing -- even if you don't particularly like it? A friend recently sent me a link to a New York Times article about the "Blue Mustang" at Denver's airport.

"A statue of a giant male horse — electric-eyed, cobalt blue and anatomically correct — was installed in February 2008 on the roadway approach to the terminal, and it is freaking more than a few people out," says the article. "Love it or loathe it, though, 'Blue Mustang' is doing what art is supposed to do — get attention."

(By the way, the creator of "Blue Mustang" is known for "outsize animals," such as the "I See What You Mean" bear in Denver [pictured below]. I mention this because among the potential "Big Ideas" for Raleigh are oversized squirrels.)

There is no doubt that architecture is a form of art and thus should produce discussion. Obviously you're not going to please everyone, as the RBC Plaza, the Art & Light Tower, the Convention Center and others have shown. Maybe they're not perfect; a building designed by Gehry or Koolhaus would be unbelievably fantastic and a major coup for Raleigh. But it sure beats being stuck with the same old crap, in my opinion.

(RBC Plaza image from City-data.com; "Blue Mustang" photo from the AP; bear image from Denver.gov;)

How well is Raleigh positioned to survive, grow and prosper?

I was having lunch last week with a journalist buddy of mine who is an avid student of history and has his finger, I believe, on the pulse of current events as deftly as anyone. I find his insights to be usually spot-on, and I don't tend to discount what he says.

So, over mouthwatering cheeseburger paninis at the Brass Grill, our conversation (as almost ANY conversation tends to do of late) centered on the economy and the future of Raleigh, North Carolina and the United States.

Amidst the doom and gloom coming out of Washington, Wall Street and Main Street, my friend (who shall remain anonymous) stunned me by saying that not only does he think Raleigh will survive, but the Capital City may in fact be in a position to become the largest, most dynamic and attractive city in the state.

Now, keep in mind that Raleigh is not that far away at this point, when you consider that she is No. 2 in population. But Raleigh has a long way to go to reach Charlotte in sheer numbers. Charlotte's population, based on 2006 numbers, is at more than 660,000. Raleigh's, by comparison, is at 356,000.

But what this friend was describing is a time -- say, 10-20 years from now -- when the educational, technical and creative class aspects of our community survive and succeed in a way that perhaps other N.C. cities will not. After all, Charlotte will have to prove that it can survive a vast decline in the banking industry and NASCAR. And the Triad region may, in the opinion of my friend, not only grow stagnant in its growth but actually lose population.

(For what it's worth, this person also can envision a time when smaller-sized cities like Durham, Asheville and Wilmington grow in stature and power and in brand name.)

One aspect of my friend's hypothesis is the idea that corporate execs (if there are any left in 10-20 years) will have the ability to live just about anywhere they want. Raleigh's cultural opportunities, quality of life, sports offerings and proximity to the mountains and the beach are already appealling. A CEO could live in Raleigh but easily zip down to his beach place, if he wanted.

But what do you think? Is Raleigh and the Triangle in perhaps a better situation than others to get through this mess? How will Raleigh look on the other side? Are we living in a sleepy Southern capital, or are we residing in a place that could be -- COULD be -- one of the next great American cities? Is Raleigh in line to be -- as Ann-Cabell Baum Anderson said earlier this week -- the next Seattle? Will it take REAL mass transit to make that happen?

Please note: This isn't a Raleigh v. Charlotte v. Greensboro-thing; this is just one person's opinion on how the future may shake out. At this point, there is not enough evidence to suggest that the banking collapse will lead to a collapse of the Queen City. Nor is there enough evidence to say that Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point will lose people. Heck, in this topsy-turvy world, maybe it's Raleigh that falters in the end. (I doubt it; then again, I'm biased.)

A Capital Conversation ... with Ann-Cabell

Welcome to the second in our series where we interview Raleigh-area experts on a variety of topics that relate to the Capital City.

This edition of 'A Capital Conversation ...' features perhaps THE greatest promoter of Downtown Raleigh: Realtor Ann-Cabell Baum Anderson with the Glenwood Agency. In fact, we didn't even use her whole name in the title because so many people just know her as Ann-Cabell (or just Cabell).

While our last conversation (with Realtor Jason Graves) focused on the entire Raleigh/Cary/Garner area, we wanted to hone in a bit on just DTR - specifically, how has the economy effected home/condo sales downtown. Who better than Ann-Cabell?

Raleigh Philosophical Society: When someone first inquires about moving to Downtown Raleigh, what do you usually tell them/how do you decide if it's "for" them?

Ann-Cabell: Whether a referral or email contact from our website, typically someone that is interested in Downtown is going to be someone that has gathered a little background information already. So, we’re filling in the gaps and answering questions about restaurants, walking distances, recreational options, and what makes Downtown great.

From there we start to get into more personal details about what works for them in terms of size, price and ‘style of living,' albeit a house, condo or townhouse. One of my favorite things about Downtown Raleigh is that it truly has something for everyone [I know it doesn’t always seem like it – but it really does!]. After that we work with folks to help them find the location in Downtown that mirrors their interests and guide them through the process of buying a home.

RPS: What is your sales pitch for DTR living?

A-C: Okay, so here’s the pitch: Downtown living can provide the flexibility of living in an area where one walks everywhere – work, restaurants, bars, the theater, and we’re starting to see more and more retail options too! More and more people are finding that Downtown provides them with a more convenient and yet more active lifestyle.

For the Un-Pitch: You are living in an area where your neighbors have a lot of the same core values as you. We see a lot of people Downtown who value sustainable living, people who want options for transit and want to see Downtown do great things. A lot of people who live Downtown begin to realize after a few weeks that even though there are cultural options for everyone, that they see the people who live around them all over the place. There is definitely something to be said for the comfort and security of seeing familiar faces when you’re out and about. I know this word is passé, but, honestly, Downtown is better than cool, it’s the ‘ish! Actually, if you’re interested at all but there is a lot of study lately about the role of density in decreasing carbon foot prints. The New York Times wrote a pretty good piece on it: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/us/29pollute.html

RPS: As someone who is as connected to the pulse of Downtown Raleigh as anyone, do you feel like DTR has lost any momentum because of the national economic crisis? If so, in what ways? If not, how come?

A-C: The economy has affected everyone … and I really feel like people are ‘worn out’ talking about it!

It definitely has become the ‘it’ thing to balk about, but I think we are beginning to see people sort of realize that everyone is suffering and that you have to just push through it. And yeah, we all have a little less in our accounts, and yes, we should be better savers, and yes, the momentum has slowed things by about 35% in the area, but buyers are still out there – especially in the first-time buyer market. The incredible interest rates and passing of the stimulus plan is helping people move forward and some folks are finding some great deals. We actually just had two offers on the same condo, and the place has gone under contract for more than list price. :-) Everyone at the Glenwood Agency and in Downtown has accepted that ‘it is what it is’ and with that positive attitude, it’s getting us GOING!

RPS: How have you seen the Downtown Raleigh real estate market affected by the national economic downturn?

A-C: All real estate in Raleigh has slowly but surely felt the crunch in the real estate market. If you can’t sell your place in Chicago, you can’t buy in Raleigh and that has been a struggle for us. But with the $8k for first-time buyers, we’re seeing people get off the fence and start looking. We all wish it was more and extended to everyone, not just first-time buyers, but we’re taking what we have to work with and making it happen.

RPS: Has your business been affected by the downturn? If so, how severe has it been?

A-C: Sure, we’ve all see a slow down. But the silver lining -- our rentals and property management has been on FIRE! :-) So, we’ve been very happy to help people rent their properties that couldn’t or didn’t want to sell during this time. And, for clients that want to lease, we have the highest of high-end options for them to rent. They’re amazed to find stainless steel appliances and granite countertops in almost all of the condos and townhomes, not to mention the houses.

We are seeing a bit of a ‘trickle-up’ effect in that people who can’t get approved for a loan right now renting properties from people who can’t sell. This is allowing those sellers to cover their costs and move on to wherever they needed to move to. And I really think that in a year or so when most of these leases run out, we’ll have a fair amount of people who are in a better position to buy!

RPS: How are condo units in DTR doing these days? Do you think condo projects will continue?

A-C: The NEW condos are selling more quickly than the ‘re-sales’ or general brokerage properties right now. I say that and then we have a run on all the units at Park Devereux in the last 30 days and sell two in a week there!

It’s interesting to watch people determine what is important to them with the choices that are on the market. It used to be that you could pick from two condos in your price range/square footage needs. Now there are usually five or six choices. With construction financing all but gone, it will be some time (3-4 years, I estimate) before we’ll see any new condo developments. If you look at the history of development in the area it has sort of always been that way: every few years we get a new building or two, and then things slow down while units are absorbed, then we have more demand than supply, and that’s about the time new projects get underway. With the current supply, we’ve talked about the final condos being sold out by the end of ’09 to the first quarter of ’10

RPS: What ways do you as a Realtor try to get around the economic troubles? How creative do you have to be?

A-C: Creativity with the economy? I actually have to say it’s much less about creativity and more about going back to basics: signs in the yards and on the sidewalks of the properties we have for sale. We are fairly fortunate, as well, in that we have a great network of clients whose friends/coworkers we are always happy to work with. We love referrals! :-) and, it’s the lifeblood of our success! A rental referral is AWESOME and so is a buyer referral. The dominos start moving when just one person decides to live Downtown!

RPS: Are there sections of even Downtown Raleigh that are "hotter" than others, or are selling better than others? Where are they?

A-C: Downtown as a whole is HOT market place. We see all different types of people: first-time home buyers moving into condos that are the one bedrooms to the three bedroom units and people downsizing and wanting to walk and be a part of the energy of Downtown. It seems to shift areas every so often; it feels like from minute to minute, the Dawson is THE place to live, then to WEST and over to the COTTON MILL. There is also a lot of attention being paid to redevelopment in all the surrounding neighborhoods, but in particular Southeast Raleigh. The city has got some great programs set up to help revitalize and redevelop that area. We’ve tried to determine how the flow moves, and if I had that crystal ball… well I always say that if I had that crystal ball, I’d be in Vegas betting black and red on a roulette table. :-)

RPS: How have your clients been affected by the economic situation?

A-C: I’m not sure any of us know anyone that hasn’t been affected.

RPS: What do you see as the short-term future for Downtown Raleigh real estate? Long-term?

A-C: Short-term, next 18 months or so is going to be a buyer's market. On the back side of ’09, it’s going to turn to seller's market. I really believe it’s going to happen overnight – spring of ’10 – and with that, we’re going to see prices rising through 2012-2013. Once we hit 2013, we’ll see that cycle come full circle again with a lot of pre-sales for new buildings like Edison, Lafayette and Charter Square with other developments that have been put on hold. So we’ll have a large supply coming on the market again.

Again, its part of our market process and it’s happened like this since the Cotton Mill in the 90s. 2000 was Park Devereux and 510 Glenwood, 2005 was Dawson and Paramount, 2008 has been West, RBC and 222 Glenwood. It’s all about the business cycle!

RPS: Do you do much traveling to other cities? If so, how does Raleigh compare to other metro areas these days, especially compared to, say, 10-15 years ago? How do you think Raleigh will fare in the next 10-15 years?

A-C: I’d say we’re where Seattle was in the 1990s. That’s when Bellevue and Kirkland areas began their ‘urban growth’. We’re ‘green’, like the Emerald City (Seattle) and we have a HIGH quality of life, relatively inexpensively speaking, when you compare us to other cities. It’s easy to live in Raleigh, and the transportation options give you the beach and the mountains within an easy drive, and it’s an hour flight to NYC. Not bad when you consider the options.

We don’t want to be Charlotte or Atlanta. This has sort of been another silver lining of the economy and political world over the last 10 years. I feel like we’re making slower progression with growth, and that is a good thing. Not having a huge boom in construction has kept us from having a huge fall. We’ve always been pretty balanced, and in the years that have passed if you think about the way it’s happened, it’s almost like Raleigh is watching what other metro areas do well and what they don’t and we’re making good decisions based on what we’re learning from their growth.

I think we will also benefit largely in a comprehensive way from the change in policy and attitudes toward things like sustainable living, transit options, the importance of good urban design and planning as well as the advances we’ve seen in technology.

RPS: What would you like to see happen in DTR (aside from more residential growth)?

A-C: THE TRAIN! If Raleigh could get all the stars aligned and the rail system nestled into our community's fabric, imagine all the options that would open up and how much pressure would come off the road arteries and what a much more integrated network and community we'd become. You could live in Downtown Raleigh, work in RTP, have dinner in Chapel Hill and be back in Raleigh to meet friends late night without using a drop of gas in your own car! WHAT? could we really get there? I think so! Watch us in Raleigh; we're doing things the right way! There are some great folks with STAC, the TTA, CAMPO, the city and the state who are working hard to get these things going. And perhaps, just maybe, we’ll get a bit of a push from the stimulus funds.

Raleigh Rocks! Shhhh, don’t tell anyone!

About Ann-Cabell (from her website):
Ann-Cabell is the President and sales manager of The Glenwood Agency, a residential and commercial development company that specializes in urban real estate and has been instrumental in the renewal and restructuring of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.

A highly motivated and energetic professional whose innovation has made her the source for downtown Raleigh real estate, Ann-Cabell has more than 12 years of development and sales experience in both the residential and commercial industries.

Her experience has earned her the reputation for providing the highest quality of service and for having extensive knowledge of building, buying and selling unique residential homes in the downtown area.

Development, sales, design and construction decisions as well as general business operations are at the heart of what Ann-Cabell does daily. She is and has been hands on in all elements of real estate sales, design and construction. You can be assured of Ann-Cabell's unfailing professionalism from start to finish and beyond.

Her dynamic personality, uncompromising work ethic and intimate familiarity with downtown Raleigh have propelled Ann-Cabell to the position she now holds and loves finding people just the right spot to live and call home.

The progress Raleigh has made within the beltline and specifically in downtown residential addresses can be attributed to Ann-Cabell's diligent work. Her tireless promotion of downtown and loft living has made Raleigh a great place to live, work and play!


(Images courtesy of Ann-Cabell's website)

Support local bands and local beer

I don't go out that much anymore -- having two little ones will do that to ya. But I finally got my lazy butt over to Tir Na Nog last Thursday night for "Local Beer Local Band," one of the best (so I had heard) regular activities in the Triangle. Tir Na Nog's Chris Tamplin deserves credit for championing this event.

I was not disappointed. (Truth be told: I finally made it out because one of the band's playing on Thursday, Raised By Wolves, is led by an old childhood friend. But I digress ...) Local Beer Local Band is a terrific way to be introduced to -- you guessed it -- and up and coming local artist and some good local brews. The aforementioned Raised By Wolves (from Charlotte) started things off with a set of alt-country/modern/psychadelic rock. Chapel Hill's Aminal followed with a solid set as well. I was introduced to two live bands that would easily check out again.

And if things weren't enjoyable enough: the show ended by 1 a.m., meaning us old guys could get something of a good night's sleep after all.

(Raised By Wolves photo courtesy of their Facebook page)