Over the last six months, the editors of southwestraleigh.com and guest bloggers have been highlighting many of the events, places, and assets in Southwest Raleigh. In February, we staked our claim as the Capital City’s Creative District. Currently the City is considering an economic development study partnership with NC State to amplify and expand these assets, and it’s an item for discussion at the City Council’s Budget & Economic Development (BED) committee on Tuesday, June 14 at 11:00 am in room 315. Your support is appreciated.

Southwest Raleigh is unique in that it can claim an unequaled inventory of art galleries, museums, theaters, universities, companies, restaurants, parks, recreational opportunities, history, neighborhoods, and active citizens. It’s great that parts of Raleigh are starting to create their own identities, think Midtown or the different districts in downtown (Glenwood South, Warehouse District, etc.). We see our assets as the Communities, Recreation, Education, Arts, Technology, Innovation, Vision, and Entertainment that comprise Southwest Raleigh. This isn’t to say that other parts of Raleigh are not creative in the traditional sense. In Southwest Raleigh we see the CREATIVE district as who we are.

Highlighting and mapping the community assets will make a strong connection between them, particularly downtown, and assist in developing a synergetic business and development relationship between current and future stakeholders. Isolating downtown as a planning entity is a good idea, but disconnecting downtown from the communities around it, is not. Raleigh’s Creative District is inclusive of downtown because they feed off of each other. The Southwest Raleigh Economic Development Initiative is a model geared to expand the economic success enjoyed by downtown over recent years and fuel future opportunities throughout the city.

About the proposal

“The proposed project scope explores how design, economic development and cultural strategies can be used to understand community context, celebrate its history and character, and ultimately create, reinforce, or enhance a sense of place that nurtures and encourages the retention and growth of the Creative Community in the South West Raleigh area.”

The editors, other members of the community, and stakeholders from NC State had a chance to participate in the creation of this draft proposal. As we move forward, all of you will have a chance to participate in the shaping of Raleigh’s Creative District.

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