By Jason Hibbets
An article on WakeUp Wake County, an organization concerned about growth and the future of Wake County, states that “North Carolina will soon be the 9th largest state in the US. … The Triangle is experiencing much of this growth, and with it comes the need for more development.”
And like any resident that is settled in to their part of town, bells and whistles go off at the hint of any new development or re-development. Curiosity gets the best of us. Will a proposed development complement our existing neighborhood and fit into the character or will it “destroy” the reason why we live here and add more, unwanted traffic and more development?
For the most part, I think people who are excited that Raleigh is a growing city instead of a shrinking one, just want quality development that fits into the context of what’s already here. And this is what SouthWest Raleigh has been screaming for, for many years.
North Raleigh Boos While SouthWest Raleigh Woos
In North Raleigh, near the Bedford community, “Hundreds of Raleigh residents are fighting to keep a Publix grocery store out of their backyards.” ABC 11 reported that neighbors started a petition to fight a rezoning case to build a retail location that would include a new 50,000 square foot grocery store.
That petition now includes about 2,000 residents. WRAL stated that neighbors in “Bedford, Falls River, River Oaks, Wood Spring, Whittington, and Oakcroft subdivisions have in recent weeks signed a petition against the move, saying it’s too much retail in a residential area.”
In more recent news, the developers are going door to door in those neighborhoods because they are worried the “petition drive has created misconceptions about their plans,” according to the News & Observer.
While North Raleigh rallies against this proposed development, SouthWest Raleigh is shining and waxing the welcome wagon. Residents in Renaissance Park have been looking to add a flagship grocery store to their planned development for a number of years to add retail to their mixed-use community.
Neighbors are seeing the outcry in North Raleigh as an opportunity to shine a light on not only their area, nestled just south of Downtown Raleigh, but on the entire SouthWest Raleigh region that boasts a growing population of young professionals. So they started a petition. And it’s got a much different tone.
We would like for Publix Super Markets, Inc. to consider Southwest Raleigh as a potential home.
We would like for Publix Super Markets, Inc. to consider Southwest Raleigh as a potential home in our city. We understand that there are petitions against this company building in other parts of the city but we the undersigned believe that Southwest Raleigh is a great place for Retail and would make a great home for Publix Super Market, Inc.
Please support this petition and our invitation to Publix Super Markets, Inc. to visit, explore and learn more about the opportunities in Southwest Raleigh. We are more than Raleigh’s best kept secret we are a great place for retail and we’d love to call Publix our neighbor.
The petition is available on change.org and has a goal of 2,000 signatures.
SouthWest Raleigh Overlooked?
I believe the economic development numbers are skewed for SouthWest Raleigh (primarily zip codes 27603 and 27606). When developers look at the median income at zip codes in our area, they see a less-wealthy number that indicates they shouldn’t develop here. The developments end up in Cary, North Raleigh, Garner, and other places that appear more attractive and less risky.
The x-factor for SouthWest Raleigh? The economic engine of NC State and the often uncounted student population that has more disposable income than you think. Have you seen the cars college students are driving these days and the luxury apartment complexes geared for off-campus living? Those numbers don’t lie.
Housing providers like The Preiss Company know there is money to be made in SouthWest Raleigh. It’s why they built a 72-unit luxury student apartment on Lake Wheeler Road—and had somewhere close to 90% occupancy before the the paint could dry. In other words, it’s filled-up fast and is a successful apartment complex. It’s also why they’re building another project at the corner of Tryon Road and Avent Ferry Road.
But why haven’t other economic developers picked up on this trend and started to look at SouthWest Raleigh for more investments opportunities and quality projects? Because it’s easier to go somewhere else where there is less risk.
It’s takes efforts like the above petition to showcase why SouthWest Raleigh is the best place to live, work, learn, and play in the Triangle. We’ve got money to spend, and we’d like to keep it in our part of town. Trader Joe’s, we’re giving you a call next.
Its funny because I remember when that neighborhood was beautiful forest! I guess I should have petitioned to stop the building of the neighborhood back in the day?
Arthur, your point has merit. And I will respond with a longer post than maybe necessary but I hope you will bear with me. The land that was a beautiful forest was developed around 20 years ago. Development continues to creep away from Raleigh proper, it’s the way it is.
For the Falls site, likewise, development WILL happen as well. It’s property that is zoned for things like small office, retail, restaurant, etc. that serve the nearby community. The sign that’s been in front of the site on Dunn Rd. for a long time advertises it as Medical/Professional Office Space. That is an appropriate use, under current zoning, and rezoning opponents agree that it should be developed accordingly.
A destination shopping center is not allowed under current zoning, and rezoning should be denied. There are 4 grocery stores within 2 miles of the Falls site, and an empty Kroger sits 2.5 miles away, vacant since 2011. That is an ideal place for a new store, a location that would help reduce blight. Or, there are parts of Raleigh, like the Renaissance Park community that are clamoring for a new grocer. It appears that Publix would be a welcome investor in southwest Raleigh. And if you want to talk about an area of town that REALLY needs grocery stores, see Southeast Raleigh. Why should one part of the city have too many grocery stores, and another lack the same opportunities?
Good luck to Renaissance Park. If you wish to make your voice heard about Publix or any other grocer locating in your community, consider writing the City Council members, and even Publix if that is who you’d like to have come in. There’s no reason to doubt Publix would be a popular and quality grocery option. The Falls community is just the wrong place. Thank you.
Arthur – you must be pretty old. The land that Renaissance Park sits on was dedicated as Raleigh Municipal Airport in 1929. It was likely a forested area before then but the population of Raleigh was only a fraction of over 420k it is today. Renaissance Park did not displace a beautiful forest it did remove an unused airport to help build a neighborhood closer into downtown and combat sprawl. Now that we have residents we need more and better retail. Otherwise we have tax dollars from Raleigh going to Garner and Cary. The South Saunders Gateway needs to be improved and a high end grocery store like Publix is a great way to start moving in that direction. This area is growing and at a rate unlike any place else in the country. We can sit on our hands and wait for the things we want to come to us or we can start to ask. Why not us? Why not Southwest Raleigh?
Anthony, you make a great point about tax dollars from Raleigh going to Garner and Cary. That is a message that could make an elected official pause. If Publix, let’s say, want to develop in Raleigh, where there is a need and a location that would keep Raleigh dollars in Raleigh, the council should hear that. Here’s how: [email protected]
Good luck to SW Raleigh.