Downtown Destruction Continues

The last building that is still standing in the way of the future Green Square project is currently coming down. Here are some photos from today’s demolition occurring on Jones St.









Are they growing grass where the old NCDOT building stood across the street?

Pic of the Week

RBC reflection

Living It Since 2008

The downtown condo supply has been slowly rising and we all have seen new buildings open up over the past few years. Help me out with the years if I’m off but

• Palladium Plaza opened in 2007
• The Quorum Center opened in 2006
• The Dawson and The Paramount opened in 2005
• The Hudson opened in 2005 (?)

There are other buildings that have been holding it down for longer then this but 2008 has to be exciting for the downtown condo scene as we welcome four newcomers to the party. As an extension to the WRAL article that touches this, here is the list.

RBC Condos



RBC is probably the most obvious and more unique of the group. It depends on your definition, but I think this is the first example of true high-rise living in Raleigh. Word is that all 139 condos have been sold.

Bloomsbury Estates



The seven story, 56 unit condo building is over half sold and should also open this year. Hopefully in the near future we will see the second phase of the project, which consists of the twin being built in the back.

222 Glenwood



The website is claiming that only nine units remain available in this building as of this writing. The location cannot get any better for fans of Glenwood South. The added retail presence along the street is a big welcome also. I heard from a friend that the views from the top are excellent.

West at North



This is a spacious building with a large footprint. The residents within the 170 condos will have a rooftop pool and easy access to Glenwood South. The ground floor retail will help West St. become Glenwood’s little brother.

Martin Street Pizza

Have you peaked into Martin St. Pizza lately? The place looks like it should be opening soon and the new signs out front might be supporting my claim. There is also a huge sign inside waiting to be strung up. Will MSP finally satisfy our pizza cravings?

This is just one more spot to tack onto the Martin and Fayetteville St. intersection activity. Although the Downtown Events Center is closing down, there are more spaces coming. RBC Plaza will offer retail here as well as the renovated spaces next to Port City Java. Exciting things are a coming.

Worth Bagley Statue

On May 11, 1898 Ensign Worth Bagley , a native of Raleigh became the first casualty of the Spanish American War when a Spanish shell hit his US Navy ship, the Winslow, during the ship-to-shore Battle of Cardenas, Cuba.

Ensign Bagley was given a hero's funeral in Raleigh and his memory preserved in a statue located on the grounds of the North Carolina State Capitol.

Historical details are found at:
http://www.spanamwar.com/bagley.htm

On May 11, 1998 Ernesto De La Fe and Leopoldo Suarez, natives of Cardenas, Cuba along with their friend, Hernando Ovies native of Guines, Cuba marked the 100th anniversary of Ensign Worth Bagley's heroic death by placing a wreath at the statue on the grounds of the North Carolina State Capitol and smoking Cuban cigars lit be the NC Commissioner of Agriculture Jim Graham, who has a building named after him on the NC State Fairgrounds.

This coming Sunday May 11th will be the 110th anniversary of Ensign Worth Bagley's death and this hero is but a faint memory in the minds of the Downtown Raleigh denizens.

The Ensign Bagley statue on the grounds of the North Carolina State Capitol is not even mentioned in the Walking Tour of the popular informative website called the Raleigh Connoisseur on all things relative in Downtown Raleigh.

Who will place a wreath at this hero's statue for the 110th anniversary of his death?

Thanks, Padrino!