When looking at the number of planned development projects centered around the downtown area, one feels a sense of relief that Raleigh is well insulated from the economic woes currently plaguing most cities in the United States. While on one hand these are a reassuring sign of progress, on the other they represent a rapid loss of unique buildings with character that define Raleigh.

Before they’re gone, let’s take a look at what we’re losing.

401 Oberlin Road

401 Oberlin is the newest entry to the list of modern buildings facing demolition. Designed by Leif Valand and built in 1957, the current owners are planning a large apartment complex on the site. Based on Raleigh City Council’s previous rezoning requests, I predict this project will be given the green light.

Of all the buildings we’re set to lose, this one saddens me the most. I pass by it daily, and love the subtle charm of this corner of land. The worn dark screens mask beautifully mirrored glass which rests above the azaleas that liven a busy intersection.

The Staudt Bakery

The Staudt BakeryÂ has one of the longest periods of vacancy in Raleigh. Facing a newly-built roundabout at the Hillsborough and Morgan Street intersection, this area has needed improvement for a long time. It’s sad that the building couldn’t have been repurposed into lofts and storefronts.

It is built in the Art Moderne style, a rarity in this area. It is unlikely that it will still be standing a few months from now. Much like the other upcoming projects, the plans look uninspiring. Despite the boring site plan, I am glad to see more life arriving to this area.

The Fabius Briggs House

Sitting on the same parcel of land for future mixed-use as the Staudt Bakery, the Fabius Briggs house may have received its final pardon from Raleigh City Council. Preservation North Carolina has been working with the city to delay a demolition order, but at least some councillors are unwilling to grant any more extensions.

Although at least two people (including a descendant of Fabius Briggs, of the Briggs Hardware fame) have expressed interest in moving the house, time is running out. The future looks bleak for this worn but grand Queen Anne Victorian keeping watch over Hillsborough Street.

The Brewery

It’s unlikely anyone could make the argument that the Brewery or the buildings around it are architecturally significant enough to warrant preserving. However, character and importance sometimes aren’t defined in the appearance of a building, but in the life and character that resides inside.

David Menconi, music editor for the N&O, sums it up best:

As for what the project might displace, the people pushing it don’t seem overly concerned. The story quotes Karen Rindge (identified as “a neighbor and director of the advocacy group WakeUp Wake County”) saying this:Â “What’s there right now is abysmal. That side of Hillsborough Street is desperate for redevelopment.”Â Well…one person’s “abysmal” and “desperate for redevelopment” block is another person’s irreplaceable historical landmark. That particular block houses The Brewery, which is one of the most fabled nightclubs in local-music history.

While this block’s appearance certainly leaves much to be desired, leveling the Brewery is discarding decades of local music history. It is unfortunate that WakeUp Wake County is so quick condemn the entire block without appreciating the importance of this place to so many Raleigh residents.

The house which was most recently The Farmhouse, as well as neighboring Katmandu (formerly Mr. Ribs Restaurant) will also soon be leveled.

The Ballentine’s Cafeteria Building

After a few muted protests, Raleigh City Council granted a variance (bypassing height limits) to Crescent Resources LLC to build a tall apartment complex on the corner of Clark Avenue and Oberlin Road. They likely granted this because of the overwhelming support of Cameron Park residents. Those residents wouldn’t be impacted by the increased traffic, and they helped steer the design to look like the houses they live in. The result is a 1920s revivalist structure which will look more like the McDonald’s and Harris Teeter than the humble midcentury buildings currently on that block.

This mid-century modern prairie-style building (one of the only still standing in Raleigh) will soon be demolished.

419/425 Boylan Avenue

A new site plan was submitted which would result in a 250-unit apartment complex on the corner of Boylan Avenue and Tucker Street. The design is uninspiring, and resembles the other generic projects in the pipeline for the center city.

Built in 1948, 419 North Boylan is one of the oldest modernist buildings in Raleigh. Although I can’t find any documentation to back it up, I am fairly certain this was designed by Milton Small while employed by William Deitrick. The exposed steel beams, floating entranceway, full-height fenestration, and base that is set a few inches from the ground are all of his trademark characteristics.

The Water Garden (Demolished)

The redevelopment of the Water Garden property is easily the most hotly debated architecture topic on this blog. Although there were a few folks lamenting the loss of this landscape architecture (and modernist) icon, the bulk of the heated debate was from area homeowners protesting the arrival of low-income housing in its place.

Bell Tower Plaza: Buddha’s Belly, Schoolkids Records, and Roundabout Art Gallery

Many might be surprised to learn that NC State owns the commercial property directly across from the Bell Tower. In this plaza are a barber shop, Buddha’s Belly, Roundabout Art Gallery, the Bell Tower Mart, and Schoolkids Records.

While the date of demolition of this area may or may not be this year, NC State officials have recently entertained designs from all over the country. Firms are salivating at the chance to build a project here. The businesses here (including Schoolkids) are already looking at relocation options on Hillsborough Street.





The Sadlack’s Rumor

Rumors have been swirling for months now that long-time Raleigh institution Sadlack’s Heroes will also be lost as a part of the Bell Tower redevelopment project, but I’ve seen nothing to substantiate this claim. Sadlack’s will only leave this location if the owner decides to sell the parcel to NCSU, and this has not yet happened.

The NC State Bookstore (Demolished)

The loss of this building is unlike the others; it is on NC State campus and isn’t being replaced by a large apartment or condo project. It was demolished just a few days ago and will be replaced by a grass lawn. For more information on the Bookstore’s demolition, read the entry at raleigh modern.

Not All Buildings Should Be Preserved

Although I’ve used this blog to take a stand and draw awareness to preservation efforts of our city’s unique buildings, I certainly do not think that every building should be saved. There are times when it makes sense to tear down an existing structure so that something better can take its place.

Sadly, most of the current and future projects are replacing historic modernist buildings with uninspired cookie-cutter projects that all look the same.

Are We Getting Something Better Than What We’re Losing?

There is no doubt that high-density mixed-use projects are what urban areas (and Raleigh in particular) need more of. However, we’re witnessing a surge of investment from out of state limited liability companies eager to cash in because most other real estate markets are performing poorly. The problem here is that every one of these projects are very similar in appearance and amenities. The consumer market isn’t being presented with variety — Â just several versions of a similar design, but in different locations.

I want Raleigh to grow closer to the center city and for more people to live downtown. But sadly, if the gamble of all of these projects doesn’t pan out in a favorable way, we’ll only know once the original buildings they replaced are long gone.

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