The Future of Raleigh (Charlotte, Durham: relocate, work, college)

[trackcoach]

We are looking to relocate to Raleigh maybe next year from Florida. Can't stand it here any longer! A few questions/concerns we have are:

1. I notice there is no zoo. Is this true? Are there plans for one? Aquarium?
2. What is the future for downtown? It seems kind of dead, but are there plans for downtown progress?
3. What is the status of a light rail I've head of?
4. Big concern over the lack of getting from downtown to the outer belt line. Any talk of highway improvement?
5. Do you think that RD will make a bid to bring the Marlins up there? We sure do love baseball- The Bulls and Mudcats are nice, but it would surly be nice to get MLB there.

Thanks for any insight.

[amoosea]

We are looking to relocate to Raleigh maybe next year from Florida. Can't stand it here any longer! A few questions/concerns we have are:

1. I notice there is no zoo. Is this true? Are there plans for one? Aquarium?
2. What is the future for downtown? It seems kind of dead, but are there plans for downtown progress?
3. What is the status of a light rail I've head of?
4. Big concern over the lack of getting from downtown to the outer belt line. Any talk of highway improvement?
5. Do you think that RD will make a bid to bring the Marlins up there? We sure do love baseball- The Bulls and Mudcats are nice, but it would surly be nice to get MLB there.

1. There was a small zoo, but that closed, people choose to go to Asheboro to the NC Zoo

2. The future of downtown is to turn it into a commercial hub along with high density residential development. This website should help. http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/index.cfm

3. Light rail is dead, raleigh is too spread out for that to work now, but will come back in the future as population density creeps back up.

4. The best ways to get on the Beltline (I-440) is via western blvd, hillsborough street, south saunders street, depends on where you are, there may be other routes to take, but those are among the more popular ones.

5. MLB will have to wait until hockey season is over ;-) go 'canes!

[I'minformed2]

Originally Posted by trackcoach

We are looking to relocate to Raleigh maybe next year from Florida. Can't stand it here any longer! A few questions/concerns we have are:

1. I notice there is no zoo. Is this true? Are there plans for one? Aquarium?
2. What is the future for downtown? It seems kind of dead, but are there plans for downtown progress?
3. What is the status of a light rail I've head of?
4. Big concern over the lack of getting from downtown to the outer belt line. Any talk of highway improvement?
5. Do you think that RD will make a bid to bring the Marlins up there? We sure do love baseball- The Bulls and Mudcats are nice, but it would surly be nice to get MLB there.

Thanks for any insight.

1. There is really only one major zoo in the whole state.... the North Carolina Zoo, in Asheboro about an hour and a half away. Haven't heard any plans for one here

2. Downtown is in the process of a lot of major redevelopment. It has been dead for decades but they are now actually building their future tallest tower. New convention center is coming as well.

3 The light rail got nixed a few months ago. Don't ask me why, the traffic here is pretty bad and getting worse and worse.

4. Don't commute to downtown and don't go there much (I only know of all of the development there because of the coverage on the news)

5. Who knows, they got a hockey team from Connecticut, maybe they could get a baseball team from Florida. Haven't heard anything about that though.

[Niki]

There are 3 aquariums on the coast (Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores and Ft. Fisher). I don't know of any other aquariums.

NC's most popular sports are college basketball and NASCAR. I think there was talk at one time of MLB coming to Charlotte, but I don't know if or when that will happen.

[trackcoach]

Thanks for al lthe insight. We like Raleigh a lot, except for those concerns. I like what I hear about downtown development. I like Raleigh because it seems young and educated. I've read that Raleigh is a great place to raise a family, but not have fun? Is this true? Do you see that changing if so?

Also, would you consider Raleigh less conservative than Charlotte?

Thanks

[jenlyn]

Hello! I wish you the best in your move. These were some of the concerns we have about the Raleigh area. We live in Phoenix now and my husband loves having all 4 professional sports teams! But, as beautiful as it is, it didnt seem as there was as much to do. But, as a visitor, Im sure we didnt know all the things that there really are. Good luck! Jen

[I'minformed2]

Originally Posted by trackcoach

Thanks for al lthe insight. We like Raleigh a lot, except for those concerns. I like what I hear about downtown development. I like Raleigh because it seems young and educated. I've read that Raleigh is a great place to raise a family, but not have fun? Is this true? Do you see that changing if so?

Also, would you consider Raleigh less conservative than Charlotte?

Thanks

Raleigh less conservative than Charlotte? I guess you could say yess. Both are in "red counties" though. The areas around Raleigh are more liberal.... Chapel Hill, Durham. Like virtually every city in America besides New York City and Los Angeles.... the teenagers here think its boring. There really isn't much of an "urban feel" in Raleigh, the entire area is mostly sububan in nature.