My thoughts of the Historical heritage on our major downtown in NC (Raleigh: how much)

[pompei]

I was leaving work and as I set at the stop light (at the intersection of morgan and mangum streets), i gave a quick glance over the dt area of Durham. I asked (thought to) myself, How much history did our larger cities give up in the name of "urban renewal" and development...and how much of an impact will it make in the future...

My opinion of the matter:
Durham's urban renewal and development gets a hand up deciding to make use of its old abandoned tabacco factories (ATC, West Village, Brightleaf Square, Durham Social Services-Duke Street, Venable Place..etc). I find that the city is more interested in repurposing old historical structures rather then knocking them down and building skycrapers or highrise buildings (even though we need some badly). What the city lacks in skyline it makes up for it in density. You never really get the true essence of what the city feels likes until take stroll down main street and and take the view of the "city canyon"....then when you walk up on the Hill Building it feels taller/looks then 17 stories. Don't get me wrong, I will be the first to raise my hand and say that the Bull City needs a decent skyline (Money Shot).

[Kim Wagner]

The tough question becomes what is considered "historic" and how much can be saved at what cost?

I agree with you. Their is a richness to durham's downtown character that outrivals many cities of it's size.

I've lived in the triangle for over 15 years now and am just getting to know Durham. I even enjoy driving through the different outlying areas of the city. Some obviously struggle. Some live the highlife. What I like is that it's all different, and you can read the timeline in the buildings. That's tough to find in the development that encircles Raleigh. Too many unique things plowed under to create so many things that are all alike.