Welcome! This blog is a product of NC State University’s Downtown Studio extension project for the South Park-East Raleigh neighborhood. The site is a means to distribute information. But more importantly, it can act as a community forum to explore and discuss a wide range of possibilities for the future of this neighborhood.

In the midst of unprecedented growth in our city, the urban and socio-economic fabric of downtown Raleigh will continue to change dramatically. South Park-East Raleigh is situated within the epicenter of this change. As a historic African-American neighborhood, South Park-East Raleigh has played a vital role in the shaping of the narrative of our city. NCSU’s Downtown Studio is working on identifying design strategies to preserve the historic character of the South Park-East Raleigh area, and explore opportunities for future developments. With special emphasis on visual character, as well as cultural and historical meaning, this project addresses the neighborhood’s entire built environment – not just buildings, but also urban landscape features such as streetscapes and public open space. Through these design strategies, the project will seek to enhance connections to the area and to promote an appreciation of the area’s history and its ongoing importance to the community.

Many steps have been taken towards developing recommendations for the neighborhood, including a thorough analysis of cultural and physical assets, a number of community design workshops, and meetings with public partners. However, as we move into the initial design phases of the project, it is clear that there is much left to do to unlock the future potential of this vibrant neighborhood.

Please browse the links to the right for additional information about the neighborhood, its partners, and the work being done. More posts to come soon…