Raleigh commission approves rezoning request for 30-story tower

The Raleigh Planning Commission has unanimously approved a rezoning request for a 30-story building near Peace and West streets. While developers argue the high-rise will promote density and reduce sprawl, neighbors fear increased traffic, noise and loss of sunlight in their community.
Posted 8/12/2025, 10:08:31 PM Updated 8/12/2025, 11:00:24 PM

WILL CUT RATES NEXT MONTH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, BRIAN.

RALEIGH'S POPULATION CONTINUES

TO GROW AND THAT MEANS MORE

DEVELOPMENT LATELY. THERE'S

BEEN A PUSH TO BUILD UP INSTEAD

OF OUT AS CITY LEADERS ARE

CONSIDERING PLANS FOR A NEW

HIGH-RISE PROJECT. BUT NOT

EVERYONE IS ON BOARD.

>> WRS LYNN SNYDER HEARD ABOUT

EFFORTS TO BRING NEW LIFE TO

PEACE STREETS.

>> SUNRISE GLENWOOD BROOKLYN

NEIGHBORHOODS, THE FRONT

BETWEEN THOSE LIVING IN

HISTORIC HOMES AND PLANS FOR

THE FUTURE CONTINUES TO

RECRUIT. AND POTEAT HAS LIVED

HERE SINCE THE 90'S. WHILE

SHE'S SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE.

THE LATEST PLANS FOR A NEW

HIGH-RISE NEARBY HAVE WHO

WORRIED. WE WON'T HAVE A NEW

SONG IN THE MORNING AND THAT'S

IT FOR NOW. NOW THAT STORM.

>> WILL LAST. BUT HE WAS AMONG

SEVERAL NEIGHBORS WHO CALLED

ON RALEIGH'S PLANNING

COMMISSION TODAY.

>> TO OPPOSE A 30 STORY MIXED

USE TOWER NEAR PEACE AND WEST

STREETS FOR REFERENCE THIS

BUILDING NEARBY IS 12 STORIES.

WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING FIRES OUT.

>> FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO WE'VE

HAD INDIVIDUAL FIRES. I'M

THANKFUL

FOR ALL.

>> IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE

CRITICS SAY THE NEW BUILDING

WOULD OVERWHELM THE

NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE TOWER

BEING TOO TALL AND TOO CLOSE TO

REPRESENTATIVE FOR DEVELOPER

RALLY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY TOLD

COMMISSIONERS THE TOWER ALIGNS

WITH GROWTH IN THE AREA BY

ADDING HOUSING DOWNTOWN AND

SUPPORTS THE PLANNED SMOKEY

HOLLOW PARK. IT'S WHERE YOU

WANT TO PUT PEOPLE. IT

DISCOURAGES AUDIT DEPENDENCY.

IT GETS PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE

ALLOWED TO WALK.

>> AND THAT A LOT OF THAT'S

ALREADY HAPPENING IN AND THIS

IS WHY WE THINK DENSITIES

APPROPRIATE IN THIS LOCATION

TO CLEARLY QUALIFIES FOR THE

KIND OF HEIGHT THAT IS BEING

REQUESTED. COMMISSIONERS

ULTIMATELY APPROVED THE

REZONING MEANING PLANS FOR THE

30 STORY TOWER CAN CONTINUE A

MOVE THAT HE CALLS

DISAPPOINTING AND BELIEVES

COULD SET A PRECEDENT IN OTHER

NEIGHBORHOODS TALKING ABOUT

THE WHOLE OF ALL RIGHT.

>> BECAUSE ALL OTHER HISTORIC

NIGHT AND NEIGHBORHOODS

CONCERNED ABOUT THIS TO BE

HAPPENING IN THEIR BACKFIELD.

>> THE PLANNING COMMISSION ONLY

ADVISES ON GROWTH AND

DEVELOPMENT IN A RALEIGH CITY

COUNCIL WILL MAKE THE FINAL

DECISION. LEADERS ARE EXPECTED

TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSAL AT A

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