Initial Hillsborough Street Project Community Meeting Set For April 28

Initial Hillsborough Street Project Community Meeting Set For April 28

Business operators, residents, students and any and all interested persons are invited to attend the first community meeting to provide information and answer questions about Phase I of the Hillsborough Street Project.

The meeting will be held from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Hillsborough Street Partnership offices at 2100-200 Hillsborough St. (1 Maiden Lane).  The meeting will have an informal floating format that will allow for interested persons to drop by anytime within the 3 1/2-hour period.

The City has a $9.92 million contract with Hamlett and Associates, Inc. for the Hillsborough Street Project Phase I, which extends from Gardner Street to Oberlin Road.

The Hillsborough Street Project is set to break ground on May 20.  The project will convert Hillsborough Street to a two-lane, median-divided facility with on-street parking on both sides, a seven-foot wide raised median, sidewalk bulb-outs at the intersections and mid-block location and several pedestrian signals. The project replaces the Hillsborough Street and Pullen Road traffic signal with a dual-lane roundabout. The project will replace the existing concrete and brick sidewalks. The project also includes the replacement of both water and sewer utilities throughout the length of the project as well as LED street and pedestrian lighting.

‘Twas quite a St. Paddy’s day for Hillsborough Street:  On Tuesday, March 17, the Raleigh City Council took two actions that will move the future of Hillsborough Street in the right direction!

First, the Council approved the request of the Hillsborough Street Partnership to provide $50,000 to fund the initial work of the organization that will seek approval as the Business Improvement District once it begins to generate revenue after July 1, 2009.  The Partnership is moving to create the Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation as a permanent, non-profit organization set up exclusively to carry out the goals of the Business Improvement District approved last July.  The HSCSC will be made up of a Board of 7 members, 3 appointed by the Partnership, 2 by the City of Raleigh, and 2 by the North Carolina State University.  The work program approved by the Partnership at its March quarterly meeting sets out to achieve 4 primary goals:

• I — Put in place the administrative framework to enable the members of the BID to achieve their objectives with efficiency and timeliness…….. this will include the legal and administrative tools necessary to carry out our business
•  II– Begin a marketing program that will initially focus on the desirability of doing business on Hillsborough Street during the course of the physical disruptions to the street as the Street Improvement Project is carried out.  This will stress the availability of easy parking to serve the customers of the street.
• III– Begin a “Clean and Safe” campaign to ensure that everyone’s experience on the street is “Clean and Safe”.  This will include having roving ambassadors on the steet to identify where special trash pick up is needed, to help customers find the things they need and to feel comfortable on the street, and to help customers avoid such problems as predatory towing where it is practised on the street.
•  IV– Enhance coordination of at least 8 events that take place each year that help establish Hillsborough Street as Raleigh’s Main Street connecting the college community and the downtown.  These will include events such as the recent Hillsborough Street Renaissance Festival, the annual Back to School/Homecoming events, the Hillsborough Hikes, the Krispy Kreme Challenge, and the many run/walk events that support so many charitable causes in our community.

Second, the Council approve the selection of a contractor to build the first Street Improvement Project on the street which includes the roundabouts at Oberlin/Groveland and Hillsoborough/Pullen, the extension of Pullen to Oberlin, and the new streetscapes from Oberlin west to Gardner.  This includes the undergrounding of utilities, upgrading water, sewer and drainage facilities, new sidewalks with landscaping and street furniture, medians and safe pedestrian crossings and many more features.

The work is expected to begin in the middle of May.  News will soon be available about a meeting to share details of the construction project.  Please contact us to be sure you are aware!

All in all,  a great day for the Street.

Stay involved and keep informed.  Change is on the way!

Congratulations! Kudos to you all! 

The Hillsborough Street Partnership was recognized on Wednesday, September 17, 2008, for its outstanding contributions to the community.  The award was given by the Raleigh Citizen’s Advisory Council (RCAC) based on the nomination of the Hillsborough Citizens Advisory Committee (Hillsborough CAC).  Ana Pardo Duncan presented the award at a ceremony held in Meymandi Hall of the Progress Energy Performing Arts Center in downtown Raleigh.  Ms. Pardo recognized the efforts made by the Partnership since its creation and stressed its success in bringing the community together to achieve its full potential.

Ms. Pardo explained how after 500 citizens participated in a community based charette to “Create a new Vision for Hillsborough Street” in 1999, the Hillsborough Street Partnership was formed to act as a catalyst to achieve the vision.  After three more in depth professional studies of the feasibility of the vision, the detailed design of street improvements to help achieve the vision, and an analysis of the best management tools available to achieve the vision, 2008 was a watermark year in moving the vision forward.  The Partnership recommended a strategy of using local road bonds to finance the street improvements.  These bonds had been approved earlier by an overwhelming positive vote of the community.  The City Council approved a concept plan for implementing two roundabouts, one at Pullen and Hillsborough, and one at Groveland and Oberlin; and reconstructing the streetscape from this area westward to Hillsborough and Brooks Ave.  The new streetscape would include wider sidewalks to accomodate bus patrons and sidewalk cafes, two through lanes to facilitate a better flow of traffic, two outer lanes to provide over 100 additional parking spaces and room for buses, bikes, and loading/unloading for businesses, enhanced crosswalks and a brick median to provide for a safer pedestrian environment and LED street lighting, new landscaping and street furniture incorporating seating and bike parking and recycling facilities to make the area more inviting for residents, students and the business community.  Construction is beginning as soon as all the property has been acquired necessary to complete the project.

In addition, the City Council acted to create a Hillsborough Street Business Improvement District which will begin generating additional financial resources to provide for better patrolling, a cleaner street and the management capacity to coordinate the many events that are making Hillsborough Street Raleigh’s authentic main street for its college town district.

Ms. Pardo said that Hillsborough Street is truly a place where neighbors, the university community and businesses can meet and prosper.

In accepting the award on behalf of the Hillsborough Street Partnership and the hundreds of citizens, shop owners, University students and administrators, government officials and neighbors that have made the progress possible, George Chapman, HSP Chair, said that the goal of transforming Hillsborough Street from the “border” separating the University from the community into the “bridge” between the community and the University was finally coming together.  He invited the 100 people present at the awards ceremony from all over the City to come to Hillsborough Street and see for themselves as the transformation continues.  He also thanked Councillors Crowder, Stephenson, Koopman and West, who were present,  for their continued support for the efforts of the Community.  They, along with Mayor Meeker, and Councillors MacFarlane, Eisley and Baldwin and Chancellor Oblinger and Vice Chancellor Leffler of NCSU have all been instrumental in helping to achieve the vision established by earlier actions of the Hillsborough Street Partnership.

On July 15, 2008, the Raleigh City Council voted unanimously to establish a municipal service district (MSD) — or business improvement district — on Hillsborough Street. The objective of the MSD is to help revitalize areas along Hillsborough Street. The City has a similar MSD in the downtown area.

MSDs are a funding mechanism used to provide revenue for a variety of services that enhance existing municipal services in the business improvement district. Additional revenue collected from special assessments on property owners in a MSD is used for maintenance, business recruitment, advocacy, management, marketing, security and other services. The special assessment for property owners in the Hillsborough Street MSD will be 0.10 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation. The special tax rate will take effect on July 1, 2009. It will expire on June 30, 2014 unless extended by the City Council.

The Hillsborough Street MSD will run east-to-west along the street from St. Mary’s School to Meredith College. The MSD’s southern boundary will follow the railroad right-of-way that crosses the N.C. State University campus. The northern boundary is generally areas one block north of Hillsborough Street. The MSD contains 123 acres of land and more than 2 million square feet of built space. There are approximately 210 businesses in the Hillsborough Street MSD.

The City of Raleigh has worked with neighborhood residents, business owners and other property owners in studying the establishment of a MSD along Hillsborough Street. Leading the City’s Hillsborough Street MSD Formation Study was a volunteer steering committee which consists of Hillsborough Street property owners and others with an interest in the area. The City hired Downtown Professionals Network to manage the MSD study.

On July 1, 2008, the Raleigh City Council held a public hearing on the
creation of the Hillsborough Street Business Improvement District.
The public input was favorable and the Council appears ready to enact
such a district. They agreed to place the resolution necessary to
create the District on the July 15, 2008 Council agenda. If passed on
that date, the District will be created on July 1, 2009. This will be
a huge step forward in enabling the Hillsborough Street community to
improve itself. Thanks should be extended to the many members and
friends of the Partnership who worked to make this happen, including
Ralph Recchi, Craig Ralph, Donna Bailey, Alan Lovette, Charles
Leffler, Chris Ragone, Sheila Carter and city staff member Kristopher
Larsen.

A General Membership meeting is scheduled for
June 11. 4 to 6pm At Nelson Hall (NCSU College of Management), room 3220
On Hillsborough near Dan Allen Drive.
Our work program has the following topics scheduled for discussion:

TOOT THE HORN:
Produce Dining/Shopping Guide
Produce Parking Plan/Guide
Expand/Market Transit on Hillsborough Street
Electronic Newsletter/Kiosks

Stragegy: Riemann and Williams to collaborate on upgrading web site to develop “newsletter” , “calendar”, and “advertising” functions. Williams to focus on Dining/Shopping/Parking guide both in printed and electronic forms. Mills to help establish link to Raleigh Police calendar of events on street and links to other organizations that sponsor events. Chapman to contact transit officials to seek help. Harwood to seek help from College of Design on Kiosk concept. Ragone to repeat/revamp Banner Program.

CELEBRATE:
Support Homecoming Week
Halloween Hike on Hillsborough Street
Armistice Day Celebration

Seymore to develop Homecoming Week and Return to school events and calendar. Mills, Lovette and Palmer to lead in Hillsborough Halloween Hike event planning. Williams and Jennings to lead in Taste of Hillsborough to be scheduled later than last year, in more concentrated location, and possibly in conjunction with Groundbreaking. Chapman to lead in Armistice Day celebration with Sister Cities Association. Riemann links to calendar function. Develop common format for events from Sept. thru Nov. in location, promotion, music, art.

ALSO: an update on the most current actions by the City regarding street improvements and the Business Improvement District

The Raleigh City Council will hold a public hearing on a business improvement district (BID) proposed for Hillsborough Street on July 1 at 7 p.m. in the council chamber at the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex, 222 W. Hargett St.

BIDs are a funding mechanism used to provide revenue for a variety of services that enhance existing municipal services in the business improvement district. Additional revenue collected from special assessments on property owners in a BID are used for maintenance, business recruitment, advocacy, management, marketing, security and other services. The City currently has a BID in the downtown area. The Downtown Raleigh Alliance manages the downtown BID for the City.

As required by state law, the City has sent notices to property and business owners in the proposed Hillsborough Street BID. The BID would run east-to-west along Hillsborough Street from St. Mary’s School to Meredith College. The BID’s southern boundary would follow the railroad right-of-way that crosses the N.C. State University campus. The northern boundary is generally areas one block north of Hillsborough Street. The proposed BID contains 121 acres of land and more than 2.5 million square feet of built space.

The City of Raleigh and members of the Hillsborough Street Partnership have worked with neighborhood residents, business owners and other property owners in studying the establishment of a BID along Hillsborough Street. Leading the City’s Hillsborough Street BID Formation Study is a volunteer steering committee which consists of Hillsborough Street property owners and others with an interest in the area. The City hired Downtown Professionals Network to manage the study.

More information about the Hillsborough Street BID can be obtained by visiting www.hillsboroughbid.com or contacting Kristopher Larson with the City of Raleigh Department of City Planning at 807-5220.

Partnership Board member Paul Blankinship has asked for the support of the Hillsborough Partnership Board for the effort by the University Park Homeowners Association to expand the proposed Hillsborough Street Improvement project to include the side streets that run north from the corridor and are entryways into the neighborhood. Apparently the current funding being proposed by the staff does not include monies for streetscape or landscape improvements for these areas. To do so would add another $100,000 to the costs of the project. Since the total costs for the current project far exceed earlier estimates, it is not clear what impact adding these features would have on funding for other aspects of the project. You are invited to come to the upper level of Dunkin’Donuts at 8:15am on Saturday, April 26th, to discuss this proposal. The meeting will preceed the beginning of the Spring Clean Up scheduled for 9am that morning. You are also urged to contact Paul for further information.

The following are the specific modifications and extensions of streetscape that the UPHA would like to support:

UPHA Side Street Streetscape Improvements

Ranked from A to C with “A” being the highest priority, the following are UPHA’s request
for side street streetscape improvements:

A”

Chamberlain Street: On both sides of the street, continue the brick sidewalk to the first
driveway entrance on the west side and to the Compiegne Park on the east side. Plant trees on west side only.

Pogue Street: West side only, continue brick sidewalk and tree planting to rear property line, or, even to Vanderbilt if possible.

Horne Street: On both sides of the street, continue the brick sidewalk to first driveway
cut (west side) and alley entrance (east side). No trees planted.

“B”

Logan Court: On both sides of the street, continue the brick sidewalk to first driveway
cut then on to Compiegne Park (west side) and on to Hope Street (east side). No trees
planted.

Enterprise Street: On both sides of the street, continue the brick sidewalk to the first
driveway cut. No trees planted.

Maiden Lane: On both sides of the street, continue the brick sidewalk to first driveway
cut. Not trees planted.

Ferndell Avneue: On east side of the street, continue the brick sidewalk to first driveway
cut. No trees planted

“C”

Gardner Street: On both sides of the street, continue the brick sidewalk to first driveway
cut. No trees to be planted.

Note: “No trees planted” means there are usually existing trees that would remain, no
additional tree planting requested. Some places, like the east side of Horne Street, may
not allow enough sidewalk room for tree planting.

HillsboroughStreet.org has a new look!

• The upper-right corner of the page has four navigation tabs.
• The image gallery has clickable images that direct viewers to their sources.
• The sidebar has links for visiting partner websites, contacting me (Mitch), and navigating posts (such as this post).
• This text block will be used for updates and articles submitted through the Partnership.

Please contact me with feedback regarding the new site. Whether you notice a technical issue, have a design comment, or would like content added to the site, I want to know. Enjoy!

Mitch Danforth,
Webmaster, NCSU Student, and
Hillsborough Street Partnership Trustee