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.