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Community Corner

🌱 City Tries To Combat Gentrification + Downtown Office Vacancies

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Raleigh.

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Christina Fullford, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Happy Super Bowl Sunday Raleigh!

Who are you rooting for? Personally, I'm just in it for the dips. When else do people make way too many dip variants for chips? I want buffalo dip, bean dip, and meaty queso galore. Whatever you do, or if you choose to not watch, make sure you are safe and responsible. Before you go get game day snacks, and make plans, get caught up on everything, including:

  • A White House visitor experiences NCSU work.
  • Here's a beginners beekeeping class to check out
  • Raleigh has a James Beard semifinalist.

But first, today's weather:

Cooler with rain tapering off. High: 49 Low: 39.

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Here are the top five stories in Raleigh today:

  1. The city of Raleigh recently approved $1.5 million to help residents in the area while growing the community. It is rolling out a Public Project Community Support Fund to prevent gentrification as the Bus Rapid Transit project and new development plans come to fruition. The city has made grants available for neighborhood improvement projects and is working to get ahead of the area growth to prevent displacement. The community Support Fund is a pilot project that, if successful, the city will use as a blueprint for other neighborhoods surrounding other big public projects. (WRAL)
  2. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way businesses operate and many offices are still empty in downtown three years later. According to the Q4 2022 Market Report from Avison Young, around 17% of offices in downtown Raleigh and Durham are vacant. As demand has been uncertain, with many large offices subletting their spaces, office development is at its lowest since 2015. Developers that have projects in the works are optimistic that the spaces will be filled in 2024. (abc11)
  3. On Friday, President Joe Biden's top advisor in science and technology, Dr. Arati Prabjakar, visited N.C. State University. Students have been working on a system that is designed to turn energy from the ocean's waves into electric power. Prabjakar also got to see the work students are doing to develop extreme fast chargers for electric vehicles. Prabhakar says that being able to expand renewable energy is key to the future of our electric grid. (WRAL)
  4. Local anti-abortion advocates have been gathering outside of A Woman's Choice in Raleigh nearly every weekend. On Saturday "Love Life" a national organization was also present, kicking off its 40 weeks of "prayer walks." Clinic staff have had to get help from volunteers to help patients get to and from the clinic and their cars and had to have police present during the prayer march in case of any possible violence. (CBS17)
  5. On Saturday, a man led police officers on a highway chase. Around noon, officers attempted to stop a white Escalade after flock cameras caught it on video pulling a stolen trailer. According to police, the trailer was reported stolen from Raleigh in November. The chase led officers down NC-70, and ended in a NAPA Auto Parts parking lot. The driver was arrested and police are still trying to confirm his identity. (CBS17)

Today in Raleigh:

Monday in Raleigh:

From my notebook:

  • It's Super Bowl Sunday and there's tons of places to watch the big game, I've listed several above, but Triangle on the Cheap has also compiled a list of events as well as go specials you can take advantage of.
  • GiGi's Playhouse has launched a new location in Cary, and is excited to provide a fun space for all in the area. (abc11)
  • Have you gotten the chance to go to Cheeni Indian Food Emporium yet? Chef Preeti Waas is in the running for the best chef in the Southeast in the 2023 James Beard Awards. (Spectrum News 1)

That's it for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— CJ Fullford

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Raleigh Patch newsletter? Contact me at raleigh@patch.com

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