This is one of the 5 in 5 strategic goals for downtown Raleigh

Jaume Plensa Public Art Proposal

Designs for Fayetteville Street Phase 2 including new concepts for City Plaza (Former Plensa Art location)

View the approved design (January, 2004)

View Fayetteville Street Urban Design Guidelines

Fireworks at grand re-opening of Fayetteville Street July 20, 2006. (more images)

This goal emerged from the Livable Streets planning process. Fayetteville Street is Raleigh's premier address. It has been Raleigh's Main Street since its creation as one of the 4 streets radiating north, south, east and west from the Capitol in the 1792 William Christmas Plan for the new State Capitol City at Raleigh. It's prominence as the commercial center of Raleigh began to erode in the mid-20th Century with the development of Cameron Village and other suburban shopping options. In the early1970's, in response to the opening of Crabtree Valley Mall and other economic trends, the City Council sponsored a plan for downtown (the Odell Plan) which called for the construction of a new Convention Center astride Fayettevile Street (now demolished) and the Fayetteville Street Mall, a pedestrian mall intended to bring street life back to Fayetteville Street. The Mall was constructed in the late 1970's and has existed in its original design since that time.

Design charrettes that were held as part of the Livable Streets planning process in 2003 identified the 70's era Mall as an impediment to the revitalization of the Fayetteville Street corridor as a commercial center. Various ideas on how to reintroduce limited traffic onto the street were explored, and upon approval by the City Council of the Livable Streets Plan, the Council asked the City Manager to move ahead with specific plans for the partial reopening and redesign of the street.  The first phase of the new Fayetteville Street opened July 29, 2006.

• July 29, 2006 - Fayetteville Street Reopens!
• September 23, 2005 - Construction continues, project still on schedule for completion in May, 2006.  See updates from this point on the Fayetteville Street page on the City main web site.
• March 14, 2005 - Groundbreaking held at Fayetteville and Martin Streets - Mayor Meeker excited about prospects for the street.
• March 4, 2005 - For any questions regarding the construction of Fayetteville Street, call Michelle Boyette 302-9062 (mboyette@raleighconvention.com)
• February 7, 2005 - A public meeting is scheduled for March 7, 2005 at 9:00 am in Room C of the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center to discuss the work plan for the Fayetteville Street Renaissance project.  Contact Jayne Kirkpatrick at 890-3000 for more information.
• January 18, 2005 - The Raleigh City Council voted 6-2 to approve an $8.97 million bid from T.A. Loving Company to redesign the Fayetteville Street Mall. Construction is expected to begin in early March 2005, with completion in May 2006.
• December 20, 2004 - One project construction bid submitted late, bid opening rescheduled for January 3, 2005.
• December 7, 2004 - Fayetteville Street Renaissance Phase 2 concept design acknowledged by Council, will re-open street at least to Lenoir Street and will assure unimpeded view to BTI Center.  Schedule and process for schematic design will be presented to Council in January. See Cultural / Convention District Strategic Planning Process.
• November 16, 2004 - Project re-bid.  Bid opening December 17, 2004 
• September 16, 2004 - Cultural / Convention District plan design charrette results in recommendation to extend Fayetteville Street project all the way south to the BTI Center, over the existing parking structure in the 400 block, and over a planned new parking structure in the next block south.
• September 7, 2004 - Construction bids come in substantially over budget - bids are rejected and will be re-bid after bid package refinements.  Lowest bid (T. A. Loving) was $13.07 million.  City Council reviews options for adjusting bid package on September 17.
• July 20, 2004 - City Council approves issuance of COPs (Certificates of Participation) to finance Fayetteville Street construction.
• March 2, 2004 - City Council appoints Councilors Crowder and Hunt to be design liaison to the design team as they complete working drawings for the project.
•  January 20, 2004 - City Council approves Fayetteville Street design
• January 15, 2004 - City Council committee recommends design removing "bubbler" features from most of plan, but generally accepts current design otherwise.  Final review by Council Jan. 20.
• January 6, 2004 - City Council accepts additional comments on design of Fayetteville St. Renaissance.  Holds decision for a subcommittee to meet January 12.  Full Council consideration of subcommittee recommendation scheduled for January 20. 
• December 5, 2003 - City Council holds open public input until January 6. 
• November 24, 2003 - City Council schedules public meeting on design of Fayetteville St. Renaissance - Dec. 2, 7 pm City Council Chambers. See preferred alternative.
• November 5, 2003 - City Council receives report on public meetings - preferred alternative. Next public meeting scheduled 4-6 pm (Fayetteville alternative) and 6-8 pm (Hargett-Martin conversion) Nov. 18 at Urban Design Center
• October 17, 2003 - Public meetings held Oct 14, 15 and 16 consider three alternatives.  Next public meeting NOVEMBER 20 - City Council Chambers
• October 3, 2003 - The first neighborhood meetings regarding the design of the Fayetteville Street / Hargett-Martin project are scheduled for the Urban Design Center October 14 at 10:30 (100 block residents / owners), 2pm (300 block), and 4pm (200 block), October 15 at 9am (400 block). Public meetings are scheduled for October 16 from 4-6pm (Public input on Fayetteville St. alternatives) and 6-8pm (Hargett-Martin conversion)
• September 16, 2003 - The City Council approved the selection of Barbara S. Mulkey, Inc. / Cooper Carry as the lead design team for the Fayetteville Street Renaissance project and the Hargett / Martin Street conversion to two-way streets.