Downtown Raleigh's Fayetteville Street begins major streetscape upgrade
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Work is underway on a $1 million streetscape project along Fayetteville Street as Raleigh officials aim to make the downtown corridor more vibrant and inviting. City leaders say the improvements are designed to draw more people to the area and support longstanding businesses.
Crews began landscaping work this week, removing old planting beds that will be replaced as part of the redesign. New seating is scheduled to be installed in the fall, and colorful custom artwork is expected to appear along several blocks early next year. Renderings shared with ABC11 show multiple design options planned for the street.
Kyle Hankin, owner of Foundation, said the investment is welcome.
"Have the street look better on the sidewalk, look better, a little bit more clean," he said.
Foundation has operated on Fayetteville Street for 17 years and was among the first bars to open there. Hankin said the area has experienced highs and lows, noting that business leaders believe Fayetteville Street was hit hardest by the pandemic. He said activity is slowly returning.
"Marginal increase, but steady increase over the last three years in sales overall," Hankin said.
City officials say the project is part of broader efforts to improve safety downtown. A breezeway on Wilmington Street was closed several weeks ago after reports of criminal activity. Evan Raleigh, assistant city manager, said the change has made a noticeable difference.
"Absolutely, it's been quieter; some of that loitering activity that was concerning to our police officers, to the community, to the business owners that were directly adjacent, has died down," Raleigh said.
The Hopscotch Music Festival returns this weekend, bringing thousands of visitors downtown and boosting business for Hankin and others. He said he is optimistic about the future.
"The hotel opening down there with the new Red Hat, like there's going to be so much more stuff on Fayetteville Street. So I think there will be. With the city help, obviously a renovation and a revitalization of the street," he said.
City officials also said they are working with Wake County to support people experiencing homelessness downtown.
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