If you think colored pencils are just for kids, think again. Raleigh-based artist Jaimon Caceres uses them to create magical landscapes and lifelike portraits that look similar to oil paintings.
Raised on a small farm in Burnsville, NC, Caceres grew up without television and internet, encouraging him to take in the natural beauty of the world around him. During the warmer months, Caceres adventured through fields, forests and creeks surrounding his home and in the wintertime, he’d draw what he encountered.
Though he drew constantly as a child, Caceres studied interior design at the Art Institute, thinking it would be a more financially stable career path. Then, two years ago, he decided he didn’t want to go another day without following his dream of becoming an artist, so he started a business creating colored pencil art.
“I was having visions of myself as an older man, totally miserable in a job I hated, wishing I had pursued my art and I needed to do something about it,” Caceres says.
While colored pencil is one of the hardest mediums to use, Caceres says he chose it because he loves a challenge. “I need the pressure of a challenge to perform really well. There is a very small margin for error with colored pencil, so I have to be hyper focused while I am working.”
Caceres says that while making colored pencil art is demanding, his process is fairly traditional. He starts by looking at a reference photo and sketches the image onto heavy cotton paper with graphite drawing pencils. Then, he layers on the colors, starting with black and finishing with white. It’s the white, he says, that helps blend the colors and achieve that smooth, oil-painting look.
“I love the finished result of colored pencil art,” Caceres says. “It makes me so proud when people tell me they can’t believe a piece was done in pencil.”
Since transitioning to working as a professional artist, Caceres has completed two series of drawings, one of Paris cityscapes and the other, a study of ballet dancers. As a former ballet dancer himself, he sees similarities between colored pencil art and classical ballet; both require a specific skill set that demands hard work and patience, as well as practice and constant attention to improving technique.
“Also, both are definitely going to give you blisters and calluses; not my favorite part of either discipline,” Caceres jokes.
As for future series, Caceres constantly seeks inspiration and new things to try. One of the most important aspects of his art, he says, is capturing beauty.
“In all the work that I create, I am interested in recreating moments in life that are so beautiful and intriguing, they force me to stop and take them in.”
Oh, the weekday lunch; does anything spark more joy? Whether it’s a solo escape from the confines of your cubicle, a quick get-together with an old friend, a meeting with a client or a trip out with your coworkers to boost morale, nothing says “escape” quite like leaving the office for a few to refuel. In Raleigh, there are plenty of options for that lunchtime satiation that you seek. On your own and need something fast? Grab a sandwich from Sola or a healthy salad from Happy + Hale. Need to impress out-of-town visitors? Take them to a classic Oak City spot, like Mecca or Clyde Cooper’s, or show your support for a worthy cause at A Place at the Table. Celebrating a co-worker’s birthday or just feeling indulgent? Bask in your sunnies on Vivace’s patio, soak in the atmosphere at Hummingbird or Bida Manda, or try a new treat from one of the city’s many top chefs. That work? It’ll still be waiting for you on your desk for when you get back. Remember, lunch time is your time, so soak it in! You only lunch once…once a day, that is.
Best “Lunch for One”
Chuck’s
In all honesty, you’re probably better off enjoying one of Chuck’s hefty burgers on your own, as we all know how messy that can get. Choose from one of AC’s signatures or build your own with all the dribbling sauces your heart desires. 237 S. Wilmington St.; ac-restaurants.com/chucks
Chuck’s
Sola Coffee Cafe
With Sola’s sizable cafe and patio, it’s easy to tuck yourself away at a table for one and enjoy a cozy lunch of freshly made sandwiches, salads and smoothies. 7705 Lead Mine Rd.; solacoffee.com
Morgan Street Food Hall
No arguing over what to eat or where to sit here; going solo at Morgan Street Food Hall means you can choose freely between lots of lunch and dessert options, with no one judging if you opt for more than one. 411 W Morgan St.; morganfoodhall.com
Heirloom Brewshop
Curl up in one of Heirloom’s signature pink chairs and enjoy Laotian, Taiwanese, and Japanese-inspired bites paired with sake, tea or coffee for a delightful afternoon pick-me-up. 219 S. West St.; heirloombrewshop.com
Raleigh Times Bar
With its large, open windows, bar top seating and front patio, Raleigh Times is the perfect place to people watch while enjoying a quick and reliable lunch. 14 E. Hargett St.; raleightimesbar.com
Best Outdoor Lunch Spots
The Station at Person Street
The Station’s patio offers an outdoor bar, cozy fireplaces and picnic tables with umbrellas surrounded by lush plant life, ensuring a comfortable outdoor dining experience. 701 N. Person St.; stationraleigh.com
The Station at Person Street
Vivace
Take in the sights and sounds of North Hills on Vivace’s spacious patio, centered around a gorgeous fountain, while dining on exquisite Italian cuisine. 4209 Lassiter Mill Rd.; vivaceraleigh.com
Whiskey Kitchen
Whiskey Kitchen’s outdoor patio is enough to make you want to check out of work for the rest of the day, with its large picnic tables, twinkling lights and ample foliage situated across the street from Nash Square. 201 W. Martin St.; whiskey.kitchen
Taverna Agora
In addition to the great Mediterranean food, Taverna Agora’s rustic rooftop patio transports diners to a Greek oasis. 326 Hillsborough St.; tavernaagora.com
Taverna Agora
Winston’s Grille
Reminiscent of a swanky resort, the concealed outdoor patio at Winston’s is perfect to enjoy a sophisticated lunch on a beautiful day, with umbrellas and a roof to shade against humidity in the dead of summer. 6401 Falls of Neuse Rd.; winstonsgrille.com
Best Kept Secret
Lonnie Poole Golf Course
NC State’s esteemed golf course also boasts an excellent restaurant. Terrace Dining Room features upscale dining options, served alongside gorgeous views of the course and downtown Raleigh’s skyline. 1509 Main Campus Dr.; lonniepoolegolfcourse.com
Lonnie Poole Golf Course
Seaboard Cafe
Located inside Logan’s Trading Company at Seaboard Station, this pleasant cafe serves signature scratch-made dishes, including soups, salads and daily grill and deli options, to be enjoyed on the patio surrounded by garden shop greenery. 707 Semart Dr.; seaboardcafe.com
Lucettegrace
In addition to the exquisite pastries and desserts lucettegrace offers, the lunch options are not to be missed either. Choose from fresh sandwiches, salads and soups, or try the signature box lunch, which includes a sandwich, salad or soup and a treat. 235 S. Salisbury St.; lucettegrace.com
Oakwood Cafe
Though easy to miss, this Cuban and Argentine restaurant serves an array of authentic dishes from the two countries for a lunch that’s unlike any other you can get in Raleigh. 300 E. Edenton St.; oakwoodcafenc.com
Zest Cafe & Home Art
After browsing the store’s unique decorations and gifts, grab a seat in the café for diverse offerings of “zestwiches,” salads, soups and main dishes, all made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. 8831 Six Forks Rd.; zestcafehomeart.com
Best For Business
The Capital Grille
Impress a client or co-worker with lunch at Capital Grille, an elegant fine dining restaurant featuring sophisticated dishes guaranteed to leave a great impression. 4242 Six Forks Rd.; thecapitalgrille.com
The Capital Grille
18 Seaboard
A favorite spot for business meetings and special occasions, 18 Seaboard offers an impressive menu of contemporary Southern-inspired dishes made up of locally-sourced ingredients. 18 Seaboard Ave.; 18restaurantgroup.com
O-Ku Sushi
At O-Ku, chef Richard Fong sources fresh fish from some of the world’s premier markets for the restaurant’s sushi and sashimi, as well as for chef specialties that go beyond impressive. 411 W. Hargett St.; okuraleigh.com
Midtown Grille
An intimate, upscale restaurant in North Hills, Midtown Grille’s no-frills, contemporary American menu takes some of the pressure off during an important business meeting. 4421 Six Forks Rd.; themidtowngrille.com
A Place at the Table
A Place at the Table’s unique pay-what-you-can mission will impress any client or business partner, not to mention the friendly staff of volunteers and delicious, fresh-to-order lunch options. 300 W. Hargett St.; tableraleigh.com
A Place at the Table
Best Veggie & Vegan
Sassool Mediterranean Cafe
Sassool offers a variety of vegan and vegetarian options, including pita sandwiches, salads and pizzettes, along with a signature four-item sampler where you can build your own platter of fresh sides, dips and salads. 9850 Strickland Rd.; sassool.com
Irregardless Café
Irregardless Café’s farm-to-table concept sources ingredients from its own Well Fed Community Garden, in a variety of freshly-made dishes that range from cauliflower curry to zoodle bolognese to a black bean and quinoa burger. 901 W. Morgan St.; irregardless.com
Neomonde
Neomonde’s Meditteranean offerings feature plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, including build-your-own plates, pita pockets, man’ousheh (a flatbread pizza) and an array of satisfying sides and dips. 3817 Beryl Rd.; neomonde.com
Neomonde
Happy + Hale
At Happy + Hale, fresh, healthy salads and build-your-own bowls reign supreme during lunch time, with vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free options and other allergies clearly marked on the menu for easy decision making, no matter your dietary restrictions. 443 Fayetteville St., 200 Park @ North Hills St.; happyandhale.com
Living Kitchen
Vegans and vegetarians rejoice over Living Kitchen’s 100-percent organic and plant-based menu. Try a range of favorite cuisines made without meat, eggs or dairy. 555 Fayetteville St.; livingkitchen.com
Best Grab-and-Go
Carroll’s Kitchen
Carroll’s Martin Street location is the ideal spot to grab a seasonal sandwich, salad or soup on the go, while supporting the nonprofit whose mission is to provide gainful employment for women leaving crisis situations. 19 E. Martin St.; carrollskitchen.com
Sosta Cafe
Sosta offers an eclectic mix of homemade paninis and sandwiches, as well as soups and salads, that feature high-quality ingredients sourced from the local farmer’s market. 1806 E. Davie St.; sostacafe.com
Whole Foods
We can all agree that Whole Foods’ salad and hot bars are the next best thing after your favorite sit-down lunch spot. Or, pick up a fresh pizza or grab-and-go sandwich for a lunch that’s so good, you’ll forget you got it at a grocery store. 3540 Wade Ave.; 8710 Six Forks Rd.; wholefoodsmarket.com
Whole Foods
Chargrill or Snoopy’s
Depending on where you are, both Snoopy’s and Chargrill are ideal options for celebrated hot dogs, burgers, fries, shakes and more in Raleigh. 4621 Atlantic Ave., 618 Hillsborough St., 3211 Edwards Mill Rd., 9601 Strickland Rd; chargrillusa.com; 600 Hillsborough St., 1931 Wake Forest Rd., 3600 Hillsborough St., 2431 Spring Forest Rd.; snoopys.com
Pizza Times
Every day, Pizza Times offers a special pizza featuring a unique mix of toppings. Or, you can build your own as a slice, 12-inch pie or 18-inch pie. 210 S. Wilmington St.; raleightimespizza.com
Pizza Times
Spots We Wish Served Lunch
Poole’s Diner
We don’t know about you, but we long for Poole’s comforting, seasonal dishes well before it opens for dinner, especially the to-die-for mac and cheese. 426 S. McDowell St.; ac-restaurants.com
Crawford and Son
Scott Crawford’s creative menu of classic and modern dishes, offered in a casual, welcoming environment, would certainly impress at lunch time. 618 N. Person St.; crawfordandsonrestaurant.com
Oak Steakhouse
While Oak exclusively serves dinner, some might appreciate the Certified Angus Beef or the oyster deviled eggs during lunch, for a little extra indulgence during the day. 417 W. Hargett St.; oakraleigh.com
42nd Street Oyster Bar
Unfortunately, 42nd Street’s impressive menu of fresh, local seafood dishes can only be enjoyed in the evening, otherwise we’d be camping out all day long. 503 W. Jones St.; 42ndoysterbar.com
Angus Barn
A mecca for celebrating birthdays, promotions and other special events, Angus Barn’s beloved menu of steak, seafood and other dishes is only available for dinner. 9401 Glenwood Ave.; angusbarn.com
Atmospheric Lunch Spots
Iris
Located in the North Carolina Museum of Art, Iris offers an elegant dining experience of modern American cuisine among beautiful works of art. 2110 Blue Ridge Rd.; ncartmuseum.org
Iris at NCMA
Coquette Brasserie
Coquette’s sophisticated patio, adorned with black and white laminate floors and potted flowers, transports guests to a lovely Parisian café, Eiffel Tower views not included. 4351 The Circle at North Hills St.; coquetteraleigh.com
Brewery Bhavana
As breathtaking as the food is delicious, Brewery Bhavana’s ethereal interior, composed of elegant wooden tables, ample foliage, intimate lighting and an impressive marble bar top creates an awe-inspiring backdrop to enjoying traditional Asian cuisine. 218 S. Blount St.; brewerybhavana.com
Gonza Tacos y Tequila
The lively, colorful interior decor of Gonza, including its brightly lit stars, painted floors and vibrant artwork, makes for a fun spot to grab a bite and escape the hustle and bustle of a weekday. 7713 Lead Mind Rd., 2100 Hillsborough St.; gonzatacosytequila.com
Bida Manda
Bida Manda’s alluring reclaimed wooden furniture and stick-lined walls, harvested from North Carolina mountains, perfectly channels the Laotian affinity for nature, providing a beautiful space to enjoy the unique food of the region. 222 S. Blount St.; bidamanda.com
Bida Manda
Best Build-Your-Own
Chopt
At Chopt, the world, or bowl, is your oyster. Choose a base of greens, then add from a list of superb veggies, and finish with your choice of cheeses, grains, meats and crunchy toppings for a colorful, satisfying chopped salad that’s all your own. 420 Daniels St., 6004 Falls of Neuse Rd.; choptsalad.com
CAVA
Similar to Chipotle but for Mediterranean cuisine, at CAVA you can build your own salad, grain bowl or pita with fresh toppings, proteins, dips, spreads and dressings to your heart’s content. 403 Daniels St.; cava.com
Raleigh Raw
Raleigh Raw’s customizable poké bowls are a downtown cult favorite. Choose your base of sticky rice or greens, protein and one of three signature styles, made up of either spicy, sweet or savory refreshing ingredients. 7 W. Hargett St.; raleighraw.com
Gusto Farm to Street
Go light or indulgent with Gusto’s customer-crafted salads and pizzas, where it’s up to you to choose from a substantial list of greens, grains, sauces, cheeses, proteins, dressings and other toppings, as well as type of crust; cauliflower is the favorite. 3088 Wake Forest Rd.; 2512 Hillsborough St.; eatgusto.com
Guasaca Arepa & Salsa Grill
This South American-inspired restaurant specializes in build-your-own arepas, featuring an authentic list of fillings, ranging from avocado, chicken, braised tilapia to shredded beef, plus traditional toppings and sauces. 4025 Lake Boone Tr.; guasaca.com
Best Deals & Combos
BarTaco
The BarTaco lunch tray lets you live every day like it’s Taco Tuesday, with the option of three tacos or one rice bowl and a chopped salad or cup of soup for $11. 4121 Main at North Hills St.; bartaco.com
BarTaco
The Cardinal
There aren’t too many spots where you can get an amazing $3 lunch in Raleigh, but The Cardinal is one of them. For just three bucks, get a signature local beer-steamed dog in a New England-style bun, then load up on gourmet toppings for 25 cents each. 713 N. West St.; facebook.com/TheCardinalBar/
Pizza La Stella
Get your own personal, one-topping pizza with a drink for only $9.95 at this beloved Neapolitan-style pizzeria in the heart of downtown. 219 Fayetteville St.; pizzalastella.com
Sono
Craving sushi? For $15, try Sono’s lunch sushi combo, which includes miso soup, house salad and your choice of a specialty roll. 319 Fayetteville St.; sonoraleigh.com
Tazza Kitchen
Tazza’s bowl of soup and half salad combo for $8.50 is perfect for those who like to stay on the lighter side during lunch. 432 Woodburn Rd.; tazzakitchen.com
Tazza Kitchen
Most Iconic
Mecca
This old timey, diner-esque restaurant has been serving Raleighites since 1930, with a traditional Southern comfort menu and daily house specials that utilize local, seasonal ingredients. 12 E. Martin St.; mecca-restaurant.com
The Player’s Retreat
Since 1951, Player’s Retreat has been a beloved lunch spot for all walks of life in Raleigh, no matter the age or financial status. Elevated bar food and made-to-order entrees comprise the beloved menu. 105 Oberlin Rd.; playersretreat.net
Clyde Cooper’s Barbecue
For great barbecue around these parts, most Raleighites opt for Clyde Cooper’s, a long-cherished establishment featuring award-winning slow-cooked pork barbecue dishes and fried chicken. 327 S. Wilmington St.; clydecooperbbq.com
Clyde Cooper’s Barbeque
Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery
Located in the heart of historic Five Points, Hayes Barton’s signature deli and grill selections have been a Raleigh favorite since 1998, along with housemade desserts. 2000 Fairview Rd.; hayesbartoncafeanddessertery.com
The Roast Grill
This diner has solely been serving hot dogs, glass bottle Cokes and Greek desserts since 1940. The dogs are made from 90 percent beef with a touch of lean pork flavor, cooked on a grill until crisp and charred, and served without ketchup—the owners don’t believe it belongs on a hot dog. 7 S. West St.; roastgrill.com
On Mother’s Day, it’s only right to show appreciation for the women in our lives that have raised us and influenced us so much. What better way than by taking your mom out to a Raleigh restaurant that’s owned or headed by a local mom/chef? Make sure to show some love to the caring mothers in the kitchen, behind the bar, on the floor and at the front of house, too, who work hard every day for their own children and for their guests.
Bittersweet
Bittersweet: Kim Hammer, Owner
No matter what time of day you visit, there’s something sweet to be had at this cocktail, dessert and coffee lounge. Get your caffeine fix with coffee drinks served alongside freshly baked pastries, or swing by after dinner for a craft cocktail and one of Hammer’s signature desserts. 16 E. Martin Street, (919) 977-3829, bittersweetraleigh.com
Centro: Angela Salamanca, Owner
For some of the best Mexican food in Raleigh, take your mom out to Centro, which boasts authentic Mexican favorites for lunch, dinner and brunch. Afterwards, take Mom upstairs to Gallo Pelón, also owned by Salamanca, for mezcal, tequila or a craft cocktail. 106 S. Wilmington Street, (919) 835-3593, centroraleigh.com
Hummingbird: Coleen Speaks, Owner
Coleen Speaks’ unique New Orleans-inspired restaurant serves a full day of distinctive breakfast, lunch and dinner items, as well as a superb weekend brunch, complete with original Hummingbird cocktails. 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 111, (919) 301-8900, hummingbirdraleigh.com
NOFO @ the Pig: Jean Poe Martin, Owner
Known as one of the best brunch spots in Raleigh, NOFO is sure to please even the pickiest mother. Get her one of the award-winning Bloody Marys to start, then fill up on shrimp and grits, buttermilk fried chicken or fried green tomato benedict. 2014 Fairview Road, (919) 821-1240, nofo.com
Relish Craft Kitchen & Bourbon Bar: Sharon May, Owner
At once traditional and contemporary, Relish delivers an upscale twist on classic Southern comfort dishes. Favorites include various mac and cheese skillets and grilled cheese sandwiches, served with one of their many notable whiskeys. 5625 Creedmoor Road, (919) 787-1855, relishraleigh.com
State Farmers’ Market Restaurant: Gypsy Gilliam, Owner
Show your mom true North Carolina cooking with a trip to the State Farmers’ Market Restaurant, where all meals are made-to-order and prepared with fresh, North Carolina-based products. The highlight is the Country Breakfast and homemade buttermilk “Real Biscuits,” along with bottomless iced tea. 1240 Farmers Market Drive, (919) 755-1550, realbiscuits.com
Vidrio: Amber Moshakos, President of LM Restaurants
Impress mom amidst Vidrio’s stunning decor and bright atmosphere and share small plates of Mediterranean-inspired dishes featuring seasonal ingredients and bold flavors. 500 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 100, (919) 803-6033, vidrioraleigh.com
Vivace
Vivace: Stacy Jennings, Owner of Urban Food Group
Vivace features elegant lunch, dinner and brunch selections, with Italian-inspired dishes including pizza, pasta, paninis, salads and more. The outdoor patio is a lively spot to dine and share a bottle from the elaborate wine list. 4209 Lassiter Mill Road, Suite 115, (919) 787-7747, vivaceraleigh.com
You’re likely familiar with fashion designer Tory Burch, but her nieces, Neely and Chloe Burch, are making major waves in the fashion world as well with their classic, feminine handbag line Neely & Chloe. Following Chloe’s stint as a merchant for J. Crew and Neely’s travels in an airstream trailer-made-boutique, the family business bug finally hit the Burch sisters. The New York-based line sells pieces in more than 130 stores across the country. We talked with Chloe about fashion, business and what it’s like to work alongside her sister.
Neely & Chloe Burch in their apartment, photographed by Bridget Badore for Ampersand in partnership with Connect(ed)itorial
You both majored in subjects unrelated to fashion. What made you get into the industry?
Our family has always been in the fashion industry. My dad had a clothing company in the ’80s and ’90s called Eagles Eye and my mom worked there. My aunt is in the industry, as well as my cousin. We grew up talking about it and I always knew I wanted to be in the fashion world, I just didn’t know I wanted to do my own thing.
What inspired the brand and how did you and Neely approach the concept?
Neely’s year of traveling basically turned into a year of market research, seeing what age group wanted something new, what they were looking for. We realized it was a girl who just graduated, or in their 30s or early 40s, looking for something unique, high-quality and attainable. We worked on the concept for a year doing fundraising, creative designs and product sourcing, then launched in 2016.
Your line boasts high-quality products at a reasonable price. What kinds of materials and manufacturing do you use to achieve that?
We source leathers from Spain and Portugal. When we first launched, we went through countless leather samples until we found ones we felt could attain our price point as well as quality level. We chose a pebbled leather, a saffiano leather and a smooth leather, and since then, we’ve introduced canvas, suede, nylon, patent leather, horse hair and raffia leather.
What attracted you to the idea of the high-quality yet affordable concept specifically?
We were making something we wanted. We are the customer. We were sick of either having a bag that everyone had, or it constantly broke or we were spending $800 to $2,000 on. We wanted to make something we didn’t think was out there, and make it clean, with classic silhouettes in classic colors that integrated trends but wouldn’t go out of style, at a price point we thought a range of people could digest.
What’s your customer base like?
At first, we did target the 23- to 25-year-old girl living in a city and just looking for something new and different that will last. But over the past three and a half years, we’ve seen a ton of age ranges. Everyone from high school students asking their moms to buy it for them to women in their 60s and 70s. The best example is our Mini Lady Bag, it’s our best-selling item. You get a cool girl in New York City wearing it with jeans and a T-shirt to brunch and then you get the grandmother taking it to a country club.
What’s it like running a business with your sister? Do you ever disagree?
I feel very fortunate. We’re different and have different skill sets, which is helpful. She handles the business, operational side of things, and the creative photoshoots, while I handle the detail-oriented aspects, like wholesale and our website. We go over everything together and make decisions together. We definitely disagree, but we’re so close that it’s not like a friend where you’re worried about giving them your opinion; we figure out a solution. We come up with design concepts together. We have a part-time designer who’s basically our hand, because we weren’t trained to be designers. She sketches things out and we go over different rounds of sketches and drawing and sampling.
What’s the most satisfying aspect at this stage in your career?
Seeing people with the product. I was on an airplane and I saw someone I didn’t know with one of our cosmetic cases and I literally shrieked. It’s exciting. When you see a random person carrying it, it’s great because it’s like ‘Wow, out of everything, she purchased something from us.’
What advice would you give someone who wants to go into fashion?
Don’t be discouraged easily. Neely and I always say there’s a lot of small victories; there’s some really big ones but there’s also some small ones and you should celebrate those. You’re going to have difficult times and failures but exciting moments as well. Celebrate those and don’t get discouraged if something challenging comes along.
Find Neely and Chloe bags in Raleigh at Main and Taylor. Q and A edited for space.
Wake County has a big ole pot of money—$56 million, to be exact. It’s called the interlocal fund and county officials can choose to use it not for housing or for roads, but only for arts, culture, sports or convention related, tourism-promoting projects. In the fall, the county put out a call for information on planned or proposed projects; with timelines ranging from 2019 to 2024, they would ideally cost at least $20 million, and could potentially request use of interlocal funds. Eight organizations responded to the county’s request for information; here, we break down who’s vying for the funds and what for.
City of Raleigh
Raleigh Convention Center
Project: Expansion of Raleigh Convention Center, including adding new headquarters hotel.
Purpose: Accommodate additional, larger events and visitors to the area.
Estimated cost: $225 to $275 million.
North Carolina Football Club
Proposed Downtown Entertainment and Sports Center
Project: Downtown Entertainment and Sports Center – A 22,000-seat entertainment and sports center in downtown Raleigh with office, hotel, retail and multi-family residential space.
Purpose: Secure a bid for a Major League Soccer franchise/provide additional space for sports and entertainment events.
Estimated cost: $150 million, or $11 million per year for 30 years beginning in fiscal year 2022.
Friends of Raleigh Wake
Project: City County Stadium Project – A public stadium in Southeast Raleigh for football, soccer, lacrosse and track to hold 8,000 people.
Purpose: Fill the gap of the ballpark previously located on Peace Street between West Street and Capital Boulevard.
Estimated cost: $249,000.
Town of Cary
Project: Indoor multiuse sports facility to include basketball courts, space for E-sports, arena with 4,000+ seats surrounding a center court, concession and dining areas, storage space for athletes and faculty, meeting/classroom space.
Purpose: Strengthen Wake’s competitive position as a sports tourism destination, and attract more large-scale sports events and tournaments to drive overnight visitation.
Estimated cost: Construction: $88.2 to $100.8 million; soft costs: $26.5 to $30.2 million.
William Peace University
William Peace University
Project: A 12,000 square foot performing arts center including a 600-seat auditorium and black box theater.
Purpose: Accommodate planned university performances and offer more usage to the local theater and performing arts community.
Estimated cost: $30 to $32 million.
North Carolina Museum of Art
North Carolina Museum of Art
Project: East Building renewal project with a new education and conservation center, collaborative work environments, redistributed libraries and a park level connected to the festival lawn, amphitheater and Museum Park, a conservation lab and art resource center.
Purpose: Foster creative work environments, provide connections between art and the science of conservation and support public programs.
Estimated cost: $25 to $30 million.
Centennial Authority
Proposed renovation of PNC Arena
Project: Renovation/expansion of PNC Arena, adding hospitality spaces, a rooftop bar/restaurant, multiple club and concession spaces, office and meeting spaces and an enlarged plaza space.
Purpose: Accommodate more fans/fan revenue, entertainment events and Carolina Hurricanes operations and management; showcase the region’s food and beverage culture.
Estimated cost: $200 to $300 million.
Marbles Kids Museum
Marbles Kids Museum
Project: Renovation and expansion adding about 55 to 60,000 feet of space.
Purpose: Achieve growth and be a key attractor to Wake County.
Estimated cost: $45 million.
According to Wake assistant county manager Denise Foreman, county staff is working through a review of the projects and no date has been set for recommendations that will be presented to stakeholders and then county and city leaders. “The recommendations won’t provide funding commitments to most of the responses,” Foreman said in email. “This was a request for information only and was not a process designed for making decisions on the projects outside of PNC Arena and the Raleigh Convention Center.”
