The Depot Undergoing Major Transformation
The Depot is set for a transformative revamp.
The Warehouse District’s landmark Depot Historic District is getting a glow-up. Serving up a trackside transformation that promises to redefine the district—and DTR—LODEN Development’s ambitious plan reimagines the cobblestone parking lot between the railroad tracks and Davie Street into a vibrant work-play-stay mixed-use destination.
Anchored by an eight-story 170-room boutique hotel and rooftop bar with sweeping city vistas, the rail-front revamp serves lodgers and locals alike a veritable playground to the tune of 30K+ square feet of street-level retail, complete with microshops and pop-up experiences; more than an acre of outdoor gathering spaces; and 20K square feet of elevated office space.
With a world-class design team at the helm, the project—targeted for completion by 2028—pairs place-making with preservation, with design minds behind some of the city’s most notable builds steering this next-gen revival. Think David Baker Architects and Gensler on architectural design, McAdams and Site Collaborative shaping the built environment, and The Creative Office of Joshua Gajownik crafting the brand story. The result? A thoughtful fusion of legacy and liveliness—preserving the historic Depot while ushering the Warehouse District into its next era.
And thanks to dual “front door” design and a network of interwoven pedestrian pathways, the revitalized district will serve as a seamless connector for Downtown districts and destinations, from the expanded Raleigh Convention Center and Red Hat Amphitheater to Glenwood South and up-and-coming West End—altogether linking “people, ideas and neighborhoods together,” says LODEN partner Henry Ward. “There’s real energy in this part of the city.”
Known for “activating underused spaces with intentional design and community-focused features,” LODEN will fold in a mix of layered green spaces, a public plaza and pedestrian-friendly corridors to create a true urban gathering ground. Local and regional retailers will also get in on the action, helping draw in not just hotel guests and office tenants, but neighbors, day-trippers and the afterwork crowd alike.
The Depot drop builds on LODEN’s local portfolio of transformative projects—from the ’60s-era travelodge reimagined as The Longleaf Hotel to Gateway Plaza, now a thriving hub with the likes of Mala Pata, Dogwood Country Club, Natural Science and Raleigh Founded among its roster.
Gensler’s Raleigh footprint also runs deep—contributing to such major projects as Bandwidth’s global HQ, the mixed-use Bloc[83] Tower II, 400H, and the upcoming transformation of the Lenovo Center.
The bold vision for this iconic district is the latest in a wave of adaptive reuse shaping Raleigh’s urban story—honoring what was, while making room for what’s next. It’s development that preserves character without stalling progress. And with projects like The Depot, the city’s past and future don’t just coexist—they elevate each other. Keep your eyes to the sky.
