A complaint aimed at halting—or reshaping—the West at Peace development officially landed in Wake County Superior Court Dec. 5.
Backed by The Brough Law Firm, three residents of the historic Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood intend to sue the City of Raleigh and Raleigh Development Company (RDC), alleging that City Council improperly approved the controversial project’s rezoning in the fall.
City Council voted in October to greenlight the rezoning that made West at Peace possible. While many city planning documents recommend a 3- to 12-story height limit near established neighborhoods, the approved plan allows the project to rise 240 feet at the north end and 360 feet at the south end—roughly 25 and 27 stories, respectively.
The Glenwood-Brooklyn group argues the rezoning approval crossed the City’s own planning guardrails.
In a Nov. 24 letter to the Raleigh City Attorney and RDC’s legal counsel, the residents’ attorneys outlined their concerns, arguing RDC’s special height waiver was not properly reviewed. They also point to the City’s earlier rejection of Case Z-54-22—a nearly identical rezoning request from RDC for the same property in 2023—as evidence that the latest approval is legally vulnerable.
The lawsuit further alleges the rezoning violates local guidance on building-height transitions, amounting to illegal spot zoning, and raises questions about possible statutory conflicts of interest tied to City Council’s review of the waiver and final vote.
Raleigh Neighbors United’s Roy Attride is one of the three Glenwood-Brooklyn residents named in the suit. He’s been following the project since RDC first submitted a proposal in 2022.
“The lawsuit is about the fact that we feel the City cut across its own processes and its plans to approve this excessive development so close to a historic neighborhood that’s supposed to have protections,” says Attride. “Once you cut across those plans here, it means you could do it pretty much anywhere.”
Attride stresses he isn’t antidevelopment—he acknowledges Raleigh is “in a housing crunch”—but says the scale of West at Peace doesn’t fit its surroundings. Beyond its height, the project would stretch more than 775 feet, nearly three city blocks, potentially blocking views and casting shadows or glare across parts of Glenwood-Brooklyn, depending on the time of day.
As in previous appeals to City Council and RDC, Attride says he still hopes for a negotiated outcome—one that lowers the height and better responds to the neighborhood.
RDC, meanwhile, has published project materials emphasizing what it describes as significant separation, with “the tallest sections set farthest from existing homes.” The developer also points to West Street, existing mixed-use buildings, the railroad corridor, and tree canopy as buffers between the project and nearby neighborhoods.
In addition to the lawsuit, other Glenwood-Brooklyn residents are crowdfunding to support separate efforts to protect the neighborhood. Whether those efforts will slow, reshape or stop West at Peace remains to be seen.
The controversial project facing backlash from nearby residents wary that towering heights could disrupt the character of the historic neighborhood was approved for a 30-story rezoning (up from 12)—though final caps limit heights to 24 stories on the north and 27 stories to the south.
“We are honored to have City Council’s approval on this project and thank all of those involved for their careful consideration and diligence throughout the process,” says RDC VP Chris Carter. “We look forward to delivering a project that supports the city’s growth goals for Downtown and provides an exciting new amenity for the community.”
When complete, West at Peace will bring a mix of residential offerings and a significant ground-level retail experience bordering the future Smoky Hollow Park—plus allocate up to $1.2 million to the city’s affordable housing fund.
Carter emphasizes a mix of both local concepts and national brands, with a primary focus on placemaking along the park—also noting that retail is essential to curating a one-of-a-kind DTR experience.
But to make way for the new, current tenants of the 2.6-acre expanse between Capital Boulevard and North West Street—Endless Grind, Knuckle Up Boxing and Fitness Center, and Oak City Printing—must be demolished. Yet another reminder that in Raleigh, progress often comes with a price—a growing pain in our fair city’s relentless march toward future growth.
A proposed 30-story tower at the edge of Downtown sparks debate and concern.
*Editor’s note 4/24: At the neighborhood meeting held April 23, Raleigh Development Company shared they would limit a portion of the property’s height to 20 stories, while the remainder would be capped at 30. They also offered to donate $1.2 million to Raleigh’s affordable housing funds.
TELL CITY COUNCIL NO 30-STORY TOWERS 240-FT FROM HOMES.”
The bold, large-lettered black-and-red signs have become a standard fixture around Raleigh in the past few months—the result of a controversial development planned at the edge of Downtown near the historic Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood.
Situated in the 2.6-acre expanse between Capital Boulevard and North West Street, the area is home to such small businesses as Endless Grind, Knuckle Up Boxing and Fitness Center, and Oak City Printing. Currently dubbed Devereux Meadows, the proposed Raleigh Development Company project adjacent to the future allotted Smoky Hollow Park calls for a rezoning to raise height limits from 12 to 30 stories, paving the way for multiple mixed-use high-rises.
This isn’t the developer’s first pursuit—project plans initially submitted in 2022 were denied zoning approval by City Council in May 2023. Back on the table, the Z-54-22 rezoning has reignited fears around large developments and stirred fresh concerns on how a surge of tall towers could alter and threaten the fabric of Raleigh’s historic neighborhoods.
Raleigh Neighbors United, a grassroots advocacy group funding the signs and committed to protecting local neighborhoods while fostering responsible growth, contends the proposed height increase violates policies outlined in planning documents. These include the Capital Boulevard Corridor Study, which dictates three stories at the neighborhood edge and up to 12 stories in areas well-separated from neighborhoods; the Raleigh Downtown Plan, which illustrates seven to eight stories; and the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, limiting to 12 stories max.
According to Raleigh Neighbors United’s Roy Attride, the fight isn’t about denying the area the attention or density it deserves. “What we’re fighting against is inappropriate height not supported by any policy, plan, history or precedent—and then jamming it next to our neighborhood,” he says. “The developers should be able to make plenty of money [at 12 stories]. It would be great density; it would offer housing. … I want all these to succeed, so I’d love to see them build those 12 stories there and move onto other places that need development and attention.”
More importantly, Attride says putting a 30-story tower in that area would “put every neighborhood in Raleigh—but especially along Capital Boulevard—at risk” and remove protections for transitional areas throughout the city “because there’s no reason to stop 30 stories from being anywhere. It’s not just a one-neighborhood problem—but a Raleigh problem.”
Despite those concerns, Raleigh Development Company VP Chris Carter maintains the company has been actively engaging with the community and city leaders as they finalize plans. “We believe the rezoning as proposed makes the most sense for this project, for our company and for the city of Raleigh,” he asserts. “The additional density allows for a greater supply of new housing to be provided.” Carter adds there are already two sites zoned for 40 stories along Peace Street across from this project, with RDC electing to scale their own rezoning request down.
There’s also the question of what the project means for the nearby businesses. Jason Howard, owner of The Cardinal across the street, says it doesn’t matter if the building’s 12 or 30 stories—construction chaos, parking headaches and traffic reroutes will hit his bottom line. Still, he’s hopeful the payoff might be worth it, eventually.
“I personally am opposed to it because I didn’t want to be facing a high-rise at any point in time,” he maintains—“that’s why I picked that location. But, at the same time, I decided to be in Downtown. … I chose to be in a city, so I can’t really bitch about the growth of it. I don’t want it to be 30 stories though.”
Nearby bar Stella’s owner Lena Ali is also concerned. “As a small business owner, I fully support Raleigh’s pursuit of growth, opportunity and thoughtful expansion,” she offers. “However, large-scale developments are routinely followed by large-scale cost increases that have the potential to negatively impact those who have long called these areas home.”
City leaders appear to be listening. Mayor Janet Cowell tells Raleigh Magazine that “it’s too early to say how Council will vote on [the rezoning],” but adds, “I believe the whole council wants meaningful conversations between neighbors and the developer.” As of press time, a required neighborhood meeting will be held April 23. Ultimately, growth is inevitable—but the kind of city Raleigh becomes will be shaped by the conversations we choose to have now.
