It started with bagged salads. Then jalapenos, then eggs—and then blueberries, beef and popsicles were recalled.
Enter recall summer. “At this point, just give us a list of what we can eat,” one consumer complained. Foods spanning every group of the pyramid keep getting pulled from shelves, with each alert seemingly bringing more gut-wrenching symptoms and annihilating more grocers.
Is something fundamentally wrong with America’s food supply right now? Not necessarily, but there is a very real increase in some foodborne illnesses, particularly Cyclospora. Well-documented changes to the nation’s food-safety surveillance system have further complicated the picture.
“This summer’s series of recalls and outbreaks are familiar territory where we find fresh produce and other ready to eat products making headlines,” says Lynette Johnston, an associate professor and food safety extension specialist at NC State.
Salmonella and pathogenic E. coli are common culprits of foodborne illness, she notes. “The one real departure from what we typically see is Cyclospora, which isn’t a new or unusual pathogen, but there is a significant increase in the number of cases.”
The timing has also put federal food-safety policy under a microscope. In July 2025, the CDC reduced the number of pathogens its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network is required to actively monitor from eight to two: Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
Cyclospora is among those no longer required to be monitored under the program. The change was attributed to funding constraints, although states can continue tracking those illnesses independently.
The FDA has also undergone budget and staffing reductions, while shifting some routine domestic inspection work toward state partners and directing federal resources toward higher-risk, complex and international inspections. But that doesn’t mean those changes caused this summer’s outbreaks.
“It is important to note that any cuts that have been made to the FDA/CDC have not been a direct cause of the increased number of recalls,” Johnston says.
Instead, several things may be happening simultaneously. “There are likely a combination of factors here: A genuinely large Cyclospora outbreak, the typical seasonal uptick in fresh produce-related illnesses that occur each summer, a leaner response system, and heightened media attention.”
Johnston’s takeaway: Approach the headlines with some nuance and perspective. “The increase in outbreaks seems to be real and not a product of media coverage; however, the significant media coverage is likely making it feel even larger than the actual rise in cases.”
The interconnected nature of today’s food supply can make contamination feel enormous too. A single supplier can distribute products across multiple states, retailers and restaurant chains, meaning one contamination event can quickly become a nationwide concern—and one company can forever be infamous for its “poop lettuce.”
Behind the scenes, private dollars are shaping how prepared Raleigh really is.
Stella Patterson may have stepped down as Raleigh’s police chief—but her legacy is still at work.
Because here’s the reality: When you call 911, you expect someone to show up ready—trained, equipped and operating with the best tools available. And while city budgets cover the essentials, they don’t stretch far enough to fund what’s next.
That gap is where the Raleigh Police Department Foundation comes in. Inspired by Charlotte’s, Patterson introduced the foundation with a simple premise: to “make Raleigh the safest city in the nation” by bringing in private-sector dollars to help fill what public funding can’t.
Fueled by corporate donors such as First Citizens Bank and TowneBank, along with board support from local business leaders like Mike Smith of Kane Realty Corporation and Larry Barbour of North State Bank, it directs private dollars toward equipment, technology and support the city budget doesn’t cover. And it’s not just big-name backers—everyday Raleighites can step in too, putting real dollars behind it.
“It gives people a way to put their money where their mouth is on public safety,” said Patterson. “They’re funding projects we wouldn’t have been able to do within our budget.”
And that investment isn’t abstract—it’s tangible, immediate and, in some cases, life-saving. In one recent road rage incident, two officers were shot—one in the head and alive today thanks to a specialized ballistic helmet funded by the foundation, not the city budget. It’s the difference between response and outcome.
That’s the through-line—not upgrades, but tools that change outcomes. Think high-tech gear like drones, night-vision optics, advanced camera systems, plus less visible pieces like K-9 support, mounted patrol horses, specialized bikes and officer wellness initiatives—including the department’s emotional support dog, Teddy.
It’s not just a list of equipment—it’s about readiness, about whether the person responding to a call has what they need in that moment. That impact also reaches beyond officers. In the wake of tragedy, the foundation has stepped in to support both responders and residents—from meal donations in Hedingham to youth programs and crisis-response support—quietly reinforcing where public safety and community trust actually meet.
And the need is only growing. At the foundation’s first major public-facing event this spring at North Ridge Country Club, Chief Rico Boyce emphasized the same point: Expectations for public safety continue to rise, even as budgets remain finite.
Which leaves Raleigh, like many cities, at a crossroads. Because while tax dollars fund the baseline, the question is what it takes to go beyond it—not just to respond, but to be truly prepared. Increasingly, that answer is coming from outside City Hall—or, as Patterson put it, from a community “putting its money where its mouth is” when it comes to safety.
Defined by quiet family homes and strolling NC State students, Clark Avenue is typically a calm connector between the Hillsborough Street Corridor and Downtown. But the familiar scene was upended last November when NC State University assistant professor Dr. Natalia Duque-Wilckens was struck and killed by a vehicle at the Pogue Street intersection.
Her tragic death wasn’t swept under the rug—and she hasn’t been the only one affected by Clark Avenue’s risk. Raleigh police data has logged hundreds of crashes along the road over the years, with at least 100 occurring since 2023.* While just one death has resulted from those crashes since at least 2015, the number of reported injuries has held steady.
Now, the City is stepping in—installing four-way stops at key Clark Avenue intersections to improve pedestrian safety and help curb pedestrian fatalities. The move follows one resident’s request for an analysis of three intersections on Clark Avenue in the wake of Duque-Wilckens’ death. According to Will Shumaker at the Raleigh Transportation Department, that single complaint submitted to the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program immediately triggered a review of the corridor.
Before the request was submitted in February, students and community members promptly launched a local campaign to install better safety infrastructure along the pedestrian-heavy residential road. A subsequent petition drew over 1,200 signatures from residents concerned for pedestrians not just around NC State, but across the city.
Just over a month later, the engineering evaluation wrapped and their recommendation reached City Council—by March 17, it was official. The stops went live at Clark Avenue’s intersections with Pogue, Horne and Chamberlain streets a week later. The takeaway: It only takes one request to trigger a review—and there are multiple ways to make the city take notice of a local issue.
For residents looking to push for changes, early outreach matters—and is encouraged, says Shumaker. “Many neighborhoods hold discussions internally, but no formal request is made until someone takes the lead to contact the City. Starting that conversation is often the key to initiating meaningful change.”
City Council also hosts public commentary during meetings, but if you miss the call time—or aren’t apt to public speaking—voicemails are accepted Thursday through Monday prior.
Additionally, Raleighites can report a traffic problem in their area or request a traffic calming project via the Transportation Improvement Request portal. Drop a virtual pin on the location of the issue, attach a picture if needed and describe the nature of the problem—plus a possible solution.
Any resident can be the catalyst. Your input matters, and the City has the tools to act on it.
Get ready to pass go and collect that $200, Raleigh. Flaunting his “get out of jail free” swagger, “Rich Uncle Pennybags”—aka Mr. Monopoly—recently shuffled around town collecting intel for the upcoming Monopoly: Raleigh Edition, dropping next September.
As Hasbro’s newest select, Raleigh appealed to the 90-year-old world’s fave gamemaker because the city “has a culture unlike anywhere else across the world,” said Top Trumps USA’s Katie Hubbard at the kickoff event alongside Pennybags and a spirited Canes’ Stormy. “Raleigh is just the perfect fit.”
And as for what local pieces will “fit” those famed Boardwalk to Baltic Ave spots, Pennybags is scooping locals to submit ideas for the fully authentic Raleighized edition, from “go” and “jail” to the Community Chest and Chance cards to the currency. “We’re super excited to see where you go with the family, dates, the dog,” said Hubbard. “If you’re new—the first place you went. We want to know all of it.”
Also taking the mic, Mayor Janet Cowell highlighted “iconic” mainstays like Fayetteville Street, Chavis Park, and Shaw and NC State universities, noting selects also include fresh spots to capture the city’s diversity.
“The city pride here is off the charts—even transplants feel rooted and proud,” Hubbard told RM. Mused Cowell: “We’ve got the growth and population”—really speaking for everyone when she said: “I can’t wait to play.”
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Raleigh’s next skyline, under construction: the projects making it happen
By the Editors
Building buzz, literally, Raleigh is a city in motion. From historic makeovers to modern high-rises, city projects are moving from blueprint to buildout—leveling up her “it” factor with new projects, hotels and cultural hubs redefining every pocket of the city from the Central Business District to Midtown to the upcoming Blue Ridge Corridor. Tracking the towers, streetscapes and spaces in progress that promise to transform the cityscape and shape up the skyline, we’ve mapped out what’s rising, where it’s happening, and the bold features guaranteed to leave their mark on the city.
Omni Raleigh Hotel
Slated groundbreaking: 2025 Slated opening: 2028 Specs: 600 keys, 27 stories, 61K square feet of meeting space, 20K square foot ballroom Noteworthy features: DINING: Lobby bar, grab-and-go market and coffee shop, sports bar with a golf simulator, NC’s first Bob’s Steakhouse, three-meal poolside restaurant AMENITIES: Rooftop pool with spa, valet parking, resort-style wellness facility
Cementing the Cap City’s ascending rank as a travel destination, Raleigh’s first Omni hotel—and NC’s third—sets the stage for high-end stays for out-of-towners and staycationers alike. Staking its claim on the DTR skyline from its perch on Fayetteville Street, the Omni Raleigh Hotel sits squarely across from Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts and the Raleigh Convention Center—primed to capture the city’s growing wave of eventgoers, especially with the Convention Center’s own renovation on deck.
Courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
First announced in 2023, Omni has since upped the ante with an added 50 rooms—bringing the total key count to 600—plus more space for a larger ballroom. But perhaps its hottest draw for overnight guests will be a rooftop poolside restaurant serving sunrise scrambles to sunset cocktails, answering the call for both quick business breakfasts and all-day bites and bevs.
Beyond the pool—and taking full advantage of the blank canvas—the hip hotelier is betting big on boosting Fayetteville Street with a lineup of eats and drinks designed to also draw locals. Think a sleek lobby bar; a grab-and-go market and coffee shop; and the first Bob’s Steak & Chop House in the state, plating prime cuts and Americana.
Sports fans won’t be left out of the game either—the luxe hotel is adding a swanky sports bar, complete with massive TVs and a golf simulator. “It’s going to be the best place in Raleigh to watch the game,” maintains Omni Hotels VP of Acquisitions and Development Brian Zelman. With its mix of luxe lodging, dining and entertainment, Omni is no doubt set to become DTR’s next “it” hang. “Raleigh is an incredible city with an incredible culture,” emphasizes Zelman. “We love the emphasis on food and beverage, and that’s always been a point of emphasis for Omni to really distinguish ourselves from other competitors. We like the opportunity to create the first real luxury hotel Downtown and are excited to do that.”
Lichtin Plaza at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Laura Beesmer/HH Architecture
Slated opening: March 2026 Noteworthy features: • Wheelchair ramps on either side of the auditorium • Dedicated drop-off lane proximal to lobby • Open flex space for outdoor programming
Nearly 25 years after raising the curtain, Lichtin Plaza at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts is getting a long-awaited glow-up designed to at once uplift diversity of touring shows and homegrown companies.
The timing is in step with neighboring transformations— the Raleigh Convention Center expansion and Omni Raleigh Hotel’s groundbreaking, both of which Martin Marietta is working with— positioning the plaza as a cornerstone of the evolving DTR arts, culture and tourism hub, says GM Michelle Bradley.
Beyond repairing worn pavement, Bradley shares the redesign will boast a dedicated drop-off lane landing patrons closer to Raleigh Memorial Auditorium’s lobby, new wheelchair ramps for added accessibility and a reimagined entry that trades the fountain-turned garden for flex open space suited to outdoor programming. “The building needed something that invites people in and says, ‘It’s the old, iconic building, but it has a new front porch,’” emphasizes Bradley.
Backed by city funding and the center’s savings, the plaza project broke ground in late September and is pacing for a remarkably speedy turnaround, with construction slated to wrap within six months for a March 2026 unveiling. “The whole process has been very quick,” muses Bradley. “I thought this is going to be something that we’re gonna do in seven years because we didn’t have all the funds. … Two and-a-half years later, it’s actually going to be done.”
And—in a win for culture vultures and Raleigh’s Christmas season—the show(s) will go on with scheduled programming playing out during construction, including holiday staples like The Nutcracker and the NC Symphony’s Candlelight Christmas. While this year’s plaza Christmas tree will relocate for the season, it’s expected back for 2026. And, so, a Raleigh cultural icon is stepping into its next act.
500 Hillsborough
Specs: Mixed-use, 221 residential units, 10K square feet street-level commercial space Noteworthy features: • Elevated amenities • On-site entertainment
Enlivening a long-dilapidated block of DTR comes 500 Hillsborough—a luxe stay-play hub primed to energize where Downtown’s Capital and Warehouse districts collide.
Cline Design
The buzzy destination from DC-based Dalian Development clears a stretch of shuttered businesses where West, Hillsborough and Edenton streets merge at 501–513 Hillsborough—think: Flex Nightclub, Montgomery Violins and a longtime handyman shop, plus the former Wilson’s Outdoor Equipment at 502 W. Morgan—to breathe fresh life into a major connector between these districts and Glenwood South.
Scaling with 221 upscale residences stacked above 10K square feet of street-level primo retailers and restaurateurs, the blueprint builds on the momentum of 400H, plus the upcoming Hotel Indigo and HM Partners’ F&B-focused development Garden West, to cement the corridor as Raleigh’s next buzzy build in action. With elevated amenities and on-site entertainment, 500 Hillsborough sets the stage for modern living at its boldest.
Garden West
HM Partners
Noteworthy features: Two to three restaurants spaces + outdoor patio
Also serving to energize a sleepy corridor that bridges the Downtown core to Glenwood South is Garden West, set to deliver a slew of vibey F&B concepts to keep Raleighites fueled and social.
Located at the corner of Edenton and West streets in the long-defunct CrossFit building, the pedestrian-oriented project will also convert ~20 spaces at the adjacent Powerhouse Square parking deck into an outdoor patio.
With the core and shell reno now complete, the next hot foodie destination is officially in leasing mode, says Gregg Sandreuter, managing partner of HM Partners, the buzzy developer helming the project. No stranger to what it takes to enliven this slice of Downtown, HM is also the mastermind behind thriving 400H and such grabs as Brass Tap and Press Coffee, Crepes & Cocktails—among others.
While no tenants are yet signed, Sandreuter suspects deals to close early next year—setting the stage for Garden West to become the next must-visit destination for food, drink and Downtown energy.
One Nash Square
Slated opening: 2028 Specs: 20 stories, 82 one- to four bedroom condos, 5.5K square feet ground-floor retail Noteworthy features: • Full-time doorman + concierge • Resort-style pool and sun deck • State-of-the-art fitness center • Pet spa • Resident lounge with co-working space
Morris Adjmi Architects / Bloomimages
Raleigh’s population boom is sparking new opportunities—and Alchemy Properties South is answering with One Nash Square. Set to break ground in 2026, the project will deliver 82 sleek one- to four-bedroom condos and 5.5K square feet of ground-floor retail in the heart of DTR, across from Nash Square in the Warehouse District, leading the next phase of the city’s residential growth.
“Downtown Raleigh is thriving,” says Alchemy President Ken Horn. “Strong job growth, a vibrant cultural scene and a steady influx of new residents make it an ideal market for expansion. The area offers the right mix of energy and character for long-term homeowners.”
Putting the luxe in luxury, One Nash merges high-quality design with mod amenities to deliver a level of comfort and class on a scale not currently available in Raleigh, adds Horn. Think single-family home vibes with highrise views, expansive terraces and spacious floorplans—amenitized with the likes of a resort-style pool and sun deck, state-of-the-art fitness center, resident lounge with co-working space, and a pet spa.
Alchemy is also in talks to bring in a mix of local concepts and complementary retailers in the streetlevel spaces, adding to the vibrant Warehouse District’s energy and serving both residents and the broader DTR community. Unlike typical apartments, these condos allow residents to put down roots and be a core part of Raleigh’s growth story. “There’s a clear, unmet demand for high-quality condo living in Raleigh,” maintains Horn. “This project is positioned to meet [that need] while contributing to the critical mass being established Downtown.”
The Creamery
Turnbridge Equities
Slated Phase 1 Opening: Mid-2028 Specs: Phase I, Highline Glenwood: 37 stories, 306 units (including 16 penthouses), 7,500 square feet groundfloor retail Phase II, office tower: 20 stories, 300K square feet Noteworthy features: HIGHLINE: • 37th floor indoor/outdoor sky lounge • 13K-square-foot ninth-floor outdoor amenity terrace with pool, padel court, lawn, grills, firepits and lounge areas • Demo kitchen; coworking suite; Trackman golf simulator; fitness center designed with Anatomy Fitness; and wellness suite with cold plunge, sauna and Hyperice recovery tech
Downtown Raleigh’s skyline is poised to level up—literally. Enter Tunbridge Equities’ Creamery redevelopment, which broke ground this summer, and will deliver Raleigh’s tallest and most amenitized residential tower with Phase I in 2028.
Topping out at 37 stories—a full four taller than current king PNC Plaza—Highline Glenwood will serve up sweeping 360-degree views of DTR and beyond, and a modern-meetshistoric centerpiece sure to redefine the city’s landscape.
When it comes to securing the property, Turnbridge leaned into its MO of breathing new life into existing spaces. “We really believe in utilizing the existing urban fabric in our placemaking,” says Managing Director Jason Davis, “and the Creamery is such a Raleigh landmark that it never crossed our mind to demolish it.”
As such, the historic Creamery building and former Pine State ice cream factory—along with current tenants Sullivan’s, Milk Bar, The Underground and BuildOps—will remain fully intact and operational throughout construction.
Further serving both residents and those who live, work and play in DTR across its 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail, the NYC-based real estate investment and development firm is actively courting a diverse tenant mix of local favorites and f irst-to-market concepts.
“Food and beverage, service-based businesses, and soft goods always play well together,” adds Davis. “We have developed strong relationships with many tenants at our mixed-use projects in Austin and Nashville that have had great success and trust our placemaking. Many of these have expressed interest in expanding into North Carolina.”
Phase II plans will add a 20-story office tower at 404 Glenwood, situated between the historic Creamery building and the railroad tracks, replacing the surface parking lot off Tucker Street. The project will also feature retail along a pedestrian street connecting the new building to the Creamery, creating a direct path between West North and Tucker streets.
“It’s all about the local fabric,” emphasizes Davis. “We saw a connection between Smoky Hollow and Glenwood South as one we could really capitalize on.” With its twin towers and streetscape, the Creamery at once weaves together two distinct DTR spaces—and shapes the future of Raleigh living.
North Carolina Museum of History
Slated opening: 2028 Specs: 40K-square-foot expansion, 25% more gallery space across three stories, three levels of existing parking Noteworthy features: • Four replicas of Wright Brothers flyers • New restaurant, gift shop and indoor/outdoor mezzanine • Landscape architecture reflecting NC’s natural history • Glass-enclosed glowing elevator shaft • Large atrium doubling as event space for weddings and the like
Preserving its past and literal history while ushering it into the future, the transformative take not only launches the space another 40K square feet, but completely flips the script on the visitor experience. Less mausoleum, more modernist and inviting—a plethora of glass, natural light and materials, open space, and a reoriented entrance on Jones Street are all designed to guide seamlessly and best explore and discover North Carolina’s stories.
“I think it’s going to have a stronger presence with a lot more visibility,” maintains LS3P Principal, Project Manager and Architect Dean Rains— especially as it lights up come nighttime. “It’s going to be a beacon to draw people—and just a more open, welcoming space that’ll attract people into those central galleries and discover the story of North Carolina and the community.”
As a nod to that NC lore, the tripartite exterior facade echoes the mountains, piedmont and coast—from mountain-style landscaping features and warm wood panels to four replicas of the Wright Brothers flyers “flying off into Kill Devil Hills” as the focal point of an interior 55 foot glass-walled atrium, complete with an indoor-outdoor mezzanine.
Inside, the museum will gain a more contemporary gallery, circulation, educational spaces like classrooms and demo kitchen, and other flex space. A unique glass “storage room” will double as a rotating gallery displaying the museum’s massive collection of paintings, maps, clothes, furniture, guns, knives, toys and beyond. Even the restaurant and gift shop are getting a mod makeover.
“This project is about honoring the trust North Carolinians place in us to care for their history,” says Director of the Division of State History Museums C.J. Roberts. “We’re building a space worthy of the stories, artifacts and traditions that define our state—so they can be preserved and shared for generations to come.”
Set to ignite NC history—think Night at the Museum, minus the runaway mummies—the reno transforms the museum into a mustsee destination along the city’s cultural corridor that’s sure to have Raleighites flying high for years.
Since the 19th century, Downtown Raleigh’s Depot Historic District has been a crossroads of community and connection—rooted in its railroad and distribution hub history. Now, LODEN Development is turning that legacy into a bold new chapter, transforming the cobblestone lot between the tracks and Davie Street into a vibrant work-play-stay destination.
“There’s real energy in this part of the city,” says LODEN Partner Henry Ward. “We see The Depot as a key connector in Downtown Raleigh that links people, ideas and neighborhoods.”
Anchored by an eight-story 170-room boutique hotel and rooftop bar with sweeping city vistas, the trackside transformation serves lodgers and locals alike a veritable playground to the tune of 30K+ square feet of street-level retail, complete with microshops and pop-ups; more than an acre of outdoor gathering space; and 20K square feet of elevated office space.
The historic Depot building, dating back to 1912, will be preserved and celebrated, with underused corners activated into a signature public plaza, lush green pockets and lively gathering spaces. LODEN is also committed to tapping local and regional brands to ensure the destination draws not just hotel guests and office tenants, but neighbors, day-trippers and the afterwork crowd.
Building on the area’s connective spirit, a dual “front door” design and network of interwoven pedestrian pathways anchor The Depot between the expanded Raleigh Convention Center and Red Hat Amphitheater to the southeast, Glenwood South to the north, and the growing West End district nearby to create a true urban crossroads.
Pairing placemaking with preservation, the railway renaissance fuses legacy and liveliness— honoring what was while making room for what’s next. Here, the city’s past and future don’t just coexist—they elevate each other.
