Raleigh Cuts Plaza Design Budget

Raleigh, N.C. — The Raleigh City Plaza project took another hit Tuesday when the City Council voted to cut the budget by $5 million.

Designers now have $16 million to build Raleigh's so-called "public living room" on the south end of Fayetteville Street. The plaza will feature lights and fountains.

Designers said scaling back the project is a last resort, and they aren't sure how they will make up the funding shortfall.

Last year, the council nixed a design for the site by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, saying it would have blocked the view along Fayetteville Street.