Conservancy wants city to embrace chance for decaying Dix Park buildings to 'come back to life'
The city of Raleigh is figuring out what to do with buildings in Dix Park as the space transforms from a state government campus to a public park.
There are more than 80 buildings in the space, including a former mental health hospital and the headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services. The hospital closed in 2012. There are offices in some of these buildings. Others are vacant.
Currently, the state spends about $10.5 million a year maintaining these buildings.
That will become the city's responsibility when DHHS moves out to a new campus in July 2025.
This shuttered institution shows its age and decay in the rusted beams and weather-worn bricks.
"Many of these buildings are in poor shape, they don’t have historic value, or don’t fit into what is a future park," said Nick Smith, chief of staff for the Dix Park Conservancy.
The non-profit is helping transform the former state hospital campus into what will become Raleigh's largest public park.
This new Building and Infrastructure Study looks at all 88 buildings on the Dix Park campus.
It recommends demolishing 57 of them. The city wants to start with 11 cottages that once housed hospital staff. The study shows 31 buildings could be reused or preserved - including the Lineberger and Brown buildings.
The demolition plan would clear 82 new acres of open space.
"Since this was a hospital campus, there’s a lot of parking spaces, a lot of administrative spaces that are not as useful in a park context," Smith said. "So, opening up that green space is the goal."
The conservancy is already restoring these century-old stone houses.
"These are three historic buildings – some of the most significant buildings on campus," Smith said.
They will house the conservancy's headquarters, park offices, and a visitor's center with the first public restrooms in Dix Park.
"When I look at all these buildings, I see opportunity – the opportunity to bring them back to life," Smith said.
City council will take a look at this building study during a work session on Tuesday. They'll also hear about a possible way to pay to maintain Dix Park.
The study said that would cost $16 million a year. One option would be to add a tax to nearby properties - similar to what is done in downtown and along Hillsborough Street.
