Raleigh leaders debate spending $1.3 million to improve downtown

Raleigh leaders are trying to figure out ways to make downtown cleaner and safer.

On Tuesday, city leaders discussed how to spend $1.3 million. Ideas include adding more street art to sidewalk and intersection murals. The city could also replace and add trash bins. Also, there is a possibility of putting a dog park at Moore Square.

The city has allocated more than $4 million into downtown improvements over the last several years.

It led to some debate among city council members on whether the city should put more money into improvements.

“If we don’t support our downtown, the business owners, the folks who frequent downtown, the folks who live there, the rest of the city is not going to succeed,” Raleigh Mayor Pro Tempore Jonathan Melton.

District D City Council Member Jane Harrison said she wanted the city to use the money elsewhere.

“I feel uncomfortable putting the majority of these funds into downtown, so I really want to see us look for other investments that support the rest of the city,” Harrison said.

On Tuesday, the city council voted to move forward with a Fayetteville Street study that will look at clearing off the sidewalks and adding lights.

A few months ago, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance put out 10 big ideas to improve that street.

The mayor asked city staff to put together some options to spend roughly half of the $1.3 million downtown and use the rest to address homelessness.

The city council is expected to discuss the issue again at a meeting later this month.