Midtown Raleigh is getting a makeover

Midtown Raleigh includes four neighborhoods — North Hills, Crabtree Valley, Cameron Village and Five Points — and the areas between them, according to VisitRaleigh.

New drawings from the City of Raleigh propose a makeover for parts of Midtown, including new, pedestrian-friendly crossings over Interstate 440, a Midtown Waterfront District and park along Crabtree Creek and a “Midtown Ring” of greenways and on-street paths that connect neighborhoods.

Planners discuss new vision for Midtown Raleigh

More green space around homes, offices and businesses is a priority in the plan.

"Green space is great," said Mary Sue Boyle, who lives in the area. "Anywhere you can sit down and have a snack and run and play is good by us.”

A second big change is the creation of a waterfront district along Crabtree Creek, which Raleigh leaders say is the first of its kind in the city.

Another resident, Patty Mason, said she loves that the plan includes water.

"We’re birders," she said. "[Water] brings a lot of birds, so that’s huge to us."

Officials said the waterfront would be near the intersection of Six Forks Road and Wake Forest Road, an area with many flood-prone properties.

Planners also wanted to re-envision the I-440 Beltline, which they described in its current state as a "barrier to walkability." The proposed plan calls for new transportation options including two new Beltline crossings — one for cars and pedestrians and the other for people walking and biking.

"We would travel, we would bring our bikes," Boyle said. "We would go on the bridges and watch all the cars on the overpasses. It would be great.”

The plans also include bus rapid transit between Midtown and downtown Raleigh.

Officials hope the changes will make Midtown a destination hub. People with questions or comments can contact the project manager, Jason Hardin at 919-996-2657 or jason.hardin@raleighnc.gov.