State of downtown Raleigh report to highlight challenges, successes during pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic on top of last summer's protests have presented quite the challenge for downtown Raleigh businesses over the past 16 months. This week, the annual 'State of downtown Raleigh' report will be released to show how both have taken a toll on the local economy.
Posted — Updated
"We've started to really bounce back downtown," said Bill King, Downtown Raleigh Alliance President and Chief Executive. "The previous year was a tough one, but as vaccinations picked up during the spring, confidence picked up and we saw a lot of grown in downtown."
Highlights from the report include:
- 37 storefront businesses opening in the first eight months of 2021
- 82 percent grown in downtown Raleigh's retail base since 2011
- 97 percent walk score -- the highest walk score in the entire region and the most walkable part of the Triangle
- Rapid increase in number, density of public art installations in downtown Raleigh in the last five years
- Downtown Raleigh housing units tripled since 2000 and more than doubled since 2015
"You're seeing people come back downtown. Sales are up. We still have some work to do and some room to grow, but people have really come back and invested in this place," said King.
The report will be presented in the Memorial Auditorium at Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts on Thursday at 3:45 p.m. Downtown businesses owners will also share the impact the pandemic has had on their businesses over the last year during the event.
Related Topics
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
