City of Raleigh agrees to purchase four properties on New Bern Avenue

The City of Raleigh agreed to purchase four properties on New Bern Avenue Tuesday.

The properties are all along the 1600 block of the road. Since 2020, Raleigh police have reported more than 80 crimes in that area of New Bern Avenue.

With a price tag of $9 million, the City of Raleigh has big plans for the area.

"It sounds really good," said Kenny Gore, who works at a restaurant on New Bern Ave. "We are looking forward to it, it is really bad here."

WRAL has reported on crimes that happened in this area, including for a teenage boy who died after being shot on the same block.

The redevelopment plan will include small businesses, affordable housing and retail and office spaces. Some residents, including Gore have their own suggestions for what should be built.

"A community center, definitely a community center," Gore said. "It will help build up the community, because we are a community-based restaurant."

Richard Lee, who also works on New Bern Avenue, hopes a restaurant gets built on the property.

As of now, there is no timetable for when redevelopment will start.