City council member Tom Crowder acknowledged Tuesday the support University faculty, students and the surrounding neighborhood voiced for the renovation of Hillsborough Street.
But despite the outpouring of support through letters and e-mails for the renovation, the proposal is still two votes short of passing and the council delayed an official vote yet again.
Instead, the council has installed Mitchell Silver, Raleigh’s city planner, to take charge of the situation and find a compromise between the proposed plan and the voices of the two dissenting votes.
“We’re going to try to take a look at the other options,” Silver said. “Up until now, the roundabouts had been the primary solution, but the economic development of the area had not been addressed — that’s what we’ll be promoting.”
The renovation plan that did not pass, titled Plan A, calls for two roundabouts along the N.C. State section of Hillsborough Street in an effort to slow down traffic to decrease safety problems and make the street more aesthetically appealing.
“As far as I can see, roundabouts are the best way to improve safety along Hillsborough Street,” Student Body President Will Quick, who spoke briefly before the council Tuesday, said. “Cleaning it up will help economic development of the area, as well as the general security.”
One of the votes against the proposed renovation, council member Philip Isley, said although he is not in favor of the plan yet, he does hope the council can find a plan that will help the economic development surrounding Hillsborough Street.
The council will meet again in two weeks, at which point Silver will present his findings and an updated proposal.
“At this point we’re going to continue to explore the economic viability of the proposed renovation and look at a plan with or without roundabouts,” Silver said.
Because he only has two weeks to come up with a revised plan, Silver said he may not be able to meet with a large number of community members but will be in constant contact with the Hillsborough Street Partnership.
“Time is short, but I want to ask the questions to find what [the community] will accept,” Silver said.
Mitch Danforth, a member of the partnership and a senior in civil engineering, said he was pleased with the meeting today, and the council had not given up on the former plan. “I was glad the city councilors were so positive about the future of the plan and that they let Will voice the students’ views,” Danforth said. “The delay also gives me a little more time to get the students rallied.”
Danforth said he will try to get students to attend the next meeting on Feb. 6 so the council can see the support for the plan by students.
According to Silver, the University plays a crucial part in the renovation plan, including the economic development, because of the amount of property it owns along the street.
“They’re a big part of it being a property owner, and we’ve heard their support of the plan throughout the discussions,” Silver said.
The optimal goal for construction start date is in mid-May, according to Quick so the construction teams can get as much done as possible before school starts in August.
But the only way for this goal to be accomplished is for the council to decide on a plan soon.
“It’s still a feasible option with the plans and money in place,” Quick said. “Then at least the first roundabout could be completed by the time school starts in the fall.”
