Community-Driven Affordable Development

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT Caroline Coyle

at the Former DMV Headquarters

Site History

1914

1972

1978

The site of the former DMV Headquarters is located outside of Raleigh’s Downtown core, in the midst of several of the city’s historic black neighborhoods. The Cotton Place and Idlewild neighborhoods have ties to John Cotton’s 14-acre “Idlewild” plantation, which was subdivided after his death in the late 19th century. The East Raleigh-South Park historic district encompasses a group of African American neighborhoods that developed after the Civil War. The Battery Heights neighborhood was a mid-20th century subdivision designated for African Americans during segregation. Many current residents of these neighborhoods have multi-generational ties to these histories.

A stretch of the New Bern corridor is home to a history walk with stone plaques embedded in the ground commemorating significant pieces of Raleigh’s history. The plaque commemorating the site of the old fairgrounds (#11) is situated at the northeast corner of the DMV site.

Prior to the DMV’s existence, the site was a home for Confederate soldiers (1891-1938) after which the National Youth Association occupied site and opened the Raleigh Recreation Center (1938-1948). The first half of the DMV headquarters was constructed in 1957, and the building saw expansions in 1966 and 1974 that brought the building to the state it is in today. In 2020, the headquarters for the DMV was officially moved to Rocky Mount, NC, and the process of vacating the New Bern site began. The city of Raleigh later began the process of purchasing the site, which was finalized in 2024 for $20 million. The city is now undergoing the process of engaging with the public to determine what the site’s development should look like.

IDLEWILD

3

1

2

4

9 5

6

7

14 15

8

10

16

1. Shaw University 2. Oakwood Historic District 3. Raleigh Male Academy 4. Original City Boundary 5. City Cemetery of Raleigh 6. Henry Porter House 7. Hungry Neck 8. Experimental Railroad 9. Idlewild Neighborhood 10. Primitive Baptist Church 11. Old Fairgrounds 12. Stone Quarry 13. National Cemetery 14. St. Augustine’s College 15. O’Rorke Catholic Cemetery 16. College Park

12 11 13

COTTON PLACE BATTERY HEIGHTS EAST RALEIGHSOUTH PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT

BATTERY HEIGHTS HISTORIC DISTRICT

Site Conditions

1. Former DMV Headquarters Building

2. View of Cotton Pl

3. View of Tarboro St

4. View of Martin St Baptist Church

E EDENTON ST

NEW BERN AVE S STATE ST

1

E HARGETT ST

2

4

TARBORO ST

COTTON PL

3

Site Adjacencies 1. Twins Grocery 2. African Continental Grocery 3. Hady’s Restaurant 4. Martin St Baptist Church 5. Trinity United Faith Church 6. LeVelle Moton Park 7. Tarboro Rd Community Center + Park 8. Central Mini Mart 9. Bojangles 10. Cook Out 11. Roo’s Chicken 12. Exxon 13. CITGO 14. Church’s Texas Chicken 15. Black Farmer’s Hub 16. Jack’s Seafood & Soul Food 17. Roberts Community Center + Park 18. John Winters Park 19. Future Grocery Store Development

7

15

5

17

8 6 7

14

11 9

10 12

19

16

13 5 min

5

18

15

10 min

2 3 1

PARK RESTAURANT GROCERY CONVENIENCE STORE CHURCH

4

17

15 min

The DMV Site is currently zoned OX-5 (Office Mixed Use, up to 5 stories). The site is situated within a Transit Overlay District (TOD) which allows for a 50% maximum height bonus if at least 20% of the units established are affordable to households earning 60% of the Area Median Income or less.

The Transit Overlay District requires that new development on the site utilize an Urban Limited frontage.

6% 26% WESTERN STATIONS

36% 64%

67%

5% CITY OF RALEIGH

8%

29%

58%

48%

WHITE

OWNERS

BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN

RENTERS

52%

ASIAN OTHER

The DMV Site is situated along the New Bern Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor, with a station planned to be located at the northeast corner of the site. Demographic studies conducted during the corridor planning revealed that this area has higher shares of Black/African American and renter households than the city of Raleigh generally. This area also has a $20,000 lower median income than the city at large.

NEW BERN BRT WESTERN STATIONS

Community Outreach Survey

COMMUNITY KICKOFF EVENT 08.24.24

“Rank the following themes in order of importance:”

Community Spaces + Recreation Health + Social Services

6

5

LEAST IMPORTANT

Affordable Housing

4

3

Education + Training

2 Food/Market

Shopping + Entertainment

“What are the two most important values you would want the redevelopment to reflect?”

61% 40% 34% 30% 16% 5%

Other

Community Connection

Innovation + Improvement

Cultural Preservation + Celebration

Sustainability + Environmental Responsibility

Quality of Life

1 MOST IMPORTANT

Project Working Group

Dr. Ajamu DillahuntHolloway

Anthony Pope

Clark Rinehart

Desmond Dunn

Felts Lewis

Harold Mallette

Harolynn Coplin

Helen Tart

Karen Haynes

Dr. Shawn Singleton

Tara Miller

Tolulope Omokaiye

Problem Statements 1

People of SE Raleigh need to rebuild + sustain their cultural + economic identity, but the current market forces + development trends prioritize profit over community preservation.

2

Legacy families + older citizens who still reside in SE Raleigh need to be able to retain family property, but taxation is making it extremely difficult.

3

Residents need safe affordable housing but need more affordable options outside of private landlords.

4

Families need safe, comfortable places to live, work, play, and thrive where they feel a sense of belonging, but those places are too expensive.

RFP Needs + Wants Affordable Housing

Community Spaces + Recreation

Approachable and Robust Transportation Options Affordable and Attainable Missing Middle Housing Nourishing and Culturally Relevant Solutions Commitment from the City to Prioritize Affordable Housing Diverse Affordable Housing Preservation of Black and Brown Communities Various Levels of Housing Affordability Mix of Unit Sizes Housing options for Veterans, Educators, Retirees, Singles, and Families DHIC Partnership (Education + Relationship with Residents) Diversity in Building Design Energy Efficient Homes Incorporate Green Space Visual Art Incorporation Flexible Community Spaces Family-Friendly Meeting Spaces

Physical and Mental Health Support Active and Dynamic Programming Cultural Symbols and Identity Integration with Nature

Shopping + Entertainment Third Place Concept EmpowerIng Local Businesses

Food/Market Space for Black-Owned Businesses Healthy Grocery and Dining Opitons Affordable Retail and Community Spaces Culturally Relevant Attractions Priority for Black-Owned Retail Healthy & Affordable Retail Options

Education + Training Private Daycare Options Involvement of Local Schools like St. Monica, Shaw University, & Saint Augustine’s University

N TO

EN

ST

N

ST

ED

O

E

E AV

BO R

RN BE

PL

TA R

W NE

ON TT CO

ST TE A T SS

Project Proposal

The redesign of this site introduces mixed-use, mixed-income development that responds to community needs, takes advantage of its BRT adjacency, and establishes a series of public and community spaces that encourage movement to and through the site. The development is largely parking free, save some select street-parking zones, instead placing emphasis on support for pedestrians and cyclists.

TARBORO ST BIKE LANE (Before)

PROTECTED BIKE LANE (After)

Raleigh Union Station

EXISTING BIKE LANES NEW/EXTENDED BIKE LANE PROPOSAL

Tarboro Rd Community Center

Moore Square

Hunter Elementary School

Ligon Middle School

Roberts Community Center

Native Plantings Restorative Site Design Improved Shade + Aesthetics

Scale Sensitivity Height Transect Maintaining Housing Density Options for Different Family Sizes

Daycare Improved Support for Families

Community Plaza Public Space with Community Gardens Support for Outdoor Events

E HARGETT ST

DMV SITE

Site Section

Housing-Transit Integration BRT Station Multi-Modal Support

Neighborhood Activation Public Lawn Community House Art Displays

Food Hall Expanded Dining Options Space for Local Vendors

NEW BERN AVE

1. Mixed Use - Apartments / Food Hall 2. Mixed Use - Apartments / Retail 3. Community House 4. Public Courtyard 5. Daycare 6. Apartments 7. Community Plaza

Precedent: LIBERTY BANK BUILDING | MITHUN

Site Plan

BRT LINE

S STATE ST 6

2

6 5

6

6

4

6

3 NEW BERN AVE

E HARGETT ST

7

2

1

TARBORO ST

N

Precedent: MORGAN ST FOOD HALL

FOOD HALL

Food Hall

FOOD HALL

PATIO

N

Precedent: LIBERTY BANK BUILDING | MITHUN

LOBBY

Ground-Level Apartment Circulation

BICYCLE STORAGE

LOBBY

N

Precedent: NTK | PROJECTIL ARCHITEKTI

AMENITY

AMENITY

Apartment Circulation + Amenity Space

AMENITY

N

Apartment Circulation + Amenity Space

AMENITY

N

24’

40’

1 BED 1 BATH (660 sq ft)

2 BED 2 BATH (1080 sq ft)

Apartment Units

N

24’

40’

1 BED 1 BATH (660 sq ft)

2 BED 2 BATH (1080 sq ft)

Apartment Units

ST

ST

O

N TO

EN

BO R

ED

E AV

E

RN BE

PL

TA R

W NE

ON TT CO

ST TE A T SS

Spatial Identity

RALEIGH BUS SHELTER PUBLIC ART

LIBERTY BANK BUILDING | MITHUN

There is a great opportunity for further community engagement to influence how the cultural identity of this site and the surrounding neighborhoods is represented.

Residents should be given the opportunity to provide input on how history and culture are being displayed and engaged with throughout the site. By establishing partnerships with local artists, organizations, and institutions, the site can reflect and celebrate the history and culture of its context, and create a sense of belonging for current and future residents alike.

THANK YOU