Charter Square Project Clears Hurdle

Jayne Kirkpatrick, Director, Public Affairs

Prepared by: Michael Williams, Assistant Director, Public Affairs

 

For more information: Eric Hodge, Staff Planner, 919-996-2639.

 

July 11, 2013

 

Charter Square Project Clears Hurdle

 

The long-anticipated Charter Square project has passed an important milestone on its way to completion. Following a public hearing held during its July 9 meeting, the City of Raleigh Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the project.

 

The developer, Charter Square LLC, also submitted a variance request which will be reviewed by the Raleigh City Council in a quasi-judicial evidentiary hearing to be held during its regular meeting on July 16. The hearing is required by City Code Section 10-2141 and City Code Section 10-3004, which deal with variances and alternate designs. Receipt of approval of the variance from Council is necessary for continuation of the project.

 

The request is for a variance from right-of-way requirements set forth in Section 3.1 of the Streets, Sidewalks and Driveway Handbook and the standards set forth in City Code Section 10-3004. The applicants are requesting a variance from the right-of-way dedication requirements for the project at:

(A)            Wilmington Street, which as a major thoroughfare requires a 90 foot right-of-way; and,

(B)            Lenoir Street, which as a minor thoroughfare requires an 80 foot right-of-way.

The current right-of-way on both streets is 66 feet.

 

The 11-story building will be constructed on top of a City-owned underground parking lot at the south end of Fayetteville St., across from the Marriott Hotel. The construction site was acquired from the City for $5.28 million in November 2008.

 

The new building will provide 243,379 square feet of office space and 27,875 square feet of retail space. Charter Square LLC plans include construction of the building to the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standards.

 

Open-space requirements will be met by an 11,500-square-foot open pedestrian plaza located to the north of the new building.

 

Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2013. Completion is expected within 12 months of the start date. A second building is anticipated to be constructed on the north end of the site at an undetermined date.

 

For more information, visit www.raleighnc.gov and enter “Charter Square” in the search window, or call the City of Raleigh Planning and Development Department at 919-996-2626. Information on the project is also available from the developer at www.chartersquare.com.

 

 

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