Jayne Kirkpatrick, Director, Public Affairs

Prepared by: John Boyette, Public Affairs Specialist

 

For more information: Danny Bowden, Manager, Stormwater Utility Division,

919-996-3940

 

Jan. 15, 2013

 

Stream Restoration, Flood Mitigation Project Proposed

for Capital Boulevard Site

 

The City of Raleigh is planning to convert the site of a former bowling alley off of Capital Boulevard into a project to help mitigate flooding in the area and improve water quality.

 

Within the next two months, the City intends to begin demolishing the building that once housed AMF Bowling at 1827 Capital Blvd. An access bridge across nearby Pigeon House Creek also will be removed. After all the work is complete by the summer, the City will eventually design plans to restore Pigeon House Creek to a more natural condition. 

 

The former bowling alley site and surrounding properties have been identified by the City of Raleigh as a priority area for flood mitigation. The City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, which has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), addresses the need for flood-damage reduction throughout Raleigh.

 

The City of Raleigh joined with The Trust for Public Land in acquiring the 2.67-site at 1827 Capital Blvd. for $1.085 million. The City Council approved the acquisition last April. City stormwater utility fees paid by Raleigh property owners were used for the land purchase. The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places.

 

The stream restoration for Pigeon House Creek will be done sometime in the future, about 5 to 10 years from now. This is because the City has applied for FEMA grants to acquire more properties in the area of the former bowling alley site “in order to do a more comprehensive” stream restoration, said Danny Bowden, manager of the City’s Stormwater Utility Division. The City intends to remove additional buildings in the flood-prone area.

 

Removal of these buildings will mitigate flooding and thus reduce flood insurance payments by property owners in the area. The stream restoration will improve water quality in Pigeon House Creek.

 

The project fits with the goals and objectives of the Capital Boulevard Corridor Study, adopted by the City Council in August. The study, developed with significant input from the public, presents a vision and strategy for the revitalization, redevelopment, and renewal of Capital Boulevard from Downtown to Interstate 440.

 

The overall focus of the Capital Boulevard Corridor Study is on transportation, water quality, flood mitigation, park and greenway infrastructure and land use. The study results confirm that Capital Boulevard, as the most traveled gateway into Downtown Raleigh, offers compelling opportunities for economic development, environmental restoration, open space and recreation, and multimodal mobility.