OUR OPINION: The passing of plan H-3 by the Raleigh City Council for Hillsborough Street is a major victory in the six-year epic battle for improvements to the University’s gateway, and the sooner the council implements the plan, the better.
Tuesday afternoon, the Raleigh City Council passed plan H-3, which is the first phase in bringing Hillsborough Street back to its heyday.
The plan calls for roundabouts at both the Pullen and Oberlin Road intersections, an expansive median traveling all the way to Brooks Avenue and basic revitalization efforts including new curbs and street lights.
Mitchell Silver, the Raleigh city planner, deserves much credit for getting the plan passed, as he stepped in nearly a month ago and brought the original Hillsborough vision up to spec.
The Raleigh City Council made the right decision, and the support from the Hillsborough Street Partnership and the University was imperative.
We’ll even throw in a pat on the back for Student Government for its continued support and encouragement to students to attend the council meetings.
While the progress made yesterday is a fundamental step in taking back Hillsborough, there is still plenty of work to be done.
The plans and money are in position and ready to be implemented, so we encourage the City of Raleigh to start construction as early as this semester – no later than this summer.
There is no better way to kick off the fall semester than to have Hillsborough Street clean and rejuvenated – or at least well on its way.
While all of this is fine and dandy, we can’t be complacent or satisfied with the first phase of the street’s makeover.
Students, the University and Raleigh representatives must stay on top of the project until the dream of a desirable Hillsborough Street is realized to the fullest extent – no stone, or brick, left unturned.
There is a lot of work to do in the upcoming years besides roundabouts, medians and curbs. Power lines need to be buried, buildings along the strip need to be renovated and more parking is a must – another parking deck shouldn’t be out of the question.
It is the responsibility of all Hillsborough Street patrons, particularly students, to accept a level of accountability in ensuring that the street we flock to after a big win or hike on at the end of each semester is not forgotten or neglected ever again.