As the 1970s dawned, residents in Raleigh became more and more concerned about urban sprawl. While the city’s population was rapidly growing and several development projects were being proposed, community organizations felt that business interests heavily influenced municipal offices. Instead of choosing him from the electoral list, the city council altered the election procedure to elect the mayor directly. Instead of being based on at-large representation, most city council seats were allocated to districts. The reforms took effect for the first time in the 1973 elections. Clarence Lightner, a member of Raleigh’s City Council, defeated Raleigh Merchant Bureau Executive Director G. Wesley Williams for Raleigh’s first black mayor, the first black mayor of a major Southern city with the majority white population.
Raleigh City and Wake County school merged in 1976 to become Wake County Public Schools, now the most extensive school system in the state and 19th largest in the country. The I-440 beltline was built during the 1970s and 1980s, which eases traffic congestion and provides access to most major city roads. In 1977, the first Raleigh Convention Center (replaced in 2008) and the Fayetteville Street Mall opened. As a result, Fayetteville Street became a pedestrian-only street to help the downtown area, but the plan failed, and business declined for years. The main thoroughfare of Raleigh’s downtown was reopened in 2007 as Fayetteville Street.
These pictures are absolutely captivating! I’m disappointed that the iconic Holiday Inn was demolished to make way for yet another generic “luxury” hotel and apartment building that looks like everything else. Given enough time, these modern buildings will become the 1960s and 1970s brutalist structures that haven’t aged well and are now seen as passé. Comparing these images to modern-day Raleigh is a mixed bag because the city’s aesthetic has become more middle to upper-income. In the 1970s, Raleigh’s appearance was closer to that of areas like Bragg Boulevard in Fayetteville. The downside of having such a picturesque appearance is that in recent decades, Raleigh hasn’t been a place where people with significant wealth have chosen to reside.
Actually, the Holiday Inn is still standing, at least for the time being. However, it’s slated to be demolished soon to make way for a new hotel, rumored to be a Kimpton, rather than apartments.
It’s both the hotel and apartments (and other restaurant/retail space/parking), but thank you for pointing out the hotel part.
Great Photos here.
Looks a lot like Raleigh in the early 90s except for the cars.
which isn’t on Fayetteville street either, right?
$1.95 buffet at the Holiday Inn
which isn’t on Fayetteville street either, right?
Looks a lot like Raleigh in the early 90s except for the cars.