Charles Winston is a Midtown resident who cares deeply for our community and its future. He has written a letter that we believe perfectly captures our concerns and objectives. We reprint it here with pleasure. Thank you, Charles!
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As many of you know, the Raleigh City Council recently voted 6–2 to approve the rezoning that allows significantly taller towers and increased density in the North Hills area.
For many of us who have lived here for years, this decision was disappointing and troubling. North Hills was once a quiet and enjoyable place to live. In recent years we have already seen tremendous growth, and with it increasing congestion, traffic challenges, and pressure on infrastructure. The recent rezoning will accelerate that trend.
It is important to note that this situation is not about the developer. Developers like Kane Realty operate within the rules that the city establishes. Development can absolutely improve our community when it is guided by thoughtful planning and responsible leadership.
The real issue many residents are concerned about is how the rules themselves are being written and applied by the City. The current approach appears to focus heavily on increasing density without clear evidence that the infrastructure, roads, and surrounding neighborhoods can support it.
To put it another way, it feels a bit like changing the rules of basketball to allow twenty players from each team on the same court while keeping the court the same size. Simply cramming more players into the same space does not make the game better, it just creates chaos.
A group of local residents has come together to address these concerns through an organization called Midtown Neighbors United. Their goal is to ensure that the city follows its own rules and that neighborhood voices are properly considered when major planning decisions are made. They are raising money so that we can hire representation to take on the City of Raleigh and the City Council. The goal is to send the message that uncontrolled growth without representation cannot continue. I am supporting this effort by donating to their cause. If you are inclined, I hope that you will join me and do the same.
If you would like to learn more about their efforts and the issues surrounding the North Hills rezoning, I encourage you to visit their website:
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, I believe it is important that our city leaders take a careful and thoughtful look at how Raleigh grows in the years ahead. Growth is inevitable, but it should be guided by data, infrastructure planning, and common sense.
North Hills and Midtown Raleigh have long been wonderful places to live. Many of us simply want to ensure that future decisions protect the character and livability of our community.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass this along if you feel strongly about this as I do.