A presentation introducing the Rosengarten Park neighborhood restoration project and requesting a variance to allow new construction to be built to the same setbacks as the historic houses.
2. Rosengarten Park is Centrally Located Between Downtown and Boylan Heights DOWN TOWN Ware- house District MTC Boylan Heights Train Rosengarten Park Convention Center The History Dorothea Dix
4. One of Raleigh’s Earliest African American Neighborhoods The History
5. Recognized as one of Raleigh’s Most Unique Streets The History “with its narrow, winding character and detached houses close to the roadway, it is reminiscent of urban streets in much older, more unstructured cities. “
6. Decades of decline threatened to destroy the neighborhood A persistent criminal culture took root Long term residents left Isolated revitalization attempts failed City plans stalled The History Homes deteriorated Homes began being demolished
7. Rosengarten Park Neighborhood Restoration Project The Plan The History The Plan The Present The Future Restore all existing homes and rebuild historically detailed homes on the vacant lots
8. 1. Unify the neighborhood with a specially designed HOA Historic preservation covenants Shared drives and parking agreements Courtyard easements The Plan Tree canopy preservation
9. 2. Restore the Existing Houses Developer Renovations Homeowner Renovations Investor Renovations The Plan
10. 3. Prohibit Rentals for 1 Year Encourages extensive renovations and owner occupancy The Plan . New construction within the area may be necessary only if houses cannot be rehabilitated and must be very sensitively designed to retain the unique qualities of this urban streetscape. The existing housing currently fronting on W. Cabarrus Street should be carefully evaluated for rehabilitation and preservation as an entrance feature to the Old South Saunders Street North area. If rehabilitation is not possible, subdivision of the lots should provide for new infill housing to front on S. Saunders Street rather than W. Cabarrus Street.
11. 4. Rebuild Demolished Homes Historic design standards ensure appropriate Scale Proportions Setbacks Fenestration The Plan Materials . New construction within the area may be necessary only if houses cannot be rehabilitated and must be very sensitively designed to retain the unique qualities of this urban streetscape. The existing housing currently fronting on W. Cabarrus Street should be carefully evaluated for rehabilitation and preservation as an entrance feature to the Old South Saunders Street North area. If rehabilitation is not possible, subdivision of the lots should provide for new infill housing to front on S. Saunders Street rather than W. Cabarrus Street.
13. Rosengarten Park Neighborhood Restoration Project The Present The History The Plan The Present The Future 5 renovations are currently underway, homeowners buying property and investing in improvements
14. Raleigh City Council Granted Extensions to Prevent Demolitions -- GOAL -- Renovate Six houses in six months The Present
15. Currently Being Renovated RestorationProgress Under contract for renovation Proposed new construction 506 S. Saunders 507 S. Saunders 603 W. Cabarrus 508 S. Saunders 511 S. Saunders 513 S. Saunders 510 S. Saunders 512 S. Saunders The Present
17. Rosengarten Park Neighborhood Restoration Project The Future The History The Plan The Present The Future New homes, new residents, historic designation
18. Next Steps New Homes On Rosengarten Alley Joint venture redevelopment of surrounding properties New live work (home office) building New home on premier corner of neighborhood The Future
19. Historic Designations National application October 2009 10/09 Preliminary National Application 10/10 Full National Application Raleigh Historic Districts Application The Future
20. Dedication Event -Dec 6th Partnering with Boylan Heights Artwalk Rosengarten Family members to attend Live entertainment The Future Homes tours
22. Current City Plans call for the Preservation of the existing setbacks “The existing character and setbacks within this area should be carefully preserved to the maximum extent feasible or replicated as closely as possible with new construction. “ Sec IV.5
23. 507 S. Saunders Variance Request Front Setback reduction from 20’ to 7’ Unheated encroachment from 20% to 5’ Porches set back 2’ Houses set back 7’ The requested setbacks are designed to match the existing setbacks along the street. The main body of the houses are 7’ from the property line, with unheated porches extending 5’ closer to the street.
Editor's Notes
Alex Rosengarten subdivided the land and donated a potion to extend W. Cabarrus Street to the Boylan Heights area
The first residents were plumbers, carpenters, barbers, grocers, and laborers. Throughout its history, this neighborhood has provided affordable homes for downtown residents.
Unfortunately, for the last few decades this area has been in decline. As families moved out, rooming houses moved in. A concentration of transient residents undermined the community and fed a culture of crime. Private attempts to incrementally improve the neighborhood failed. City revitalization plans stalled. The homes deteriorated and became unsuitable for habitation, leading the city to require the demolition of a number of historic buildings.