RALEIGH, N.C. — Many cities are still recovering economically, years after the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Raleigh and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance are working together to revitalize the nation's capital.
Raleigh Economic Development Director Kyle Touchstone said the goal is to attract new business and more people. He said one approach is an economic development strategy that focuses on recruiting, retaining and expanding businesses.
“Part of that is working to attract talent and retain talent,” Touchstone said.
This joint initiative between the city and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance will focus on expanding and revitalizing downtown. This includes building new apartments, creating new restaurants and retail stores, and expanding the Raleigh Convention Center.
“You don't see the kind of vitality you see here in Raleigh anywhere else,” Touchstone said.
The economic development director said the state capital has been hit hard by the pandemic.
The number of pedestrians downtown fell from 60,000 to about 30,000, according to the data. But numbers have since rebounded, with between 50,000 and 55,000 people visiting the area.
“This is a sign that people are going back to the office and people are starting to spend money on the streets,” Touchstone said.
James Lover of Charlotte City Center Partners said the Queen City, like many other U.S. cities, has seen fluctuations in pedestrian traffic over the past few years, but is starting to come back to life.
“Over the past four years we have experienced a recovery, some exceeding the 2019 period and some returning to about 75-80% of pre-pandemic levels,” Lover said.
Downtowns around the country can regain their pedestrian populations by making the area a central activity district rather than a business district, he said.
“If a downtown is based solely on offices, it's going to have a hard time regaining its vibrancy,” Lover said.
Durham's recovery rate from the pandemic is nearly 80%, while surrounding Raleigh and Greensboro are at 77% and Charlotte is at 76%, according to the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.
