Raleigh outlines community-driven plan and RFP timeline for former DMV site on New Bern Avenue

Raleigh city staff on Monday gave the City Council an update on plans for the former Department of Motor Vehicles site east of downtown along New Bern Avenue, saying 20 months of community engagement will guide a forthcoming two-step procurement process to select a development partner.

City Manager’s Office staffer Nikki Jones said the city acquired the property from the state and has divided the site into a large “big block” of about 5.37 acres and two smaller parcels on State Street totaling roughly a half-acre that currently serve as surface parking. “We have been engaging with the community for 20 months,” Jones said, describing outreach and the purpose of the planned request for proposals (RFP).

The community engagement effort produced more than 50 events, a nine-month survey and a project working group that met 13 times to vet priorities, project staff said. Tyesha Moseley, director of the Community Engagement Office, summarized the top community development priorities from that process as a food/market space, affordable housing targeted to households at or below 60% of area median income, and community spaces and recreation. Moseley said survey respondents also emphasized quality of life, community connection, universal site design beyond minimum ADA standards, and…