Wednesday, Feb. 03, 2010

Inside vs. outside

A fresh look at Raleigh's balance of city construction spending

Raleigh spends most of its construction money inside the Beltline, much of it on big-ticket items downtown that serve the whole city.

But most projects benefiting particular neighborhoods lie outside the highway loop, not inside it.

A new city report maps out capital improvement projects since 2006, grouping them by the type of project - streets, parks, stormwater controls, public utilities and "general public improvements" that theoretically serve everyone.

The report shows city spending to be more balanced than many critics believe, with dozens of costly growth projects - roads, water lines, sewer pipes, community centers and parks - in North Raleigh.

But the report also could gives critics ammunition, because it doesn't count as downtown spending such costly "general improvement" projects as Raleigh's new Convention Center, the recent restoration ofFayetteville Street, its new City Plaza or the planned Light ner Public Safety Center.

Mayor Charles Meeker says the notion that the city focuses too much on downtown is a misconception,fueled by the fact that most downtown projects are high-profile and receive heavy media attention.

"If you take out citywide facilities and look at things people want, it's about 3-to-1 being spent outside the Beltline," he said. "(The Convention Center) is a citywide facility, not something the community wants in its backyard. There's no question that having an accessible downtown puts the right face in our community."

Soon after being sworn in for his fifth term, Meeker asked city staffers in December to draft a report mapping out its capital improvement spending over the past three years, including several in the final planning stages.

North Raleigh projects

The report shows many expensive projects outside the Beltline, such as the Falls of Neuse Road widening and Neuse Greenway projects in North Raleigh, both of which exceed $10 million.

Community centers at Barwell Road and Brier Creek both cost almost as much as the Fayetteville Street improvements, Meeker noted.

"There are a lot of projects like that," he said.

The report Meeker requested downplays city spending inside the Beltline, particularly downtown.

According to the city's data, 78 percent of its construction spending was outside the Beltline. But that excludes the large "general improvement" projects downtown.

A detailed look

Such projects were not included in the total amount on the report because they benefit the entire city, and because the funds for the Convention Center were from countywide taxes on hotel rooms and restaurant meals, city officials said.

Here are the numbers:

Not counting general public improvements, the city has spent $381,348,643 outside the Beltline and $108,844,833 inside.

By contrast, Raleigh has spent $575,530,417 inside the Beltline on what the city calls general public improvements. About $220,300,000 of that is for the Raleigh Convention Center.

Planned projects, such as the $140 million Clarence E. Lightner Public Safety Center, are included in that total.

Outside the Beltline received $85,659,278 of general public improvement funds.

Subtracting the $220 million Convention Center, the numbers are almost even: Raleigh has spent about $3 million more outside the Beltline than inside, including general public improvements.

Another $65 million was spent on projects that are both inside and outside the Beltline, such as greenways.

Who benefits?

City Manager Russell Allen said local projects, even greenways and street improvements, mostly serve residents who live nearby.

Allen, Meeker and at-large council member Mary-Ann Baldwin also say high-profile projects downtown benefit residents who live outside the Beltline.

"If people are looking to bring headquarters here, or jobs, they want to know there is a vibrant downtown," Baldwin said. "Public investment has spurred private. They go hand-in-hand. It helps build our tax base and gives people a vibrant place to go."

Critics say it's obvious the city spends more downtown - and that certain areas are neglected.

A matter of viewpoint

"I think there's a fine balance," said Philip Isley, a former council member.

Isley was northwest Raleigh's District E representative until last year, when he chose not to seek re-election. He said he heard many complaints about unbalanced spending during his council tenure, despite the costly development of Brier Creek in extreme northwest Raleigh.

He also said that although the Convention Center and other projects might benefit everyone in the city, downtown is far away from many people in his district.

"I had a great district," Isley said. "But If I'd have lived in southwest or west or even northeast Raleigh, it would have been different. Ask people in southwest Raleigh when was the last time the city did a project that improved the area."

Yet Raleigh is spending $10 million to overhaul southwest Raleigh's Hillsborough Street.

A campaign issue

Meeker said the spending-balance issue arose during City Council campaigns last year, when one of his mayoral opponents and John Odom, who won northeast Raleigh's District B seat, accused the city of giving downtown Raleigh too much attention.

Baldwin said several North Raleigh residents asked her about spending during the campaign, too.

In between, too

Business owners and residents in the Five Points district on Glenwood Avenue inside the Beltline have long argued the city neglects their area. Last year they raised the subject with Meeker.

A planning meeting ensued last fall with city staff, business owners and Five Points residents.

They mapped out short-term and long-term improvement the city is considering - neither downtown nor in North Raleigh.