Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011

Meeker seeks Dix accord

As the mayor's term winds down, he is making a final push for a park.

In a show of unity intended to put pressure on Gov. Bev Perdue, advocates for creating an urban park on the Dorothea Dix Hospital campus invited dozens of business, civic and government leaders to a gathering last week to celebrate their vision.

The next task in the long-running quest belongs to Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, a park supporter who is wrapping up his fifth and final term.

Meeker was scheduled to meet with Perdue this week in hopes of reaching an agreement that would allow the city to acquire the 306-acre site from the state.

The group wants Perdue to declare the Dix property a park district, a move that would prevent it from being considered for sale to private developers.

"It's on the governor's shoulders," said Greg Poole Jr. of the Dix Visionaries group. "The CEO of our state now has to make the decision of what it's going to be."

Perdue's office had no immediate comment on the lobbying from park advocates.

Dix is one of four state-run psychiatric hospitals. It has been scheduled to close, with plans to transfer services to Central Regional Hospital in Butner.

Meeker, who championed the creation of a park during the latter part of his 10-year tenure, said the City Council is ready to act, though he did not give cost figures.

City officials have cited potential numbers over the years ranging from $10 million to $100 million.

"We are willing to pay a fair price for that park, and want to bring the state to the table and close the deal," Meeker said. "We're ready to do it right now."

Supporters hope it plays out like this: The city would acquire the land for an agreed-upon price, and supporters would raise $2 to $3 million in private donations to draw up a master plan for the park.

Meanwhile, the state would get five to seven years to vacate the property.

Some advocates for the mentally ill are unhappy with plans for a park.

They say the state's top priority should be providing care to patients.

"I can understand them taking a small amount of land for a park, but it needs to stay what it was put there for - a mental hospital," said Ida Sauls, who worked as a technician at Dix Hospital in the 1980s.

With its rolling hills, stately trees and central location just outside downtown, the land could become Raleigh's version of Central Park, advocates say.

Some state-owned buildings could be preserved as museums or a visitors center, city officials have said.

The vision for a park has gained support from N.C. State University and members of the Wake County legislative delegation, including state Sen. Neal Hunt, a former city councilman. Representatives of many of these groups attended Thursday's gathering.

"This is a no-brainer," Hunt said. "We have 306 acres sitting on the perimeter of downtown Raleigh. When we do this, it will do so much to amplify our reputation."

Jim Goodmon, CEO of Capitol Broadcasting, urged supporters not to settle for compromises that have been floated over the years, such as creating a park on two-thirds of the site, or allowing part of the property to be developed.

Poole asked park supporters to take their case to Perdue and legislators. "The leadership of our state, in our opinion, cannot afford to squander the opportunity nor the responsibility that rests upon their shoulders," he said.