Reports, Publications, and Plans
Downtown Raleigh Alliance produces several reports on a regular basis that can help new retailers understand the market, learn about new developments, and find data useful for their business planning efforts.
2024 State of Downtown Report
A comprehensive look at Downtown Raleigh with data and insights into developments, visitation, and more.
Download State of Downtown Report
Quarterly Market Report
Provides information on current and planned developments, food and beverage tax revenue, and other market trends.
Download Quarterly Market Report
Economic Development Strategy
Downtown Raleigh Alliance and the City of Raleigh worked with consultant Interface Studio to create an economic development strategy that aims to position Downtown Raleigh for the future, particularly as we emerge from the last three years.
This work integrated a holistic approach that identified key opportunities to maximize Downtown Raleigh’s strengths, make connections between assets and neighborhoods, activate streets with a diverse mix of businesses and places designed for people, and to talk as a community about what will make downtown a place that is welcoming and provides opportunities for everyone. As Raleigh grows, the economic development strategy will ensure downtown has a prominent role to play in the calculus of where to live and to invest.
Major areas of focus and study for the strategy included:
- Providing a retail strategy for downtown with a specialized focus on the Fayetteville Street corridor
- Examination and strategic positioning of the downtown office market
- Opportunities for supporting a thriving Minority- and Women-owned business community
- Identification of catalytic projects to stimulate and grow Downtown Raleigh’s economy
DRA Public Realm Study
Report and recommendations on policy measures to be taken in advancement of improving Downtown Raleigh's public realm.
This study evaluated three key areas:
- The permanent expansion of outdoor dining through parklets, pedlets and expanded use of sidewalk space.
- Need for more permanent curbside pick-up zones for take-out food, to-go drinks, soft goods, and grocery pick-up.
- Strategy to re-energize downtown and attract people through use of our public realm and outdoor spaces with small-scale diverse activations.
Downtown Experience Plan
DRA partnered with the City of Raleigh to produce a 10-year plan (2015-2025) for downtown Raleigh, which calls for more retail, green space, density, transportation, walkability, and many other improvements to our growing downtown. Retail recommendations include recruiting local, authentic retailers and a grocery store, in addition to identifying specific retail corridors and other tools to help incentivize retail in downtown.
Planning Raleigh 2030
The comprehensive plan is a major component of the planning process for the city as it guides the long-range, comprehensive decision making process involving primarily physical development and those city actions expected to influence development in the long-term. The comprehensive plan contains goals, objectives, policies and guidelines for growth and redevelopment for the city. Learn more about the process, policies, and actions being recommended for Downtown Raleigh.
In addition to the information on this website, please feel free to contact our economic development staff to discuss any questions or interest in investing in downtown, opening a business, or just learning more about one of the fastest growing downtowns in the country.
For questions or more information please contact:
Gabriel Schumacher
Research Manager, Downtown Raleigh Alliance
gabrielschumacher@downtownraleigh.org
(919) 821-6981