Sloane Heffernan
Leadership Raleigh Class 46
Leadership Raleigh took us to new heights during our December Quality of Life & Place class day sponsored by AECOM, Highwoods Properties, and Wetherill Engineering. Class 46 traveled by bus, train, and elevator to get an exciting glimpse into the future of transit, transportation, and affordability across the Triangle.
First stop, Raleigh Union Station. We boarded Amtrak for a swift and scenic ride to Cary where we strolled through the quaint and decorated downtown to the charming Mayton Inn. If you are looking for a romantic staycation, this is the place!
Rachel Pair, Leadership Raleigh Alumni and the Mayton Inn’s General Manager hosted us for coffee and conversation on how Cary is one of the “Fastest Growing Cities in the South”. Ted Boyd of the Town of Cary, Mark Lawson from the Cary Chamber of Commerce, and Shannon Flaherty of Amtrak shared insights on Cary’s governance culture and how Cary is working to become a multi-use transportation center that will connect western Wake County. Once back on the bus, Christina Coffey from Lee & Associates led us on a driving tour of the vast development and proposed development around downtown Cary’s core.
We were extremely grateful that Crosstown Pub & Grill then opened their space to us for a delicious lunch of sandwiches, burgers, and salads. From Cary, we headed to the future site of Kings Ridge and were welcomed by CASA NC staff, Erin Yates and Alexis Trell, with a tour of a one-bedroom apartment and how CASA NC is working to address homelessness through housing as well as the rising number of those experiencing a homeless or housing crisis in our region.
Next, we traveled to the highest elevation in Raleigh - the rooftop at The Eastern at North Hills. The Eastern is described as Raleigh’s “most luxurious high-rise apartments” and boasts some of the most breathtaking views in the city. We soaked in the phenomenal views while listening to a panel that included several City of Raleigh and Regional Transportation Alliance leaders talking about exciting plans for expanding public transportation. This included micromobility, easing congestion on our roads, buses that run like a commuter rail, and elevated express lanes with no traffic signals on Capital Boulevard!
Our last stop included some holiday cheer at The Haymaker in Downtown Raleigh courtesy of Highwoods Properties. The cocktail bar on Fayetteville Street is decked out with over-the-top Christmas decorations. Here’s a toast to the Raleigh Chamber for the amazing ride!
Leadership Raleigh Class 45 would also like to thank their December Quality of Life & Place class day sponsors AECOM, Parker & Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, and Wetherill Engineering.