The buildings that make up the streetscape of Hillsborough, like many college streets, are in a perpetual state of demolition and construction efforts. Students at NC State have witnessed the rise of an array of apartment complexes and the fall of several bars and businesses. Too many for most to keep up with. This time last year, Aloft Raleigh and the Stanhope apartments were still in relatively early construction phases.
Even though Hillsborough Street is constantly changing, after a while, buildings can blend in, and it feels as if they’ve always been there. Soon, it may be hard for future students to imagine that across from the Bell Tower, there was no modern hotel with upscale storefronts, but an old strip mall with a record store and convenience mart.
During winter break, the Hillsborough Street and NC State community lost McDaids Irish Restaurant & Pub, known for its crowded Wednesday night dance parties. Although it was packed to capacity late Wednesday nights, the restaurant and bar was often sparsely populated during the day. McDaids took the place of Porter’s City Tavern, an upscale restaurant that many professors regarded as the nicest restaurant to take visitors in walking distance of campus, but which ultimately had to close its doors as well.
This time last year, Hillsborough Street had two fewer buildings of more than five stories. Many bemoan the additions of high-rise buildings to Hillsborough Street. Still, the street will continue to grow with more developers who are willing to provide for a student body and growing city. It’s already hard to imagine what Hillsborough Street will look like at the onset of 2017.
McDaids Irish Restaurant and Pub, which opened in the fall of 2013, is closed for business as of Jan. 1. McDaids was known for its Wednesday night dance parties, but was less populated during the day.
