Hillsborough Street, as it is, is hardly one of Raleigh’s major attractions. Any student who wants to wholly enjoy the unique and comprehensive options Raleigh has to offer must drive downtown. This is an issue that would be in our campus community’s best interest to rectify.
The recent “improvements” to Hillsborough Street are not exactly the changes students generally desire to see. Expensive high-rise apartments, hotels and simplified means of transportation are grossly out of touch with the needs of students, and take away from the “college” atmosphere that Hillsborough Street and the area surrounding campus should maintain. Instead of supporting the growth of fancy monoliths, we need to promote the success of industry, businesses and restaurants. Instead of a slew of empty storefronts and going-out-of-business signs in the wake of large corporations, we should have new businesses that reflect students’ desire for modernity. It is essential that additions to Hillsborough Street reflect the demographics of NC State students. The area’s response to students’ needs is not what it should be.
I have lived on main campus transportation for two years now, and it is frustrating to rely on the limited walking-distance options available on Hillsborough Street. Many of my fellow students are familiar with this plight. With limited transportation, convenience is everything. If the industry on Hillsborough Street were to expand, a boom of jobs opening up near campus would allow myriad students to obtain part-time jobs that are conveniently nearby.
In addition, when applying for college, students want to be able to picture themselves attending a particular university. This involves many facets of campus life: academics, the culture of the school, the demographics of the student population and the community surrounding the school. If Hillsborough Street were more in touch with the students of NC State, the area would attract more applicants to the university, and the small businesses on the street would greatly benefit.
When students choose to move out of university housing, a desirable community center—which Hillsborough Street has the potential to become—would increase a demand in housing within walking distance of campus. This would create a close-knit campus community and lower the amount of students who have to commute.
Change is good. It demonstrates the evolution of the community. If Hillsborough Street were to expand in its business in order to meet the needs of students, then NC State would grow as well. Hopefully, in the next few years we will no longer have to look at a row of sad, empty storefronts. With the plans for Hillsborough Street’s revitalization, perhaps we will see instead a plethora of blossoming businesses that were designed to appeal to a larger demographic of students. NC State is missing the “college town” feel, and Hillsborough Street needs to rise to the occasion and fill this hole in our community. It is in NC State’s best interest to advocate for a newer, more diverse and, optimistically, thriving community on Hillsborough Street.
