As you may or may not have noticed, I am a rather big fan of Hillsborough Street. Not so much for its current dirty and dilapidated state but for the greatness I imagine it to be in my mind.

I have crafted a Hillsborough Street of yesteryear sans the porno theater of the 80s, but complete with a reincarnation of Brothers’ Pizza. Although I realize that my vision is idealistic, I have recently found hope that Hillsborough Street can be restored to its former glory. This hope abounds in the March 14 festival known as The Hillsborough Street Renaissance.

The festival’s Web site, www.hsren.org, states, “This is our chance to show the world what we can achieve when students, families and professionals unite as one community.”

This sentiment is important on several levels, not the least of which is the positive publicity which will be attributed to the University for its involvement in the planning and executing of the event. It is no secret our school has been subject to some negative press as of late, but this festival will be a great excuse to bring the entire community together for good, clean, family-oriented fun.

For the last few years, there has been a lot of talk in Raleigh about refurbishing Hillsborough Street, but much of it has been just that, talk. The event’s main objective is to create a showcase for the construction changes occurring on the street in the near future. Going on 20 years now, people associated with the University and the surrounding communities have pushed the Raleigh City Council to extend plans for Hillsborough Street to no avail. The reconstruction of Cameron Village, for example, has been placed ahead of plans for our street for reasons of revenue, but this has gone on for far too long.

A grassroots group of students and faculty from area universities as well as local homeowners’ associations and businesses have joined together to make sure the City of Raleigh gives Hillsborough Street the attention it deserves. In addition to this goal, they are also hoping to raise money for various campus charities including Engineers Without Borders, Soles4Souls and MorLove.

The Hillsborough Street Renaissance is also about bringing alternative energy and eco-friendly ideas to the people of Raleigh through demonstrations and information sessions. It will be the first time the Street has been shut down for an all-day event since it was opened.

The festival coordinators have taken great steps to ensure a synthesis of community involvement, charitable contributions and education. It is scheduled from 12 to 10 p.m. and will also include local live music. You can catch me, however, at the pig and pie picking sponsored by the boys of Alpha Tau Omega. You better get your tickets early, though, because they are selling fast.