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[Greg Cox <glcox AT pobox.com>]

On Thu, 30 Jul 2009, Mark Turner wrote:

> Raleigh's got plenty: the N.C. Symphony, N.C. Museum of Art (granted,
> both state entities). a strong parks department, a greenway system
> second to none, a lively downtown, relatively low crime, and great
> schools. What's not to like?

I'll summarize with the catchphrase I like to explain it:
No Stroll District.

Charleston, Savannah, San Antonio, Portland, New Orleans, NYC, SF,
they all have places that would qualify.  I can't say the miles-apart
trifecta of Fayetteville/9th/Franklin even come close.

RDU is a perfectly fine place to live, but, aside from jobs, school,
or a basketball game, when's the last time you've heard someone say,
"OH, YEAH, (Raleigh|Durham|Chapel Hill|favorite outlying burb)! I
really want to go visit there!"  I mean, let's face it, there's not a
swarm of Lonely Planet authors waiting to cover the nuances of RTP
for all the anxious tourists.

We lack an identity and a culture.   I'm tired beyond belief at people
trotting out DPAC and American Tobacco Campus and the Carrboro Farmer's
Market as if those make RDU one baby step away from being the next big
thing.  We're a sprawly mess whose best feature is that we're not too
far a drive away from things that people would actually want to visit.