With a reputation as a technology hotbed, and the strength of top universities (UNC, Duke, NCSU), the Research Triangle Park area had attracted growth in high-tech, bio-tech industries in the 90s. Along side the employment opportunities, there’s been growth and revitalization in urban areas, new-urbanism projects and fresh cultural attractions.
According to Kiplingers.com (Source) Raleigh ranks up in the top 10 best cities to “live, work and play.” They looked at attributes such as strong economies, abundant jobs, living costs, and recreation.
Raleigh is a work in progress, but 2008 should be the turning point. The city’s new convention center will open this year, as will an adjoining Marriott hotel and the city’s tallest building, RBC Plaza. The Royal Bank of Canada’s U.S. headquarters is the kind of real estate Raleigh mayor Charles Meeker wants more of: a mix of office, condos and retail. “Our big challenge is more urban-style growth,” he says.
