Raleigh, my home sweet home

By Carlee Mallard

This article is part of a TNGG series on cities.

When I graduated high school, having been convinced that I was not “from” Raleigh, despite growing up there, I began the search for a city to call my own home. Not my parents’ home; not my ancestors’ home; not even the home in my memories. I searched for a city that would fit my ideal of the perfect city: density, walkable neighborhoods, cultural activities, excitement, public transportation, great job opportunities, and close proximity to the ocean.

So I spent a year in Pittsburgh, six months in Florence, Italy and then six months in Washington, DC. In between I read volumes about cities around the world and traveled to New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, London, and Paris, among others.

Then I moved back to Raleigh. There was something I forgot to consider in my search for my perfect city: family, friends, a network, and history. As eager and ambitious, career-minded young people, we sometimes forget the value of family and friends in the place that we choose to call home.

And what I realized when I came back to Raleigh for my support network was that Raleigh is a great place to live. It had transformed so much from the city I knew as a teenager (that is, constrained by curfews, age limits and naivety). It was an exciting place to live. I discovered new activities to get involved in. I saw density increasing downtown (it would be possible to live in a real walkable community!) and I remembered that the weather was great and we were close to the mountains and the beach.

Raleigh is a great place to live for those without a home of their own, as well as those with an established history. The people here are notoriously welcoming, eager to converse, and friendly – most of the time. It’s actually a perfect city for young Millennials to explore their own development and start a new network.

Not only that, but it’s fun. Raleigh may not be New York City, but it’s growing by leaps and bounds every day. There’s always an event going on around town, there are tons of restaurants and bars to hang out at, and even a few places to go dancing on the weekends. We have five-plus nearby universities bursting with intelligent young people. We have gallery walks on the First Friday of every month. We have idea-sharing events every few months from PechaKucha Nights to Ignite Raleigh to TEDxRTP. We have SPARKcon, the largest creativity festival in the south every year. Soon enough, Raleigh will be the creative hub of the South.

Sure sure, Raleigh does have its drawbacks, though. After a quick poll on Twitter asking other Gen Yers about the one thing they would change about Raleigh if they could, it became apparent that public transportation, traffic and road upkeep pretty much suck (with some other rather unique suggestions thrown in there as well)!

“@carleemallard: What’s ONE THING you would change about Raleigh if you could?”

@mtdukes Better public transportation, even though I know it’s not so feasible given our density. I’d love to avoid driving so much!

@jakespotter Public transportation options!

@Kithygh: Public transportation that worked and was accessible

@ReginaTwine: One thing I would change about Raleigh is the road construction. It seems like it’s everywhere! My GPS doesn’t like construction and detours. At least the construction means progress and I hope to stay around the area and see the roads completed.

@samkrishna Have it be major tech epicenter with thousands of millionaires and billions in intellectual capital! It would end the ceaseless chatter of “not good enough” that seems to infect the area. Also, if we were a tech epicenter (say green tech), then we would live among a much higher density of the world’s best minds. And we’d get to invent far more of the future than we currently do.

Janelle H.: Raleigh is lacking a strong identity. We need something that strings together a common identity; … something everyone takes out-of-town visitors to.

@emilysaramoore: Give me a late night place that isn’t a bar. There is plenty for the bar seekers to enjoy in any of the downtown areas, but we need to be more welcome to the possibility of a late night Mexican joint or cafe that is in a key location for people to hang out… not necessarily get plastered. Young professionals need some better options of where to find themselves meeting with friends on the late night. Why isn’t there a live music scene anywhere other than Carolina Ale House?

I see the light at the end of the tunnel though, and hope that with all of the effort the City of Raleigh Planning Department, Urban Design Center, and NCDOT are putting into planning for inter-city rail and light rail through the city that one day (soon) there will be nothing stopping Raleigh from being a world-class 21^st century city!

Photo by Carlee Mallard