Frequently asked questions
This is a comprehensive effort to look at the university campus as a whole and determine how best to revitalize its historic properties and existing university facilities, develop new university facilities, attract desired amenities (stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, etc.), diversify revenue streams away from just tuition, and stitch the university deeper into the fabric of downtown Raleigh.
In order to recruit and retain students, Shaw must provide a modern and attractive campus. Currently many of Shaw’s buildings and infrastructure are outdated and inadequate. The planned campus redevelopment will provide new revenue sources, offer Shaw an opportunity to update its campus setting, and bring desired amenities to the campus and the surrounding neighborhood that will make it a more exciting and inviting place for all.
No, Shaw has no intention of selling any of its core property in downtown Raleigh. Instead, using a long-term ground lease structure, Shaw will maintain fee simple ownership of its land to preserve its real estate portfolio while also receiving fair market value for development projects, including upfront value, and potential opportunities for long-term participation in the projects’ success.
Shaw is requesting removal of the Historic Overlay District (HOD) because university leaders originally objected to the creation of the HOD, as it restricts the type of development within the district and negatively impacts Shaw’s property and the property of other long-time neighborhood residents. The HOD was imposed in 2012 by the City of Raleigh. Additionally, the Prince Hall Historic Overlay District houses the only two buildings Shaw wishes to move - which were acquired in 1999 and 2006 and do not sit on the main campus. The only two buildings that Shaw wishes to move from the HOD are the Frazier House and the Rogers-Bagley-Daniels Pegues House. Shaw is not requesting to move (nor remove) Estey, Leonard, Tupper or Tyler Halls, which are located on the main campus. Last, the HOD is located north of South Street, so it does not affect the main academic area of campus where many of Shaw’s historic buildings stand.
This is what is actually stated on Shaw’s zoning application:
The goal of the rezoning process is to increase the allowable density and greater uses on our downtown campus. Additional density and greater uses will help the University attract more amenities and create a better Student Life Experience. It will also provide the University with flexibility as it evaluates future development options and engages in discussions with the development community.
The University continues to engage key stakeholders throughout the application for the rezoning process. The University has held meetings and forums with the faculty and staff to discuss the effort. Also, it has engaged the students by working with the Student Government Association and giving presentations in the students’ classes. It also placed the rezoning information in the July Alumni Newsletter announcing community meetings, held an online meeting with Alumni chapter presidents and a Webinar for stakeholders, especially alumni. The University has held seven (7) public meetings on campus about the rezoning process and will continue to facilitate additional opportunities for input from University stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and the surrounding community.
The City of Raleigh Planning Commission is a public meeting on February 14 at 9am (it is also streamed live). The City of Raleigh City Council meeting will also be a public meeting, expected in April (also streamed live).
Once rezoning is complete, the next step is to commence the Campus Master Planning process. This will be an open process with input requested from all Shaw stakeholders (Students, faculty, staff, alumni, neighbors, and the local community).
The Campus Master Plan, based on the University’s mission and strategic plan, indicates where buildings, open spaces, circulation systems, utilities, and other elements of the campus environment will be located. The plan guides future development, taking into account challenges and opportunities and providing adequate guidance so important concepts are sustained and not compromised to attain lesser short-term advantages over more significant long-term benefits. The physical master plan also includes an implementation strategy that drives cost and funding analyses, architectural programming, and design, renovation and construction of buildings and other facilities, as well as the detailed planning and preservation of important open spaces and other physical resources.
The University has identified the following key campus needs, in no priority order:
New Residential Hall(s)
Student Center Replacement
Athletic/Recreation Facilities
Wellness/Convocation
New/Renovated Academic Space
New Library
Entrepreneurial/Innovation Center
Parking
Life Sciences Facilities
Retail/Restaurants
Stadium
Gathering Spaces
No. Shaw is not asking or planning to tear down its historic campus buildings (Estey, Tupper, Leonard & Tyler). Shaw loves its historic campus buildings which are integral to the campus and the history of Shaw University.
In Section 5 of the rezoning application, Shaw specifically states that it will “preserve” these buildings, subject to Section 6. See below.
In Section 6 of the rezoning application, Shaw listed out various reasons when it would be almost IMPOSSIBLE for Shaw to attempt to rebuild its historic structures. These are things like accidental damage (fire, explosion), Acts of God (i.e., flood, lightening, wind (tornado), or a government taking (ex. road widening) that are not the result of intentional action by Shaw which result in the structures being destroyed by over 50% of their value. If it is less than 50% of the value of the building(s) are impacted, Shaw IS REQUIRED to build back the building(s). The reasoning for this language is because Shaw might not be ABLE to build back a structure that was mostly or completely destroyed by a tornado (for example). This is very common language in preservation conditions.
In addition, Shaw has also received approximately $2,500,000 in grants from the federal government to help preserve Estey, Tupper, Leonard and Tyler Halls. These grants require a preservation easement on the buildings SO THEY CAN’T BE REMOVED OR ALTERED for the term of the easement.
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/hbcu-grants-2021.htm
https://www.wral.com/national-park-service-to-save-historic-building-at-shaw-university/20285331/
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/her-fy22-2-9-23.htm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Shaw received federal funding dedicated solely to the rehabilitation of historic buildings. Shaw can only use this restricted funding to help restore these amazing buildings (Estey, Tupper, Leonard & Tyler Halls)on its campus. Shaw does invest in its student residence halls, but it does not have the financial resources to undertake a substantial rehabilitation of these facilities. This is one of the major motivators behind The ShawU District, to make a Better Student Life Experience.
Public access in Shaw’s downtown campus is not new, as Shaw already has public City Streets (Wilmington, Blount, South, Lenoir, & Person Streets and MLK Jr. Blvd,) throughout its campus.
Per the rezoning request, the City of Raleigh required pedestrian access through the two Superblocks of campus as a part of the rezoning effort so to create better connectivity. Shaw would provide a dedicated pedestrian access way, or if it decides, a public street in lieu of a dedicated pedestrian access way between S. Person and S. Blount.
Shaw would provide dedicated pedestrian access way between S. Blount and S. Wilmington Streets. This would only happen once Shaw redevelops these properties and Shaw will determine the location of such access. Any access is only open only during daylight hours and Shaw can close it for events at its discretion. This is not new as pedestrians already are able to cross these properties right now. See the actual language of the condition below for details:
Having conversations and engagement with the Shaw University community to further inform our decisions; and
Working through the rezoning process with our advisors, Hayat Brown, to develop a comprehensive redevelopment strategy; and
Commissioning a new campus master plan and space utilization study informed by feedback from the Shaw family and our local community that will help guide decisions on land use and determine future University academic and student life space needs.
The rendering you may have seen was a preliminary conceptual sketch that was intended to simply show what the area in and around Shaw’s campus may look like fully built-out in the future (many of the structures on the rendering are not even on Shaw’s property) and how that future development will affect Shaw’s campus, whether Shaw redevelops its campus or not. Shaw has shown that rendering previously as it was presented at its initial public meetings to get community thoughts and feedback. It is not something new, and it is certainly not the future Campus Master Plan. We have not used the rendering lately because we heard back that everyone has their own visualization of what they may see or would like to see on Shaw’s Campus so until the Campus Master Plan is completed in the near future, there cannot be any accurate interpretation.