Soleil Center

The Soleil Center was a 43-story skyscraper and condo-hotel planned for Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. The 480 ft (146 m) building was to be located next to the Crabtree Valley Mall on Glenwood Avenue (US 70) just north of the I-440 beltline,[1] in an area variously known as "Midtown Raleigh" or "Uptown Raleigh". The Soleil Center was intended to be the second tallest building in Raleigh and in the Triangle region. The PNC Plaza building in downtown Raleigh is the tallest.

The Soleil Center would have stood as the second-tallest building in Raleigh.

The Soleil Center was to contain a 290-room four-star Westin hotel, 54 condominiums, 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2) of office space, a spa and a 600-car parking garage. The total cost for the project was estimated to be $175 million and was a private investment project of the Soleil Group.[2][3]

The construction project was approved by the Raleigh City Council in November 2005, but after uneven bedrock conditions were discovered, test drilling of every column location was required causing a year-long delay.[3]

The original plan by developers was to build just a hotel, the Westin Hotel Crabtree, but no residences. After additional funding and investors were secured, the Soleil Group decided on building the larger project.[4]

The Soleil Center was to replace the old Sheraton hotel that was imploded in May 2006.[5] The condominiums, officially called The Westin Raleigh Soleil Center Residences, were priced starting at $1 million and the penthouses at $4.5 million, making the residences the most expensive condos in the area.[3]

The economic crash of 2008 destroyed demand for luxury condos, and the project was scaled back in late 2008 to just a 16-story Westin Hotel, with the possibility of constructing the condo tower atop it at a later date, should the market improve. Construction on the hotel has not yet begun.[6]

The Soleil Group had plans to build a second tower, the 18-story Soleil II, that would have connected to the first building and offered additional office space.[7]

Current status

In 2015, multiple media sources stated the structure may end up being built. A March 30 news article on local WRAL.com[8] revealed the plans may not be totally forgotten. If so, this would mark a key turn of events of the site situated on some of the most prime real estate in Raleigh. The site has sat abandoned after being partially developed almost a decade ago. If completed, this would be the tallest structure in Raleigh outside of downtown.

As of 2018, the project has been cancelled, but there is a new 18 story Westin Hotel under construction on the same land.

References
  1. Eisley, Matthew (2008-02-25). ""Triangle skylines evolve"". The News & Observer. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  2. "Soleil Center". emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  3. ""After Delays, Raleigh's Soleil Center Could Finally Take Height"". wral.com. 2008-02-23. Archived from the original on 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  4. "Westin Hotel Crabtree". emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  5. ""Old Hotel Demolished To Make Way For Raleigh's Tallest Building"". wral.com. 2006-05-07. Archived from the original on 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  6. ""Developer scales back Soleil Center"". newsobserver.com. 2008-12-10. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  7. ""Developer Wants To Expand What Will Be Raleigh's Tallest High-Rise"". wral.com. 2006-04-25. Archived from the original on 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  8. WRAL (2015-03-30). "Crabtree tower may yet rise :: WRAL.com". WRAL.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2017-03-27.

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