Cooke Street

The Cooke Street Development is a downtown Raleigh neighborhood project developed through the City of Raleigh Community Development Department with an objective of creating a mixed income neighborhood that combined affordable housing with historic character, while also reflecting the personal style of individual homeowners. TightLines Designs provided design and construction consultation as well as providing many of the home designs.  Prominantly featured are a combination of single story, 1 ½ story and 2 story homes such as: The Asbury, The Bentley, The award-winning Foxgate, The Four Square, The Fisher, The Hawkins, The Hinton, The Madison, The Monique, The Myrtle and The Winslow.

The Cooke Street development is an approximate two block area located in downtown Raleigh, adjacent to the Victorian era Historic Oakwood neighborhood and less than a mile's walk to the State Capitol. Prior to the revitalization efforts, the area was plagued with vacant lots, delapidated structures, and crime.

The City's Community Development Department identified this area for redevelopment, purchased all the land, and community forums were held to establish objectives for the future neighborhood. From these forums, goals were set that included a desire for mixed income and compatibility with the adjacent historic neighborhood. Tightlines Designs helped establish design and construction guidelines, which included HardiPlank siding and trim, brick foundations, 7' minimum deep front porches, 4" cornerboards and door/window trim, window and door sizes and patterns, eave overhangs, etc. Energy efficient standards were also set, requiring the homes to meet Energy Star and to participate in the SystemVision program.

Since all the lots were of varying sizes - from too large to too small - the City resubdivided all the lots into more consistent sizes, and even gained some density for the area. Overhead utlities were buried and stromwater measures undertaken. Since the lots on the west side were much deeper than the lots on the east side, a wider sidewalk was installed in the front yard of the western lots, using less concrete than two separate sidewalks, and effectively creating a two block long greenway.  Ganged driveways were planned, also in an effort to reduce the impervious surface. Property lines on the western side were set back, allowing a wider common area to run along the greenway (although maintenance is the homeowners' responsibility.) This greenway was a major factor in the desire to create a community that promoted neighbor interaction. Today, kids can be seen riding their bikes and moms pushing strollers. The ample front porches are well used, and almost all of the homes have the living room in the front of the house, further encouraging 'eyes on the street.'

The City sold the lots to four developers - Wake County Habitat, Evergreen Construction, RD Construction, and St. Augustine's CDC. A percentage of the homes were allowed to be constructed for non-income restricted buyers to achieve the community's desire for a mixed income development.  Although fairly tight design and construction standards were set, the builders and the individual home buyers were encouraged to express their individuality through creative exterior finishes and construction details.

Even though the homes were all required to meet Energy Star and SystemVision (the TightLines homes averaged around $30 per month in heating and cooling utility costs!) it was during the second phase of the project that Wake County Habitat chose to pursue - and achieve - a gold certified home through the HealthyBuilt Homes homes program.  TightLines Designs partnered with them to provide the architectural plans, and the City further subsidized the lot price to encourage this certification.

Today, the over 30 families enjoy a true community of neighbors, sharing the public common spaces and backyards, and even sponsor an annual neighborhood carnival!