WRAL reported yesterday that the Dean of the Campbell School of Law is considering the school’s move to downtown Raleigh from Buies Creek, NC. In the report, WRAL said that Raleigh is the largest state capital without a law school.
The move would be a great blessing for downtown Raleigh. The students and faculty would create much foot traffic, demand retail and basic food outlets nearby, and most likely move many residents to downtown. The many commuting Raleigh residents would have a safer drive home at night than they currently have.
I haven’t spoken to anyone about this move, however one opportunity for the school is glaringly obvious; the 9-story old Wachovia building at 227 Fayetteville Street (pictured on the left in the photo). Walking distance from the areas courthouses and libraries, the building would provide ample space and has adjacent parking for faculty and an underground connector to the Moore Square lot. The building’s first floor, formerly Wachovia’s local branch, is actually a 25 foot tall open space one floor down from Fayetteville and Wilmington Streets’ elevation. This provides an excellent opportunity to renovate the space into two large auditorium style classrooms. The building is in need of repair. However, a law school generally doesn’t need class A office space, something this building will never provide.
Hopefully the Campbell School of Law can find ample, reasonably priced space in downtown Raleigh and create a huge win-win situation.
