Report: More people moving to downtown Raleigh

WRAL | 10.28.2025

The quarterly report released Tuesday by the downtown Raleigh Alliance shows that more people are moving downtown.

While leaders admit it has been a struggle for downtown to return to pre-pandemic levels of interest for entertainment or even living downtown, recent numbers are indicating a shift. 

Visitor visits to downtown Raleigh increased more than 3.5% year over year, with the Glenwood South District recording the largest increase at more than 13%.

In the last two years, more than 1,500 units are now occupied, according to the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. This makes it one of the top downtowns in the country for apartment leasing.

In addition, business the numbers show 21 businesses opened, while 10 closed, resulting in a net gain of 11 businesses operating in downtown.

The Vice President of Economic Development for the Downtown Raleigh Alliance Will Gaskins said the numbers prove downtown Raleigh is positioned for success.

“It’s been a year that really shows the power of downtowns and the resilient draw that they have, not only in terms of adding residents, in terms of the gains we’ve seen in terms of office occupancy, as well as just the continued pace of store fronts that are opening downtown and how well our hotel community is doing,” Gaskins said. 

Gaskins sights the planned Omni hotel coming to downtown Raleigh in 2028, as well as other hotel projects that kicked off this past quarter.

The Raleigh Convention Center expansion project and the new Red Hat Amphitheater have also been key factors in why there’s so much interest in downtown Raleigh, he said. 

Gaskins acknowledges crime has been an issue in terms of people avoiding downtown, not to mention the number of businesses that closed this past quarter, but he credits stepped up safety and economic initiatives that are helping to create a safer downtown Raleigh and attract businesses.