The Raleigh City Council approved moving forward on three major projects in their capital improvement plan:
$2.4 million to finish plans for the Clarence E. Lightner Public Safety Center, the construction of an outdoor amphitheater next to Raleigh’s convention center and funding for new Solid Waste Services facilities.
The Lightner center will house the police and fire departments, and now has funding to finalize development plans that are currently 50 percent done. The amphitheater will host cultural events, art expos and a partnership with Live Nation, which will bring big-name acts downtown. Approving the projects now takes advantage of the poor economy, keeping the costs down for the public, said City Manager Russel Allen.