Acquisition and Funding:

The City of Raleigh is in the process of acquiring the old DMV headquarters. This 5.88-acre site now stands as a canvas for community-driven development.

In January 2024, the City Council took decisive steps by authorizing instruments for the purchase, closure of properties, budget amendments, and allocation of ARPA funds. Simultaneously, an engagement plan for the site was put into motion.

View the City Council presentation.

Shaping the Future of the DMV Site

Your participation is crucial as we collectively shape the future of this iconic location. Join us on this exciting journey towards a vibrant and community-focused transformation!

We are embarking on the visioning and planning phases, a crucial period where community involvement takes center stage.

Get Involved: Engagement Opportunities 

Ongoing Engagement

Project Working Group
The Project Working Group  will be part of the decision-making process for the site’s future. Applications for the group were closed March 17, 2024. Learn more about the project working group members.

Want a Project Working Group member to attend your community meeting? Contact us at community.engagement@raleighnc.gov to schedule a Meeting in a Box session!

Upcoming Site Activation

While waiting for construction, the City of Raleigh will use the former DMV lot for community events to bring people together and support local vendors.

• Basketball Tournament & Resource Fair
  This summer, join us for The Rose Tournament: Growing Beauty from Concrete, a powerful community basketball tournament and resource fair held at the former DMV site. Inspired by Tupac Shakur’s poem “The Rose That Grew from Concrete,” the event will celebrate resilience, connection, and community-led change. The day will also mark the debut of a temporary outdoor court, which will remain open for play until construction begins! Date for the event to be announced soon.

Stay tuned for more ways to get involved! We will soon be announcing additional engagement opportunities. If you have ideas or visions for the site, we want to hear from you! Please email your thoughts to community.engagement@raleighnc.gov.

Previous Engagement

• Community Kickoff: Shaping the Future DMV Site
  On August 24, 2024 the City hosted the Community Kickoff Event to launch the engagement and visioning phase of the project. Residents enjoyed food, fun, and connecting with fellow community members and our Project Working Group. Read more about the event.
• Community Input: Former DMV Site Survey
  From October 2024 to March 2025, we conducted a survey to gather community input on the future of the former DMV site. Over the course of five months, 700 participants shared their thoughts, helping to shape the vision for this space. Thank you to everyone who contributed!
• Community Office Hours – Thank You for Joining Us!
  From October 2024 to February 2025, we held monthly office hours at the former DMV site, providing an opportunity for community members to share their thoughts and ask questions. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and contributed to the conversation! While office hours have ended, we encourage you to stay engaged!
• Egg-stravagant Basket Giveaway
  On April 12, over 250 attendees joined us for a Spring Basket Giveaway! Families enjoyed treats, music, bounce houses, face painting, and received updates on local projects.

This is the first time the community will start to see things happening on the property. Before we can build anything new, we have to take care of what’s already there.

What’s Happening Now

We’re getting the site ready for future development. That includes:

• Asbestos Abatement: Old buildings on the site may have materials that are unsafe, like asbestos. Specialized crews will safely remove and clean up anything harmful.
• Demolition: Once the site is safe, we’ll begin tearing down the old buildings.

This early work is starting now with a fence installed around the property. The entire process should take about a year. 

Looking Ahead

We shared a Request for Proposals (RFP) to complete a market study for the next phase of this project. This study will help us understand what types of homes, businesses, and public spaces are the best fit for the area. It’s a key step before we start building, and it ensures that the project supports the community’s needs and vision.