Dorothea Dix Campus:
The campus offers a tremendous opportunity for a new resource, not only for our district, but for the City and region. The campus was founded on the idea of humane and progressive treatment for the mentally ill at the turn of the Century. I propose working with the State and associated agencies to build consensus on a phased plan for the conversion of the grounds to a park. There is a large portion of the site that could be available to us in the near future; let’s take an early advantage of this opportunity.
Meanwhile, we can craft a plan that offers the State, and the patients, professionals, and staff that currently remain on campus an opportunity to continue their residency until it is practical to relocate them, or perhaps reserve a small facility for them somewhere on the site. We should take into consideration that the service and treatment provided at Dorothea Dix is every bit as important a part of a great City as a great park or open space, and channel our energies accordingly.
I will work with the Mayor, Council, and other stakeholders to craft a sensible, achievable approach to creating a great park resource for us and future generations of Raleigh citizens.