Raleigh's nightlife hot spot is getting a new headliner. Turnbridge Equities' 37‑story, $200 million Highline Glenwood tower is climbing out of the ground in Glenwood South, where crews have moved from demolition to visible site work. If it stays on track, the project is set to become the city's tallest residential building, stacking high‑amenity apartments over new street‑level retail right in the middle of the neighborhood's busiest strip.
The developer plans roughly 306 residential units and says it has closed about $147 million in construction financing from Axos Bank and managed accounts of Manulife, with Turnbridge putting in the remaining equity. Site work is already underway, and phase one is expected to deliver in mid‑2028, according to Business Wire.
Historic Creamery To Stay Central
Highline Glenwood is wrapping itself around one of Glenwood South's most familiar faces: the former Pine State Creamery. The locally designated landmark, now owned by Turnbridge, is slated to be preserved as part of the redevelopment rather than scraped for a clean slate. The News & Observer reports the Creamery site covers about 2.4 acres at 410 Glenwood Ave, and longtime ground‑floor tenants such as Sullivan’s Steakhouse and Pine State Public House are expected to stay open while construction rumbles around them.
What It Means For Glenwood South
Developers and downtown boosters say the project signals Glenwood South's evolution from primarily a late‑night playground to a denser, true mixed‑use corridor. The Downtown Raleigh Alliance lists the redevelopment at 400 Glenwood Ave and notes that the plan blends residential living with fresh street‑level retail aimed at keeping the sidewalks busy from morning coffee runs through last call. The tower's future shops and storefronts are expected to complement, not replace, the bars and restaurants that already define the district.
Market Context And The Developer's Pitch
Turnbridge is casting Highline Glenwood as a carefully timed bet on Raleigh's tight urban housing market, arguing it will land just as supply is pinched and demand keeps climbing. "Highline Glenwood will deliver into an ideal environment amid very limited new supply and continued population growth," Managing Director Jason Davis said in a statement to Business Wire. A regional market report lists the tower as under construction at a moment when multifamily pipelines across the region are pulling back, according to Cushman & Wakefield.
Approvals, Timeline And Partners
To get the tower off the drawing board and onto the skyline, Turnbridge first had to rezone the block and secure approvals from the Raleigh Historic Development Commission. Local counsel says it guided that process through City Hall. Parker Poe, which advised on the rezoning and permitting, details the legal steps and sign‑offs, while the Triangle Business Journal reports that construction activity is now ramping up on the Creamery block. The developer lists its design and construction teams on the project roster as it works toward the 2028 delivery target, according to Parker Poe and the Triangle Business Journal.
Neighbors Watch The Block
Residents and small business owners around Glenwood South are bracing for the usual headaches that come with a major construction site, from lane closures to the soundtrack of backup beepers. At the same time, many say they are hopeful the tower will bring steadier daytime foot traffic and customers beyond the weekend rush. As The News & Observer noted, Turnbridge plans to keep several existing ground‑floor tenants operating while the block is rebuilt, a move developers say should help maintain the district's character even as its skyline grows up another 37 stories.
