Fayetteville Street Mall Demolition Displaces Fish

Raleigh City Council’s decision to tear up downtown’s Fayetteville Street pedestrian mall and convert it into another thoroughfare for automobiles will result in the disappearance of some of the neighborhood’s longtime animal residents.

The koi who for the past 20 years have lived in the fountain outside the Wake County Courthouse will soon get a new home. The fish – an ornamental variety of Cyprinus carpio, a.k.a. the common carp – are being cleared out in advance of next month’s groundbreaking ceremony for the mall-to-street renovation, city officials announced today.

The Parks & Recreation department will relocate the fish to Pullen Park’s Lake Howell, west of downtown. It made the choice “after exploring several options,” according to an official press release on the matter.

The city does not yet have a firm date for the move, but “relocation will occur prior to the start of demolition,” assured Assistant Parks Superintendent Ken Hisler. The groundbreaking is scheduled to take place Monday, March 14, at 11:30 a.m., on the corner of Martin and Fayetteville streets.

Incidentally, in Japanese symbolism koi represent perseverance and strength of purpose. Wonder what their eviction bodes for downtown's future...