What Does Cary Need to Do To Reach the Next Level as a City..er, Town?

[KJHburg]

People say all kinds of things about Cary but being the most affordable safest large city in USA is quite an accomplishment.

https://smartasset.com/data-studies/safest-cities-in-america-2023

[rancenc]

Redevelopment of the South Hills mall area could be in the works

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/developer-proposes-overhaul-for-carys-south-hills-mall/

[rancenc]

New residential coming to Cary.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wood-partners-breaks-ground-in-rapidly-growing-raleigh-north-carolina-suburb-alta-ivy-301807701.html

[rancenc]

Possible options for the Cary Town Hall site.

https://www.wral.com/story/cary-considering-sale-or-lease-of-town-hall-property-for-new-downtown-development/20846905/

[rancenc]

Positive news for downtown Cary.

https://abc11.com/cary-nc-downtown-growth-business-owners-embrace/13285434/

[KJHburg]

saw lots of construction in downtown Cary not even including the new big downtown park which is still under construction.  Couple of drive bys. 

The Walker apartments downtown and the Fenton last 2 photos.  

saw these apartments getting ready to start as the land is all cleared.    right outside of downtown Cary http://www.chathamstreetcommercial.com/meridian-east-chatham   and saw all this land cleared for this project  http://www.chathamstreetcommercial.com/jordan     Downtown Cary is going to really be big in the near future with all these new apartments coming. 

 

Edited July 7, 2023 by KJHburg

[KJHburg]

Cary receives lots of interest in its city owned properties downtown for redevelopment from big developers local, regional and national.

https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/07/25/developers-eye-town-owned-property-in-downtown-cary

[KJHburg]

Cary is getting a  dual brand Marriott hotel.

From the Triangle Biz Journal 

""A dual-branded Courtyard and Residence Inn hotel is planned for 1623 N. Harrison Ave. Daly Seven, a hotel developer and management company out of Greensboro, is behind the project.

The site is currently a vacant lot and is situated near The Umstead Hotel and Spa and Ruth’s Chris Steak House.   Site plans show one side of the building as “Hotel 1” with 138 rooms and rising seven stories. A center portion of the building would also rise seven stories and house shared amenities for both hotels. The second side of the building is listed as “Hotel 2” with 111 rooms and rising three-and-a-half stories.""

https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2023/08/15/new-marriott-hotel-cary-courtyard-residence-inn.html?

 

[KJHburg]

Hines developer of Fenton proposed major changes to Waverly shopping center they bought in 2022 including adding lots of apartments. This would be where the CineBistro and existing surface parking lots.

 

""The preliminary plans show there would be buildings between four and seven stories that would have multifamily units, retail space and office space, a parking deck and 15,000 square feet of community gathering areas. The surface parking lots would be replaced with high-density residential and commercial uses in order to create a pedestrian friendly environment.  

According to the plans, the community gathering area must have at least three of the following: landscaping, grilling areas, shade structure, seating, outdoor dining, rooftop amenities or a private swimming pool.

There can’t be more than 725 residential units and no more than 30,000 square feet of commercial space. The commercial uses allowed are office, personal services, retail stores, ABC store, theater, neighborhood recreation center, brewery, nightclub/bar and restaurant.

The current zoning is general commercial with conditions. Hines is asking for mixed use with a preliminary development plan.""

Owner of Waverly Place in Cary wants to add apartments, office space - Triangle Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

[KJHburg]

Cary ranks #2 best place to live in the southeast.  Durham ranks high too.  Charlotte and Raleigh not on the list.

https://livability.com/topics/where-to-live-now/top-25-best-places-to-live-in-the-southeast/

[nicholas]

On 8/16/2023 at 3:40 PM, KJHburg said:

Hines developer of Fenton proposed major changes to Waverly shopping center they bought in 2022 including adding lots of apartments. This would be where the CineBistro and existing surface parking lots.

If I remember correctly, a little under 20 years ago there was a similar proposal for that shopping center.  Everything was going to be torn down and Whole Foods would be relocated to a new building within the development.  Then 2008 happened and the plaza was gradually updated cosmetically instead.

[Jones_]

37 minutes ago, nicholas said:

If I remember correctly, a little under 20 years ago there was a similar proposal for that shopping center.  Everything was going to be torn down and Whole Foods would be relocated to a new building within the development.  Then 2008 happened and the plaza was gradually updated cosmetically instead.

Sounds right but if that was 20 years ago, dang i'm old. FWIW, University Mall in Chapel Hill is adding a large apartment building to its parking lot and other outparcel where it used to be just parking lot. The size of the two shopping areas are similar size (286k for Waverly and 350 at buildout for University Square) so you can get an idea of feel. There is a site plan if you drill down. 

Edited September 16, 2023 by Jones_

[rancenc]

Overview of new hotels coming to Cary.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article279219369.html

[rancenc]

New cuisine option coming to Cary!

https://carolinas.eater.com/2023/11/7/23950346/cary-saap-loatian-food

[paytonc]

Cary's new Downtown Park doubles as a stormwater basin, allowing the denser development on the eastern side of downtown.

[KJHburg]

Okay the new Downtown Cary park is probably the best urban park in NC and it is well worth the $58 M and 10 years they spent on it.  It is spectacular check out the Bark Bar near the dog bar where you get pick up an adult beverage.  the whole park is a social district so you can sip and stroll.  Great playground for the kids,  The skywalk is great.  Lots of photos but I am tourist and people were really raving about it.  Fire pits random locations.  Slides for the kids are great in the Red Bird playground.  Come spring summer and warmer weather this place will be packed.   If you live in the Triangle you need to check this park out.  Temporary ice skating rink too. 

[KJHburg]

Fenton is looking good and very full of retailers too.  They have the old Wegmans site labeled as grocery and hotel/.  That is probably good to put a hotel there too.   I saw new retailers open or getting ready to open. 

Homepage - Fenton (fentonnc.com)

[rancenc]

New shopping and drinking venue for downtown Cary.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/records-beer-dankness-popular-vinyl-192546959.html

[KJHburg]

Vinfast will open one of its first dealerships in Cary.

VinFast begins selling electric cars at Cary dealership (wral.com)

[Richhamleigh, DC]

On 11/29/2023 at 8:41 PM, KJHburg said:

Okay the new Downtown Cary park is probably the best urban park in NC and it is well worth the $58 M and 10 years they spent on it.  It is spectacular check out the Bark Bar near the dog bar where you get pick up an adult beverage.  the whole park is a social district so you can sip and stroll.  Great playground for the kids,  The skywalk is great.  Lots of photos but I am tourist and people were really raving about it.  Fire pits random locations.  Slides for the kids are great in the Red Bird playground.  Come spring summer and warmer weather this place will be packed.   If you live in the Triangle you need to check this park out.  Temporary ice skating rink 

 

Arguably one of the best new parks in the US, if not beyond.  The landscape architects on this project hit this one out of the park, and thanks to the Cary Town Council for supporting the investment in this project.  The integration into an emerging urban fabric is nothing short of genius.  This is absolutely a destination.  Amazing, Cary.  Amazing.

[Richhamleigh, DC]

Cary is doing something more towns and cities should be doing - growing from the inside out.  And, frankly, it's not just Cary doing this.  North Carolina is arguably a leader in the notion that the cores of our communities are where investments should be made - from small towns to big cities.  I'm in Virginia now and travel frequently across the US.  I don't think I've come across a state where this is happening so profoundly and with such geographic distribution.  There is still some sprawl, but the nearly state-wide reinvestment in our historic cores and the focus on densityeven in areas outside the cores is truly amazing. 

[KJHburg]

Cary's Fenton attracts new retail tenant and new office tenant.

""Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is moving its office to Fenton in Cary. The mixed-use district’s mix of amenities is a main reason, the company said, along with the want to be closer to Raleigh’s business district.

Cushman & Wakefield ranks as one of the largest commercial real estate brokerages in the Triangle area, with 70 full-time employees based in the area. The firm is taking a 13,000-square-foot space in the One Fenton Main building.""

Cushman & Wakefield leases office space in Cary’s Fenton - Triangle Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

""Brewery Bhavana, an acclaimed restaurant in Downtown Raleigh across from Moore Square, is opening a new restaurant in Fenton, the budding mixed-used district along Cary Towne Boulevard near Interstate 40. The new spot will be a smaller space but still feature many of the original restaurant’s aspects.

Brewery Bhavana in Cary is expected to open in the third quarter of this year, according to Fenton developer Hines.   Brewery Bhavana at Fenton will fill a 2,000-square-foot space. The Raleigh location measures around 8,000 square feet.""
Brewery Bhavana to open Cary restaurant in Fenton - Triangle Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

[rancenc]

Follow up article to @KJHburg's recent posting of new tenants at Cary's Fenton development.

https://rebusinessonline.com/seven-new-tenants-join-92-acre-fenton-development-in-cary-north-carolina/

[KJHburg]

the town of Cary now needs another parking deck downtown as it gains it popularity.  Once I saw that new park I said they are going to need more parking here.  

""As downtown Cary attracts more visitors and residents, the need for more parking is growing fast. A public-private partnership is tackling the issue with plans for a large parking deck in the heart of downtown.

Northwoods Associates, Chatham Street Commercial and the Town of Cary are partnering to build a 5-level parking deck on East Chatham Street next to new Rogers Building mixed-use development between Walker and Academy streets.

The addition of a nearly 300-space parking deck in the middle of downtown shows just how much – and how fast – Cary is changing. The once quiet, bedroom community is now a bustling place for growth and business. And no where else is this more evident than in downtown Cary, where a surge in development in recent years as dramatically changed the area. Downtown is often packed on the weekends with local residents and visitors, meaning finding a place to park can be difficult.""

Downtown Cary boom fuels plan for 300-space parking deck - Triangle Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

after all the town of Cary only has 180,000 plus people and is still growing.  

[KJHburg]

Cary named best place in country to rent  (and this is not price related) but given the high incomes there and rental prices and options  and other factors like crime rate. 

What Are the Best Cities for Renters? (usatoday.com)