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

[KJHburg]

the largest town in NC over 170,000 people and counting.   sights  of the little town that could.   World HQ of SAS and Epic Games. 

1. 2. MetLife over 2600 employees here now

3. Cary Arts Center

4. Parking garage behind new library downtown

5.6.7.  Fenton on CaryTowne Blvd is in full site development work.  Wegmans, lots of shops and restaurants, apartments, office building in first phase alone.  This is a great project.

http://fentonnc.com/

 

Edited June 4, 2020 by KJHburg

[paytonc]

On 2/26/2020 at 8:05 AM, rancenc said:

Cary continues to attract development.  This proposal is for a medical oriented campus.

Hospitals are beginning to catch up with Western Wake's tremendous population growth. Duke has proposed a 100-bed hospital and 800,000 square feet of commercial space at Green Level (=western High House) and 540, UNC/Rex is building a 50-bed hospital in Holly Springs, and WakeMed Cary is expanding to ~200 beds.

[DPK]

The Mayton Inn has changed hands finally:

https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2020/06/05/investor-group-closed-on-sale-of-mayton-inn-in.html

[paytonc]

Argh. Just as downtown Cary was beginning to see residential development take off (and retail follows rooftops!), the town rushes to downzone parts of downtown by kneecapping one of its most flexible zoning districts.

The "CB&R" (Cottage Business & Residential) district was meant to allow small detached buildings, whether office or residential, on key approaches to downtown: 54 West, S Harrison/Dry, Walker St. It was intentionally flexible, to allow for reuse of existing houses. In recent years, homebuilders figured out that its (progressive for Cary) lack of setback rules allowed for exactly the sort of small-lot detached houses that families want. (It also allowed for "missing middle" sized multifamily without huge buffers, which nobody's built yet and now never will.) So of course the Town decides it has had too much of a good thing, and is introducing stringent setbacks and minimum lot sizes to all of the CB&R zones -- and dividing it into three micro-zones, the better to keep a short leash on any development.

http://carync.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=5024&MediaPosition=2390.887&ID=4092&CssClass=

Houses on 1/4 acre lots, spaced 20' apart, and apartment buildings that are at MINIMUM one block (200') wide, are not the building blocks of a human-scaled downtown!

[nicholas]

Quick drive through Cary a few days ago.

[rancenc]

New apartment complex broke ground in Cary.  Future residents coming to town!

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wood-partners-announces-groundbreaking-of-alta-wren-in-cary-nc-301100488.html

[KJHburg]

if Cary had a skyline I guess this would be it.  From Lake Crabtree park and MetLife buildings along Weston Blvd and other office buildings.  Today. 

and Wake County has some of the best local parks in the state bar none. 

[KJHburg]

Cary Towne Center Mall redevelopment now called Carolina Yards all outside shopping no interior mall and grid street pattern.  This and Fenton across the street will make a new heart of Cary with lots of office and retail space in one spot. In fact the renderings look a lot like Fenton.  Sounds like the developer has done this kind of project before which is important. 

https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2020/10/01/cary-towne-center-overhaul-to-start-in-2021.html

[po-boy]

Cary has several great projects in the pipeline. This Carolina Yards project which includes the $193M indoor sports complex, Fenton which is already under construction, and the new Downtown Park.

Cary has long had a lot of educated, high earning residents, but the built environment has been pretty underwhelming. Hopefully these will give the Town more of a draw.

[carolina1792]

Unpopular opinion but Wake County has too many petty and suburban cities and one of the reasons this area has failed at getting decent mass transit for decades among other things like HQ relocations and major job wins like Amazon.  Just look at the current commuter rail project, the city of Raleigh has to deal with over 16 different municipalities just build 20 or so miles of commuter rail. Any one of those municipal governments could delay or derail the project over pretty issues. 

I mean have you guys looked the BRT project? 5 miles one way? Lol that's barely a route but since Knightdale is a different city the city of Raleigh basically has a hard stop on the project unless Knightdale gets involved. 

Wake County should be a consolidated city-county like: Indianapolis,  Nashville,  Louisville, Kansas City, and Lexington, Kentucky. Or at least reduce the number of cities to under 8. 

Edited October 1, 2020 by carolina1792

[KJHburg]

Cary may be a town but it is home to the Best Hotel in NC 

from the Triangle Biz Journal today

 ""A luxury hotel in Cary is the best in North Carolina for 2021, according to U.S. News & World Report's latest rankings.

The Umstead Hotel & Spa sits atop the list of the 25 best hotels in the Tar Heel State, and it should it be no surprise as the property just off Interstate 40 is often the recipient of accolades.

"Travelers rave about The Umstead's appearance as well as its services and amenities, including the soothing treatments at the Umstead Spa, the seasonal outdoor pool and the AAA Five Diamond Award-winning Herons restaurant," the rankings said.  At No. 3 on the list is The Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro – No. 2 is Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands. Charlotte's The Ritz-Carlton and The Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville round out the top five in North Carolina."""

[KJHburg]

the city I mean town of Cary's development update lots of stuff going on in NC's biggest town.

Cary Development Updates: Glenaire, Fenton, Epic Games and More – CaryCitizen

[Durham_Transplant]

Wegmans backing out of the Fenton project. Ouch, that will definitely hurt.

[KJHburg]

5 hours ago, Durham_Transplant said:

Wegmans backing out of the Fenton project. Ouch, that will definitely hurt.

Here is the Biz Journal article and only comment from Wegmans

Wegmans cancels plans for store in Cary's Fenton development - Triangle Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

"Online shopping has grown tremendously, fueled in part by Covid-19, enabling us to serve customers in a much greater radius than was originally projected," Wegmans spokeswoman Laura Camera said. "This has allowed us to plan our growth differently than we have in the past. As a result, we have decided not to move forward with the proposed Cary location."

sounds like they feel they can serve Cary from their West Cary store or the upcoming Holly Springs store to the south.  

[KJHburg]

Here is another article and Hines the developer of Fenton is already working on another grocery anchor.

Wegmans drops plans for a Triangle store. Here's which one, and why it's not happening (msn.com)

[KJHburg]

I wonder if Harris Teeter would move over there from down the street and build one of their super sized 90-100K sq ft stores.  I do believe they will find a grocery anchor as this will be a great project. 

Wegmans Pulls Out of Fenton Development – CaryCitizen

Raleigh has one Wegmans, then Cary would have one, Holly Springs Fuquay one location and far north suburbs Wake Forest have one.  Still 4 for Wake County. 

Edited March 9, 2021 by KJHburg

[nicholas]

1 hour ago, KJHburg said:

I wonder if Harris Teeter would move over there from down the street and build one of their super sized 90-100K sq ft stores.  I do believe they will find a grocery anchor as this will be a great project. 

Wegmans Pulls Out of Fenton Development – CaryCitizen

Raleigh has one Wegmans, then Cary would have one, Holly Springs Fuquay one location and far north suburbs Wake Forest have one.  Still 4 for Wake County. 

Possibly, but that would be the third move for that location within a decade (the current store is only about 5 or 6 years old).  I think Publix would make more sense because all the other Triangle stores are a good ways away.

[KJHburg]

2 hours ago, nicholas said:

Possibly, but that would be the third move for that location within a decade (the current store is only about 5 or 6 years old).  I think Publix would make more sense because all the other Triangle stores are a good ways away.

Publix could be an option but I am betting another grocery store anchor will be found.  

[Brendan]

Wegmans committed 4 years ago. I believe this was the first Wegmans to be announced for the region and was the cherry when it came to the Fenton development. Many celebrated the announcement.

You have to question what’s the issue with Cary in the town’s inability to attract and deliver big brands and new developments. IKEA, multiple mixed-use plans for Cary Towne Center, and this.  All have fallen through.  Why?

Can it all be coincidence.  Is working with the town too painful for developers?

Cary has great demographics, yet the town continues to lack more (any?) upscale developments and retail.  Why?

IKEA coming to town. Everyone goes nuts. They back out. Top Golf.  Nope.  NIMBY.  Multiple Cary Towne Center mixed-use redevelopments including  the impressive Carolina Yard plan.  Nope.  Developers sell this prime real estate to Epic for a corporate campus with questionable value to citizens.   And now this news.

Wegmans cancels Cary store, but is looking at a space for Holly Springs.  SMH.

This is so tiring. 

http://gph.is/ZyO7oD

Edited March 10, 2021 by Brendan

[KJHburg]

I think the Wegmans in Holly Springs was announced long ago but not 4 years ago.  I don't think this is a reflection of Cary at all.  IKEA changed plans and has not announced a big new store since they cancelled the Cary store.  The mall plan while progressing was an easy sell to Epic Games.  they basically just went through planning and rezoning and made a good bit of money.  Easy money by flipping it to Epic Games.    Wegmans has a store in west Cary and quite honestly the wealthiest Caryites are out that way or far south of this site.  The Holly Springs store will serve south Cary and booming Apex as well as Holly Springs and Fuquay.    From what I heard about TopGolf was the lights into nearby homes.  That sunk one location in Charlotte and then they TopGolf found another spot away from any homes.   So no I don't this is a Cary issue.  

 

[KJHburg]

Cary is #1 

#1 safest cities for driving in AMERICA 

The cities with the most & least dangerous drivers | Lifestyles | independenttribune.com

Dallas #1 most dangerous

 

[nicholas]

13 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Cary is #1 

#1 safest cities for driving in AMERICA 

The cities with the most & least dangerous drivers | Lifestyles | independenttribune.com

Dallas #1 most dangerous

 

Considering that approximately 99% of Cary residents are from New York, I call BS.

[KJHburg]

Update by the Cary Citizen on various downtown projects in Cary and Fenton project.

Photos: Cary’s Downtown Developments in Progress – CaryCitizen

[KJHburg]

One of my favorite projects going up in the state Fenton mixed use development.  Don't think the loss of Wegmans of an anchor has slowed this place down.  I am betting they will soon announced another grocery anchor. 

Shopping, Dining & Entertainment in Cary, NC | Fenton (fentonnc.com)

[KJHburg]

Downtown Cary is really blooming.  the new library, new parking deck which is being wrapped with apartments, new townhomes nearby in a year or two this "town" of 175,000 people will have a real live downtown.  Lots of restaurants and shops there now.   

I would say this is the downtown to watch in the Triangle.  downtown Apex already is booming on a different scale.  plans are in the works for a downtown Morrisville to be built from scratch.  But Cary's is going to blossom into a real downtown.    They have the right mix of apartments for sale home, new restaurants and lots of wealthy residents looking for authentic downtowns. 

Explore Downtown Cary | Downtown Cary, NC (downtowncarync.org)