Cary rezones Cary Towne Center property to rejuvenate ‘the dying mall’
Instead of just going shopping, Cary residents will be able to live, work, play and shop at Cary Towne Center in the future.
The Town Council voted to rezone the mall property for mixed-use Thursday night, paving the way for up to 1.2 million square feet of office space, 360,000 square feet of commercial space, 450 hotel rooms and 1,800 apartments and townhouses to be built on the site.
Council member Jennifer Robinson said the preliminary plan is much better than the last two proposed for the site, including one from Top Golf in 2015.
“I am absolutely thrilled that this is coming to what my daughter refers to as ‘the dying mall,’” she said. “This is going to be such a vast improvement, and it’s going to be so good for our area.”
The mall, built in 1979 and last redeveloped in 1992, was bought in January by Turnbridge Equities and Denali Properties. The purchase cost the partner companies $31.5 million.
It currently has 1 million square feet of commercial buildings and 2 million square feet of parking and circulation.
The preliminary development plan includes the option to reuse the buildings that house the Belk store and what used to be the Sears store.
Trees, green space
Turnbridge made some changes to its plan because of council and citizen concerns, including:
▪ Planting at least 1,100 trees, a 7-acre reduction in impervious surfaces that don’t let water soak into the ground, and at least 10 acres of green space
▪ A pedestrian hybrid beacon — a crosswalk feature where a person clicks a button to activate a red stop light that briefly stops traffic — on Maynard Road to make crossings to and from Cary High School safer.
▪ Improved streetscapes on Walnut Street and Cary Towne Boulevard
▪ Pedestrian and bike accommodations
“We’re looking forward to realizing this plan to ensure the property reaches its full potential,” said Jason Davis, managing director at New York-based Turnbridge Equities. “A vibrant mixed-use environment that enhances the quality of life for the community, attracts new businesses and jobs to Cary, and serves as a destination for those throughout the Research Triangle.”
‘Precious land’
The Town Council approved the rezoning of the 87-acre site housing the mall and the surrounding area unanimously, after months of debate about whether the plan fits into Cary’s 2040 Community Plan.
The initial proposal did not include the 11.3 acre Dillard’s site, which includes the store building and parking lot. The application was updated in June, however, and now includes the Dillard’s property at 1105 Walnut St.
While there hasn’t been much opposition at council meetings, some residents have expressed concerns about losing trees and having something similar to North Hills — which features densely packed high-rise buildings and shops and restaurants.
“We have to be very careful with this precious land,” Pat Whitt, a Cary resident of more than 50 years, said at an August meeting. “There’s no more.”
At Thursday’s meeting, council members and town employees praised Turnbridge’s work to address concerns.
Matt Flynn, the town’s stormwater development manager, said the real estate firm worked with stormwater experts, an environmental advisory board, N.C. State faculty, and staff from the town of Cary and the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.
Jack Smith, council member of District C where Cary Towne Center is located, said he has been worried about developments contributing to flooding but that Turnbridge fully considered residents’ concerned emails.
Council member Ed Yerha was worried that the 1,100 trees won’t be enough, but hoped the developer would make good use of them.
Turnbridge said it will release more details early next year. Its next step is submitting a development plan for approval.
“Maybe to some we’ve not reached the perfect product,” said council member Smith. “But it’s hard to imagine expecting an amenity more than this.”
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 4:14 PM with the headline "Cary rezones Cary Towne Center property to rejuvenate ‘the dying mall’."
