Two Cary projects could reshape the Triangle’s growth map. Here’s what’s coming.
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- Flatiron is a seven-story mixed-use building with 213 apartments and retail.
- 7001 Weston is planned as a five-story conversion with up to 275 apartments.
- 7001 Weston will reserve 5% of units for households at or below 80% AMI.
Kane Realty — the developer best known for transforming Raleigh’s North Hills into one of the Triangle’s marquee destinations — is now turning its attention to Cary.
The Raleigh-based firm has unveiled two proposed mixed-use projects: Flatiron, a seven-story apartment and retail building on Chatham Street in Cary’s West End; and 7001 Weston, a redevelopment of an aging office building into a five-story apartment community with ground-floor retail.
Kane Realty CEO Mike Smith said the projects are designed to meet two very different needs. The first will add walkable, mixed use density in a downtown that’s “transforming just as quickly” as the town itself; the second will reimagine an aging suburban office corridor to help address a housing shortage that “wasn’t present when it was built,” he said.
Together, the projects will add nearly 500 homes, including some earmarked for low- to middle-income households. Both projects are currently moving through planning and rezoning.
What’s proposed
The first project, Flatiron, is a proposed mixed-use building at 602 W. Chatham Street and 523 Old Apex Road, directly across from Vicious Fishes Brewery and South Line Brewing Co. The two-acre site, adjacent to the Chatham Street roundabout, sits at one of Cary’s most visible gateways to downtown.
It would mark Kane Realty’s first residential project in downtown Cary, developed in partnership with Mackenan, a local firm that has already led several redevelopment efforts along Chatham Street.
The project would have 213 apartments and over 5,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, with structured parking.
Among the amenities: pool, courtyard, rooftop amenity deck, community gathering space, fitness center, clubroom, and coworking lounge.
“Flatiron represents a meaningful next step,” said Mackenan founder Kyle Greer. “It’s an opportunity to bring one of downtown’s most visible sites to life with a project that connects people and supports local retail.”
A few miles away, the second proposal — 7001 Weston — aims to transform an aging office building into a five-story apartment community with ground-floor retail.
Kane Realty has teamed up with Highwood Properties, one of the Triangle’s most prominent office developers with large holdings in Raleigh’s GlenLake area, North Hills, and Research Triangle Park.
The partners said they plan to build the new structure in nearly the same footprint as the existing office building. The aim is to preserve the surrounding surface parking and mature tree canopy as a buffer for nearby single family neighborhoods.
The plan includes up to 275 apartments, 5,000 square feet of retail, and a green way connection along Weston Parkway.
As part of the proposal, Kane said it would reserve 5% of the units as affordable for households earning at or below 80% of area median income for “at least 30 years.” That’s about $72,950 for a single person and $104,200 for a family of four, according to the town’s latest estimates.
Kallie Walker, Kane Realty’s managing director of development, said the project reflects months of collaboration with town planners and neighbors.
“Replacing a building that’s reached the end of its life with 275 homes is the kind of smart development that helps fix the housing shortage without using up open land or putting extra strain on roads,” she said.
This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 12:05 PM with the headline "Two Cary projects could reshape the Triangle’s growth map. Here’s what’s coming.."
