City Council Approves North Hills East Project

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Raleigh City Council on Tuesday approved a master plan for a $700 million mixed-use development project in North Raleigh.

Developer John Kane wants to demolish several buildings on 45 acres along Six Forks Road near the current North Hills development along the Interstate 440 Beltline. He proposes building North Hills East, which would consist of 1,800 residential units, 1.3 million square feet of office space, 850 hotel rooms, more than 500,000 square feet of retail space and a 300-unit retirement community.

Still unknown is whether the city will spend $75 million to help finance a 5,000-space parking deck for the project. Even if the Council votes against financing the garage, however, construction of the development would still take place.

Kane has said that having the garage would enable a more "urban" development in which more land would be set aside for parks and a pedestrian-friendly environment.