Raleigh mayor helps break ground on North Hills office tower

The event marks the beginning of construction on North Hills Tower Two, which will likely open in April 2016 at the corner of Six Forks and Dartmouth roads.

The building, which is already fully leased, will have 300,000 square feet of space, including 10 floors of office space atop seven levels of parking. It will also include street-level retail shops and restaurants.

"We've had a lot of inquiries for space so, we feel like we could have leased this building a long time ago," Kane Realty's chief executive officer, John Kane, said.

North Hills has grown quickly, causing growing concerns about not only the parking but traffic in the area.

McFarlane said added traffic as a result of North Hills Tower Two will be the biggest challenge for the area and says it is an indicator of the need for a mass-transit system in Raleigh.

"It's going to be tough. You've got the (Interstate 440) Beltline that already has its challenges at rush hour," McFarlane said. "This is the kind of area that we're seeing grow denser and denser and denser, and we really need to think – not just today or 5 years but 30 years out – how are we going to connect all these areas?"

Those who live and work in the area have mixed feelings about North Hills Tower Two, saying they like the idea of more development but fear the anticipated traffic will increase in the area.