Restaurant, retail, offices part of plan for downtown Cary development
A proposed development will bring new retail and office space to downtown Cary. The town is partnering with a local developer, Chatham Street Commercial, to get this project off the ground while making upgrades to land owned by the town.
The vacant lot at 149 and 159 E. Chatham Street used to be a motel and restaurant. The Rogers development will feature two, three-story buildings. That’s the same height as the Cary Theater nearby. Plans call for offices above a restaurant and retail space.
“There’s not a lot of retail space in our downtown. The only way to create more is to build more,” said Cary Economic Development Director Ted Boyd.
Boyd tells WRAL News private developers are investing about $200 million into downtown. The town will pay back The Rogers developer a million dollars for upgrading sidewalks and alleys as part of a public-private partnership.
”It’s a necessary tool, especially when you’re starting the revitalization effort in a community especially like we’ve been doing in downtown Cary,” said Boyd.
David Cline started working on cars at Modern Service in his hometown of Cary 13 years ago. He now owns the auto shop which has been on Chatham Street since 1957.
“It’s just going to be a shock, the scenery, down here. From what it looks like, we’re going up a few stories,” Cline said about the proposed development across the street from his shop.
Cline hopes longtime businesses like his don’t lose out to development in this downtown tune-up.
“I think Cary’s done a good job of keeping that small town feeling, so we just want to be able to stay here and make a living,” said Cline.
A lot of people that come downtown use the vacant lot for parking to get to businesses. The town says The Rogers will include some parking. Construction is expected to start in the next few months.
