In Q3, Cary issued 202 single-family permits. The top three subdivisions permitted were James Grove (41), Brickyard (39), and Carpenters Pointe (18). Overall, permits for new single-family homes decreased 9% in comparison with the same period last year. Cary issued 188 single-family certificates of occupancy (COs) for an average of three certificates per workday. This is a 2% decrease in comparison with the COs issued during the same period last year. The subdivisions receiving the most COs were Savaan (37), Alston (33), Channing Park (33), and Brickyard (13). Cary also issued building permits for 94 units in two multi-family projects, Twin Lakes (74) and Aspire at Cary Pointe (20).  

Prior to the pandemic, detached houses were permitted at twice the rate of townhouses. FY 2017 to FY 2019 saw an annual average of 679 detached houses and 326 townhouses permitted. Permitting activity decreased overall in FY 2020 during the first year of the pandemic but began to approach pre-pandemic averages in FY 2021, with townhouses representing a larger proportion of the total.

This fiscal year, two townhouse permits have been issued for each detached house on average, reversing the pre-pandemic trend. Staff does not anticipate this trend to change during the remainder of the fiscal year.  

Unlike detached houses and townhouses, multifamily developments are permitted by building instead of by individual unit. Therefore, overall volume is influenced by higher-density developments, such as Fenton and Glenaire. The result is a wider annual variance in numbers. Cary saw an annual average of 592 multi-family units during the FY 2017 to FY 2019 period. Multifamily permitting decreased in FY 2020 but has significantly increased since then. The average for FY 2021 and FY 2022 to date has almost doubled to 1,031. This increased volume includes higher-density, multibuilding developments, such as Fenton, The Walker, and Bainbridge. Staff expects these trends to continue in upcoming fiscal years with the Twyla Road and Towerview projects, which are in plan review. 

The Healthy Homes Cary program is a proven model to help residents with limited means make critical repairs to their homes. The program serves 20 residents annually, and more than 90% of the participants are seniors. Since the launch of this program, Apex and Wake Forest have adopted this model, and staff continue to share best practices with other municipalities.

To strengthen the impact of this program, Cary is looking into increasing its annual investment in FY 2023 to respond to higher building costs, accommodate larger homes, lessen the wait time for residents to go through the program, and support more homeowners. Another addition is the consideration of sustainable practices when rehabilitating homes in the program. The team switched to Energy Star windows and doors, heat pump water heaters, and electric heating systems and is no longer installing combustion appliances. Staff is also working with Duke Energy and other environmental partners to explore additional energy-efficient opportunities for program participants.

At its March 24 meeting, Council approved the development agreement for the Meridian East Chatham project. This project, which has been in the works for more than five years, will bring a five-story mixed-use, multifamily development with 220 apartments and more than 8,000 square feet of retail space. The project will have structured parking to accommodate the residential and retail needs as well as provide electric vehicle charging stations. Significant public improvement projects will be constructed, including the extension of Hunter Street between Chatham Street and Cedar Street; improved water, sewer, and stormwater along Hunter Street and Chatham Street; and new sidewalks along portions of East Chatham Street, Cedar Street, and the Hunter Street extension. Construction could begin as early as summer of 2022.