Built in the 1870s, the Ivey-Ellington House is historically significant as a rare example of the Carpenter Gothic architectural style and demonstrates the diffusion of styles and ideas from urban to rural areas. In 2019, Cary entered into a development agreement that required the relocation of the Ivey-Ellington House. Coinciding with this agreement, Council adopted a resolution to ensure every effort was made to preserve the house. After several years of planning, constant communication, and collaboration among various departments and organizations, the historic house finally made the 12-hour, ¼-mile trip from its original site on Chatham Street to its new home on Academy Street on Feb. 20. Now that the house is settled at the new site, the rehabilitation process will begin.

A downtown project more than 10 years in the making crossed another milestone this quarter when Cary, Northwoods Jordan Building LLC, and First Baptist Church closed on several property and other transactions necessary for the redevelopment of the southeast corner of Harrison Avenue and Chatham Street into a vibrant mixed-use development with office, retail, and multifamily uses. Significant public infrastructure will be created or enhanced, including stormwater facilities, sidewalks, and a parking deck with more than 200 public parking spaces. Council originally approved the development agreement for this project in 2019. Construction of the parking deck and multifamily building is expected to begin this spring.

In Q3, Cary issued permits for six new nonresidential projects for a total of 169,738 square feet. The largest projects included a new medical office building at Preston Ridge and at McCrimmon Parkway, as well as the parking garage for Meridian East Chatham. 

Cary issued 98 nonresidential alterations and additions permits. Highlighted projects are: 

• Ivey-Ellington House Foundation,  308 S. Academy St.: Permit issued for Phase 1 of the relocation to construct a new foundation and enclosure structure with new windows, siding, and paint.
• Mayton Inn Shade Trellis: Permit to construct a new shade structure on the existing patio of the hotel.
• Several new-tenant permits for Fenton, including Boardroom Salon, Face Foundrie, HHHunt Homes, and Warby Parker.

During Q3, 29 cases were in the rezoning process; one case was approved. 

• 22-REZ-15, Swift Creek Elementary School Renovation/Replacement, 5701 and 5714 Tryon Road: Annexes and rezones 27.77 acres to Office Institutional-Conditional Use (OI-CU) for rebuilding the existing Swift Creek Elementary School and adding education support facilities.

In Q3, Cary approved 39 development plans. Notable plans approved this quarter were:

• Meridian Cary-Northwoods Jordan Mixed-Use and First Baptist Church Parking Lot: New mixed-use development with 195 multifamily units, an 82,052-square-foot nonresidential building, and a 478-space parking deck.
• Islamic Activity Center (IAC), 1155 W. Chatham St.: New 10,019-square-foot religious activity building. 
• Sri Venkateswara Religious Hall, 121 Balaji Place: New 40,000-square-foot assembly hall and administration building.