After closing on the development’s $200 million construction loan in September, Fenton spent the fall obtaining architectural approval and building permits for several of the large mixed-use buildings and four of the small, single-tenant retail “Jewel Box” buildings along Fenton Main Street. Fenton also received approval of development plans for sanitary sewer, public street lighting, Cary Towne Boulevard street improvements, and traffic signals for Trinity Road. As 2020 concluded, Fenton reached a peak of 18 development plans and 53 different building permits associated with the project.

In terms of site activity, in October, the developer selected D.H. Griffin to construct and install the public streets and utilities. D.H. Griffin joins Hoar Construction, which is constructing the retail/office portion of the development, and Samet Construction, which is constructing the multi-family portion. By December, Fenton was actively working on foundations for several of the large buildings along Fenton Main Street and two parking decks. Cranes are anticipated in early 2021. The retail portion of the development is 70% leased, and the developer anticipates opening the first phase of the project in the spring of 2022.

After beginning site work in August 2020 and relocating the historic Mills House to a temporary location on the property, Duke Health made significant progress this quarter related to constructing the site’s first medical office building on the north side of Green Level West Road, just west of N.C. 540. In October, Cary staff approved the first development plan and building permit for a four-story, 102,000-square-foot building. Duke Health held its first masked and socially distanced groundbreaking on November 18. Then, foundation work on the building and an adjacent 346-space parking deck began in November and December, respectively. To meet growing demand in Wake County, Duke Health Green Level’s first project is designed to provide primary care, urgent care, pediatrics, women’s health, and specialty care services. The facility is anticipated to open in February 2022.

This quarter, Cary issued 15 non-residential permits for a total of 495,564 square feet of space, including offices, retail, and a fuel station. The most significant projects were: 

• Fenton, Cary Towne Boulevard and Trinity Road: Fenton accounts for nine of the non-residential permits issued and about 55% of the total square footage this quarter. 
• Phase 1A of Duke Health, 3208 Green Level West Road: The construction of a 102,000-square-foot medical office building and 356-space parking deck. 
• Glenaire Wellness, 8000 Glenview Garden Place: The construction of a two-story, 25,468-square-foot wellness facility. This project is separate from the Glenaire expansion project; Cary also approved development plans for the Glenaire expansion
  this quarter. 

Cary issued 94 non-residential alteration and addition permits this quarter. These projects include reinvestment into existing commercial. The most significant projects were:  

• Siemens Medical Solutions, 209 Gregson Drive: This 19,585 square-foot project includes training
  room alterations, the addition of two lecture rooms, the relocation of the second-floor break area to the third floor, and the renovation of non-core area of the entire fourth floor to accommodate new 
  training rooms. 
• St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 221 Union St.: A 1,745 square-foot addition, including a new entry foyer, restrooms, kitchen extension, and classroom extension. The project will also include the renovation of the existing education building.  
• Carolina Center for ABA & Autism, 111 Mackenan Drive: Interior remodel of 11,568 square feet of space, including wall, flooring, and paint changes to allow for the more efficient use of the space and to provide an interior refresh. 

This quarter, there were 18 cases in the rezoning process; two cases were approved: 

• Chandler Cove Rezoning, 4039 Brook Cross Drive: A request to rezone two parcels totaling 0.13 acres from Resource/Recreation (R/R) to Residential 12 (R-12).
• Cornerstone Mixed Use Plan Amendment Rezoning, 1744 High House Road: A request to rezone two
  acres from Residential 40 (R-40) to Mixed Use District (MXD) with a preliminary development plan. The rezoning also removed the property from the Cornerstone Mixed Use Sketch Plan to allow a bank with a drive-thru.  

This quarter, Cary approved 51 development plans, an increase from 49 development plans approved in Q1 of FY 2021. Several notable plans were approved this quarter, including: 

• Glenaire Expansion, 906 Kildare Farm Road: Redevelopment of the former Kmart in Mayfair Shopping Center. The development will include 192 independent living units, 37 assisted living units, an adult daycare, and wellness center. 
• The Center, 111 E. Chatham St.: Renovation of the existing shopping center and streetscape improvements along East Chatham Street to Walker Street in coordination with the new Rogers Building. Improvements will include widening of existing sidewalk plantings and increased public
  gathering space.
• Rogers Building, 149 E. Chatham St.: Redevelopment of the former Rogers Motel and auto service center. The project includes a three-story building with first-level mixed commercial, two levels office space above, and activation of Rogers Alley as a pedestrian corridor. 
• Novel Cary, 1708 Petty Farm Road: Development of a new 307-unit multifamily, residential development within the Alston Activity Center.
• Alston Ridge Elementary School, 11555 Green Level Church Road, and Northwood Elementary School, 8850 Chapel Hill Road: Addition of modular classrooms and associated site improvements. These development plans were submitted prior to
  the pandemic.

After a couple years of planning, fundraising, and construction upfit, Esteamed Coffee opened at 114 S. Academy St. Esteamed Coffee is a coffee shop with a unique mission in employing individuals with various disabilities, many of whom have never been given a meaningful employment opportunity. Down the street, the renovation of 315 N. Academy St. was finalized with the build out for the final two tenants, Mackenan Property Group and Stephenson Law. First Bank, also housed in this building on the first floor, opened over the summer. 

At the end of 2020, the estimated population for the Town of Cary is 172,221. During 2020, Cary’s population grew by 3,343 citizens, or 2 percent. This estimate is based on the 2010 Census data.