Development Overview

The Meridian East Chatham Development Project involves the development of a mixed-use residential building with ground floor retail and a parking structure. The Project also includes development of associated public facilities including the extension of Hunter Street, as well as water, sewer, and stormwater improvements within East Chatham Street. The project is located is within the Central Chatham Subarea of the Downtown Special Planning Area of the Cary Community Plan, which envisions Chatham Street as downtown’s main commercial corridor with vertically mixed-use buildings that accommodate retail, dining, and office on the ground floor with residential units on upper floors.

The property located at 229 East Chatham Street includes 4.9 acres. This property will be subdivided into three lot: 2.95 will be utilized for the Meridian East Chatham development 0.76 acres will be dedicated as right-of-way for the Hunter Street Extension, and the remaining 1.2 acres will be available for future private development.

The Developer, Meridian East Cary, LLC, will construct a mixed-use project with 220 apartments and approximately 8,200 square feet of retail space along East Chatham Street. The apartments would include a leasing office, club/fitness area, pool, and a parking structure. It is anticipated that the retail space would include a full-service restaurant, a smaller fast casual restaurant, and two or three retail or service-related businesses.

The development also includes two (2) public improvements. The Developer will construct the public improvements and be reimbursed by Cary, as described further below.

1. Hunter Street Extension: Extension of the existing street between Cedar Street and E. Chatham Street. This will include the installation of water, sewer, and stormwater utilities; curb and gutter; street trees with soil cells; decorative streetlights; handicap ramps; on-street parking; crosswalks; sidewalk along both sides of Hunter Street Extension; and sidewalk along the Meridian East Chatham Project side of Cedar Street. Additional improvements to the water and sewer utilities in the existing portion of Hunter Street between E. Chatham Street and Waldo Street will also be made.
2. East Chatham Street Improvements: Construction of water, sewer, and stormwater improvements on East Chatham Street starting at Templeton Street and ending at Circle Drive. These improvements include the replacement of the water line and sewer line, and the installation of stormwater infrastructure.

Public Improvements Status and Schedule

• Town Council approved the Development Agreement March 24, 2022
• Development Plan Approved April 29, 2022
• First Phase of Construction February 2023:
  • Installation of new storm water was completed November 2023. 
  • Onsite work continues with new retail, parking deck, and multi-family units. 
  • The Hunter Street Extension has been constructed, excluding the final layer of asphalt.
• Second Phase Starting June 2024 (approximately 6 month duration):
  • Installation of water line on E. Chatham and Hunter St. began June 2024. This work includes lane closures with flagging operations between W. Circle Drive and Templeton St. In this phase, two-way traffic will be restored at the end of each work day.  
  • Water and sewer work has started on Hunter St between Waldo St. and E. Chatham. Hunter St will be closed to through traffic during this phase. Waldo St. will be closed at the Intersection of Hunter and Waldo intermittently during the Hunter St. phase of work.
• During construction, parking spaces on E. Chatham Street within the work zone will be blocked off. Citizens are asked to not park along E. Chatham Street within the work zone for the safety of the traveling public and the construction team. Vehicles may be towed, if necessary, for safety reasons and to complete the work in the most efficient manner.

Contact

Dial 311 within Cary or (919) 469-4000 from outside town limits, or email 311@townofcary.org.