Cary Maplewood Property Redevelopment Plans Advance Amid Community Concerns

Plans for the redevelopment of the former Maplewood Elementary School property in Cary are moving forward, despite community concerns and recent public notices seeking additional developer proposals. JM Developers, which has been negotiating the project since March, requested a second extension in November to finalize construction budgets and complete negotiations.

The Village Board of Cary is set to review the redevelopment agreement on January 12, 2024. In a recent public notice, the village called for “proposals from qualified development teams with vision, experience and financial capacity” for the nearly 16-acre site located at 422 W. Krenz Ave.. This notice, published in the Northwest Herald, is part of the legal requirements under the Tax Increment Financing Act, as the property lies within the village’s Central Cary TIF District. The village will accept proposals until January 7.

Despite the notice leading some community members to believe JM Developers had abandoned the project, Assistant Village Administrator Nick Radcliffe clarified that it was a standard legal procedure. The village has been actively engaging with the community throughout the planning process, holding open house meetings and adjusting the development plan in response to local concerns.

Community members have expressed apprehension primarily regarding the density and height of the proposed buildings. The revised plan includes a mix of residential options: 12 two-story single-family homes, 16 two-story townhouses, 22 three-story townhomes, and two five-story apartment buildings alongside one four-story apartment building, resulting in a total of 228 apartment units. In response to feedback, the plan was updated in June to incorporate more owner-occupied single-family homes and a larger public park.

The property has been a contentious issue for years, reflecting a conflict between the village and Cary School District 26. Initially, the district intended to demolish the former Maplewood School and construct a $6 million transportation center. After the village denied a rezoning request, the district agreed to sell the property to the village for $5.5 million in 2024. The village aims to stimulate development on the site to reinstate it on the tax rolls, a goal that previous developers have pursued unsuccessfully.

In addition to the school property redevelopment, the planning for the adjacent Maplewood Road extension project continues to progress. This new road, an extension of Industrial Drive, will run from Cary-Algonquin Road to High Road, parallel to Route 14 and south of the railroad tracks. The project aims to improve access to downtown Cary. The village is nearing completion of the first of three phases of this road extension plan, with the next phase involving land acquisition and detailed planning, projected to take approximately one year.

As Cary moves forward with these development plans, the community remains engaged, highlighting the importance of balancing growth with local needs and concerns. The upcoming Village Board meeting will be a crucial opportunity for stakeholders to address these issues directly as the redevelopment process continues.