Town Manager One-On-One
Monday afternoon I held my weekly one-on-one with the town manager. Our topics included a Human Resource issue, the South Hills development, the Downtown Cary Park, and speaking with the media.
Pickleball Interview
Tuesday morning, I did a welcome interview at the Cary Tennis Park for the PPA professional pickleball tournament. This event is the only North Carolina stop on the PPA Tour this year. Interesting note, the owner of the PPA is Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon. The recorded interview was with the PPA’s media team and to welcome everyone to the Cary Tennis Park and share what makes Cary special. They shared my message on their Instagram to their 100,000 followers. My understanding is that my statements will be included in the post-event news release touting the event’s inaugural success here.
HRID Meeting
Tuesday night I joined in a meeting of the Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Advisory Board meeting. This was their first meeting since the council voted to make them a permanent advisory board. The agenda included a presentation by former Cary Council member Marla Dorrel on the accessibility of Kids Together Park, information on becoming an advisory board, Spring Daze preparation, and Pride Month planning.
There was a great deal of discussion on how to handle potential confrontation at Spring Daze.
State of Cary at Cary MacGregor Rotary
Wednesday I was honored to present my State of Cary address to the Cary MacGregor Rotary. It was a 30-minute, updated version of the one I presented earlier this year. There were about three dozen in attendance.
Raleigh-Cary Top 30 Most Dynamic Metropolitans
On Thursday I was notified that fFor the fifth year in a row, Raleigh-Cary, NC has been named one of the top 30 Most Dynamic Metropolitans by Heartland Forward in their annual rankings. You can find the full report here.
Cary Founded Ribbon Cutting
Friday afternoon I joined council members Bush and Kohn-Johnson at the ribbon cutting for Cary Founded. This is a coworking community located in downtown Cary in the Rogers building. The owners also have a Founded Community in Raleigh. I joined the Cary Chamber President in making a few remarks which was followed by remarks from one of the owners. Then the owners and the building owner did the honor of cutting the ribbon.
Cary Visitor Center Ribbon Cutting
Friday evening, I joined council members Bush and Kohn-Johnson at the ribbon cutting for the Cary Visitors Center which is run by The City Doctor Productions. It is located in the front part of the Douglas Reality Group building next to the old Ashworth’s Drugs. Inside you will find many artifacts from Cary’s past and present including some memorabilia from Ashworth’s Drugs.
Programming for the Visitors Center will include downtown walking tours, programs, events, history displays, a small research library, and free resources for visitors.
Farmers Market Grand Opening for Summer Season
Saturday morning, I joined council members Bryson-Robinson, Bush, Kohn-Johnson, and Craig at the seasonal opening of the Cary Farmers Market at Downtown Cary Park. I read a proclamation celebrating the opening, the 30-year anniversary, and the permanent location of the market which has been moved several times over the years. The market is along Park Street and opens at 8 AM. It is a great place to find fresh produce and goods supporting small family farms.
Founder’s Event
Saturday around 11:30 I was part of a celebration of Cary’s founding date (April 3, 1871). I dressed as Frank Page in a skit where I announced the incorporation of the Town of Cary. I was joined by several others in costume. It was a lot of fun and a great way to bring awareness of our founding date to the public.
Pickleball Champions
Sunday I attended the PPA pickleball championships at the Cary Tennis Park. This was our first professional pickleball championship and I am sure it won’t be the last. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters both won their doubles, singles, and mixed doubles together solidifying their status as #1 in the world. I had the honor of presenting the North Carolina Cup for the men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. It was a milestone day for #1 ranked Waters who won her 98th, 99th, and 100th titles. She said “I’m just super happy that I could get my 100th title here in Cary. This is where I grew up. This is where it all started.” We are glad she won her 100th here in Cary also.
It was a great week for pickleball, and the talent was incredible. What a great event for Cary!
NC Senator Adcock Event
Sunday afternoon I attended a fundraiser for NC Senator Gale Adcock who was a former Mayor Pro-Tem on the Cary council. Since she is unopposed, she used the opportunity to have Rachel Hunt, who is running for Lt. Governor to speak. Her message focused on teachers, education, and funding of education especially in the poorer counties.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
This week, staff, along with the consultants retained by South Hills, were hard at work developing a new option for The Centre, borne out of discussions at the Council/Staff Retreat. The image above captures the creative thinking of the team that developed the new option, which will be presented to the Council at the April 25 work session.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean
Cary Hosts PPA North Carolina Cup
Mayor Weinbrecht joins Collin Shick, a pro pickleball player and former Wolfpack tennis star, at the PPA North Carolina Cup (Professional Pickleball Tournament), which is currently being hosted at the Cary Tennis Park. Both the top-ranked female player, Anna Leigh Waters, and the top-ranked male player, Ben Johns, are participating. The Semi-Finals will take place this Saturday, April 6, and the Finals on Sunday, April 7. Check out the tournament website for more details.
Council Member Bansal Visits UNC
Councilmember Sarika Bansal spoke at an UNC Chapel Hill event centered around South Asians in Politics: Impacts and Challenges. She addressed a diverse audience alongside esteemed elected officials and advocates.
Cary’s New Program Manager for Seniors & Aging
Michelle Barrett started her role in mid-March and has hit the ground running. Just this week, she visited Dorcas Ministries and met with CEO André Anthony, the Associate State Director of the AARP, and participated in her first meeting with the Senior Advisory Board. She looks forward to continuing her work with the board to ensure seniors’ concerns remain at the forefront of Cary’s focus.
Academy Street Parking Deck
Construction continues on the Academy Street Parking Deck, located between Academy Street and S. Harrison Avenue, as part of the Meridian Cary development. Vertical construction has begun with the installation of precast concrete panels. The parking deck will include 478 spaces (225 public, 253 private for the multi-family building), smart parking technology, gates, and EV charging stations. The parking deck is expected to open to the public in 2026 as part of the overall development.
Cedar Street Parking Deck
Construction on the Cedar Street Parking Deck will begin next week. The parking deck, located between Cedar Street and Chatham Street and across from the Cary Theater, will include 297 parking spaces and retail space fronting Chatham Street. The parking deck will be open to the public and include smart parking technology, gates, EV Charging, and roof top PV/solar. This project is expected to be complete in Fall 2025.
Higgins Greenway – Phase III Construction
Starting April 9, contractors will begin construction of Higgins Greenway – Phase III. The existing greenway will be extended approximately 0.86 miles from its current terminus at Union Street and continue eastward to Kildaire Farm Road. This work will fill a gap in the greenway network and increase connectivity between downtown Cary and the surrounding neighborhoods. The project is anticipated to continue through Summer 2025.
Harrison Avenue In-Road Warning Light System
Cary’s first in-road warning light system is scheduled to begin installation next week. Located at the existing crosswalk of Harrison Avenue at Hillsboro Street, the system pairs LED-enhanced roadside signs with in-road “pucks” to increase the visibility of pedestrians using the crosswalk. The entire system will be pedestrian-activated using accessible push buttons. Installation of signs and other roadside equipment is scheduled for next week, and the in-road installation is scheduled for the week of April 15.
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Construction
A new traffic calming project will bring a series of speed humps to both Olde Weatherstone Way, adjacent to the Glenkirk community, and Preston Village Way between Morrisville Parkway and Circle on the Green. Additionally, this project includes a single speed hump requested by the Whitford Place community, off of Green Level Church Road in western Cary. Work will begin in mid-April, weather permitting, and flagger operations will be in place during construction activities. The work hours for this project have been adjusted to avoid the drop-off and pick-up times for Olde Weatherstone Elementary School.
Ederlee Drive Sidewalk Complete
Final touches are being completed on the new sidewalk along Ederlee Drive. This project installed over 1,200 ft of sidewalk which include ADA compliant curb ramps between Richelieu Drive and Avenue of the Estates. Cary’s sidewalk network is now complete along Ederlee Drive between Penny Road and Regency Parkway. Conduit was also installed along the project to accommodate future expansion of Cary’s signal infrastructure. The final clean-up is expected to be complete next week.
NCWRF Completes Project
The North Cary Water Reclamation Facility (NCWRF) has successfully completed a $1.2 million capital project to replace two band screens, compactor equipment, and flow control gates at the facility’s headworks. These units play a vital role in removing small debris from the flow stream at the front of the facility, ensuring downstream treatment processes can be performed without clogging. This project is just one example of the ongoing effort to replace aging equipment to maintain a high level of nutrient removal and overall facility efficiency.
Cary Teen Council Committee
Last week, the Cary Teen Council hosted their monthly meeting at the Cary Senior Center. The teen leaders planned and hosted an event including several exhibits designed to educate their peers about the significant role that teenagers play in various town committees. The young representatives put together engaging and informative presentations for their booths, offering valuable insights into teen representation. The meeting was a resounding success, with around 200 teens attending and leaving feeling enthusiastic about the upcoming leadership application period for the 2024-2025 Cary Teen Council.
Upcoming Meetings
PRCR Advisory Board
Monday, April 8
5:15 p.m.
Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, April 8
6:00 p.m.
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, April 8
6:30 p.m.
Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday, April 9
6:00 p.m.
Historic Preservation Commission
April 10, 6:30 p.m.
Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Thursday, April 11
4:45 p.m.
Council Meeting
Thursday, April 11
6:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- An email campaign of complaints about the quarry next to Umstead Park (The Cary Council is not a decision maker).
- A request to extend bus route #5.
- A thank you to Cary Animal Services.
- A complaint about a missed recycling pickup (it was resolved before they woke the next morning).
- A concern about gun control.
- A concern about affordable housing at the Grove at Cary Park.
- A concern about the abandoned hotel next to Lifetime Fitness.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the Cary Tennis Class board meeting, a Cary Chamber event, a council work session, the first council meeting of April, and the opening of USA Baseball Training facility.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, April 14th, 2024. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
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