Raleigh-Cary Top 15 Up-And-Coming Cities to Visit
The Raleigh-Cary metro area was ranked in the top 15 Up-And-Coming cities to visit in 2025 by WorldAtlas. Here is what they said:
“The city of Raleigh and its neighboring town of Cary in North Carolina are gaining attention for their combination of a thriving tech-driven economy with many great cultural and natural attractions.
Known as part of the “Research Triangle,” the region uniquely blends innovation with Southern charm. Downtown Raleigh features institutions like the North Carolina Museum of Art and the City Market, where visitors can also explore locally owned shops, restaurants, and other amenities. Cary offers a quieter pace with its extensive greenways, parks, and spots like Koka Booth Amphitheatre, a wonderful outdoor theater that plays movies, concerts, and other live performances throughout the year.
The food scene thrives in both cities, with Raleigh’s brewery culture and Cary’s also containing a number of acclaimed eateries, like the renowned City Barbeque, the spot for mouthwatering eats in another BBQ-loving region of the country. …”
Sadly, the picture they used of Cary was of phase 1 of the downtown park which just had our fountain.
Cary Tennis Classic Board
Monday night I met with the Cary Tennis Classic Board. Topics included dates for the combined men’s and women’s pro event, new sponsors, and opportunities to engage sponsors at other events.
CAMPO
Wednesday evening I participated in a meeting of the CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) Executive Board. This board is a regional transportation planning organization serving communities in Chatham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston and Wake Counties.
What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization? According to The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1962, areas considered by the Federal Census to be urban in nature with a population of at least 50,000 must have a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning process. In order to receive funding from the federal government in the state of North Carolina, this process is carried out by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO). Members from each of the MPOs make up the North Carolina Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (NCAMPO). Currently, there are 19 MPOs in North Carolina.
At this meeting the only action was to elect the Chair and Vice Chair. Mayor Jones of Wake Forest was elected for another term as Chair and Butch Lawter of Johnson County was reelected as Vice-Chair. The agenda also included two consent items and six discussion items. Items for information purposes included the Unified Planning Work Program for FY2026, Amendment #7 to the FY2024-FY2033 TIP (Transportation Improvement Program), FY2026 LAPP Program awarding Cary $2 million in grants for two sidewalk projects, the draft 2055 MTP Deficiency analysis, and Safety Performance Measure Targets for 2025. After the regular meeting the board spent about an hour in closed session.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
As you are aware, I spent the majority of the week at Harvard University participating in an Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning session. It was an incredible learning experience and advanced my understanding of AI a great deal. Further, the Council’s discussion last week (policy, data strategy etc.) is in alignment with the best practices in this field, which is very affirming and hopefully a point of pride for you. In the days ahead, I will be preparing a summary of the experience to share with Council and staff.
As we focus on growth and reflection, the Town’s annual Dreamfest weekend provides a meaningful opportunity to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The celebration begins today and continues through Monday, January 20, offering a variety of events and programs for the community to enjoy. Details about the celebrations are available here.
Please note that in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Town Hall and most staffed facilities will be closed on Monday.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean
America’s 250th Anniversary Planning
In 2026, America will celebrate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking the birth of a nation founded on the principles of ‘Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.’ On January 10, Cary PRCR staff met with state representatives, historical agencies, and communities from across Wake County to discuss plans for events, projects, and initiatives to commemorate this milestone. Staff will continue participating in planning meetings and looks forward to collaborating on this program.
Construction Wraps Up at Cary Fire Station Number 4
Contractors working on behalf of Cary recently completed renovations to Fire Station No. 4. Originally built in 1987, the station had seen only minor updates during its 38-year history. Located in a key area for the community it serves, renovating the existing structure was deemed the most sustainable and cost-effective approach.
To maintain uninterrupted service during construction, temporary structures were set up on-site adjacent to the station. The renovation included several key upgrades, such as new bi-fold apparatus bay doors, enhanced building systems, and a 1,100-square-foot addition for a dedicated workout room. These improvements ensure Fire Station No. 4 remains well-equipped to serve the community for many decades.
White Oak Greenway Wrap-up
An important safety improvement and stormwater maintenance project along the White Oak Creek Greenway is now complete. The trail was widened, and the curves near the entrance to the tunnel under Cary Parkway were softened, significantly enhancing sightlines on the east side of the tunnel. Additionally, a stormwater culvert was repaired, and new safety railings were installed.
Transportation Department Hosts Engineering Students
This week, Transportation staff hosted high school students from the Wake County Public School System’s Academy of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing (AOE). The students visited Cary’s Transportation Management Center, the Byrum Street Sidewalk Project, the Walnut Street Road Diet, street repaving sites, and the Black Creek Greenway Renovation. They learned about the planning, design, implementation, and maintenance of Cary’s transportation infrastructure, with discussions covering staff backgrounds, project challenges, infrastructure costs, and career opportunities in local government.
GLOW Art Installations
While the Under the Silver Moon Community Lantern Parade has been rescheduled to Saturday, February 1, due to weather, the GLOW must go on! Keep your eyes peeled as stunning light installations illuminate Academy Street and Downtown Cary Park. These dazzling works of art combine innovative technology with radiant creativity. Visit the GLOW webpage for the full details.
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival Sets New Attendance Record
The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre concluded on January 12, setting a new attendance record with more than 249,000 visitors this holiday season. This marks a significant increase from approximately 216,000 attendees in 2023, and the festival also experienced 23 sold-out nights. Now in its ninth year, the festival was first brought to Cary by Tianyu Arts & Culture in 2015.
Over the eight-week run, visitors from all 50 states and six countries came to admire the spectacular lantern displays, each crafted from fused metal and hand-painted silks, illuminated by thousands of LED lights.
The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival will return to Koka Booth Amphitheatre in November with all new lanterns.
Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting – February 5
The following Neighborhood Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 5 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information and to register, visit the Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting page.
Upcoming Meetings
Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday, January 22
6:00 p.m.
Town Council Meeting (Regular)
Thursday, January 23
6:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- Concerns about the East Cary Gateway
- A complaint about our property tax
- A complaint about erosion control in the Stonebridge shopping center
- Several chain emails about the Holocaust
- A complaint about a proposed land development ordinance amendment
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, a Government Relations panel discussion, a rehearsal of the State of Cary address, the State of Cary address, and a council meeting.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, January 26th, 2025. 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@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Harold's Blog 