Story by Hal Goodtree | September 5, 2010 | Tags: Business, Development, News, Waverly
Cary, NC – In another sign of local economic strength, Waverly Place has begun long-awaited reconstruction of the landmark Cary shopping center.
The new plan is to keep most of the structures and Waverly’s innovative design, but open up the center into a one acre public space. Water features, fire pits, a stage and a grassy area are in the works.
This is more than just another plan for Waverly. On Friday, the big backhoe was in action, surrounded by giants dumpsters. A dozen workers were seen swarming over the site. The central escalators and walkways were gone, leaving the surrounding buildings bracketing the space.
Whole Foods, Chick Fil A and other Waverly business remain open during the redevelopment.
Artist's rendering of public green at the new Waverly Place
Brendan
September 5, 2010 at 10:18 am
What a complete joke.
What purpose does a “public green” enhancement serve when it’s surrounded by empty stores?
How exactly is adding a “public green” area show our economic strength when the construction doesn’t address the flawed building design nor bring in any specific retail? I’m guessing RP Realty Partners is getting tired of hearing from Cary Town Council members who likely complain over the eyesore that is Waverly Place and feel they have to do something.
“Hey, let’s add a few bushes and sidewalks and they’ll back off.”
Sure they may attract a few suckers to use their life savings to open a store and lose it all several months down the road. This site needs real change.
The so-called “innovative” design remains flawed, requiring an anchor store on all 3 sides to really work.
Show real vision. Bulldoze it and start over with something much better.
Zach
September 5, 2010 at 12:32 pm
I heard somewhere that the Whole Foods was supposed to get renovated and turned into a larger, 2-story store. Anyone know the scoop on this?
Hal Goodtree
September 5, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Brendan – I respectfully disagree. But thanks for expressing an opinion many must feel. I’ve seen the plans and I think a lot of people will be pleasantly surprised when the project is finished. Give it a chance.
Zach – Hadn’t heard that, but I’ll find out.
Brendan
September 5, 2010 at 6:32 pm
So, when will the public get to see these plans? I can’t find anything on the Town of Cary web site that’s not from the proposed designs from the past owner. (May have more to do with search on ToC web site.)
I’m hoping for the best, but not holding my breath at this point.
Zach, I do remember the Zapolski + Rudd plans had Whole Foods moving into a new, larger store closer to Kildaire Road. There was rumors several months ago that the Whole Foods would be enlarged in the Rite Aid spot, but both WF and RA hadn’t agreed on anything and the Town of Cary hadn’t been consulted.
Shelly
September 7, 2010 at 11:39 am
I think this is great news…or at least a good start. I really hope there will be several restaurants that will take advantage of this new landscape with LARGE outdoor dining patios or decks. Al fresco dining is really lacking in the Triangle just in general and we have such great weather for most of the Spring, Summer and Fall. Also, If any developers are listening…this would also be a perfect spot for an independent movie theatre like the Angelika Film Center!
I really liked the Z&R plans. I do hope they don’t scrap them altogether. This area of Cary can certainly support an upscale mixed use development. Plus, I shop at this Whole Foods all the time and it would be great to see them expand and have other shopping, dining, and entertainment options at this convenient location.
Thank you for this article. Please keep us updated on this renovation and if more plans become available.
Lindsey Chester
September 7, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I like to see redevelopment rather than tearing up green space- and a big central Plaza doesn’t exist anywhere in Cary right now. I welcome a piazza feel where live music can play, folks can linger and shop (if the stores stay open late- which they don’t at North Hills in Raleigh) And a small movie theater or other entertainment venue would also be great!
Brendan
September 8, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Shelly, I agree with you completely on both lack of of outside eating as well as Z&Rs mixed-use plans.
I’ve just seen the unapproved plans and it looks cosmetic, not addressing the building facade or attracting quality retail. It has green space, water features, small play area for kids, improved lighting, etc. Right now it doesn’t appear they plan on changing the layouts of the building. I think that’s a critical mistake. For years there was not enough driving traffic to each side of the shopping center. When built the HT (now Whole Foods) attracts people to the bottom level. The movie theater and that Mexican restaurant brought people to the back level. I don’t think they ever really had an anchor on the top level. With the movie theater gone, who would ever want their store on the top or back side?
I was hoping we’d see something mixed-use like Rockville Town Square, but it looks like I’ll have to wait until Cary Towne Center decides to de-mall, hopefully sooner rather than later. (Going downhill fast.)
http://www.rockvilletownsquare.com
What other restaurants or stores would you like see go in Waverly Place? Something unique that’s not found in the Triangle?
I’d like to see an upscale Mexican restaurant like Rosa Mexicano that’s in Washington, DC.
Christina
September 10, 2010 at 9:39 pm
I noticed they are also tearing down Red, Hot & Blue. Anyone know what will happen with that land?
Do they plan to add this “Public Green” and leave the buildings with pealed paint, rust stains and pot hole concreate? The place looks like a ghost town.
This is the same area of the shopping center where teenagers hung out and drug transactions took place 10 years ago. The police had to patrol this area constantly.
Shelly
September 15, 2010 at 1:44 pm
http://www.shopsatlegacy.com/index_mini.php
In Plano, TX we really liked The Shops at Legacy, which is the potential I see for WP. They have many great restaurants, a wide variety of shops, a movie theater, and outdoor entertainment in the summer. Two chains that I think could work well in Waverly Place are Fox Sports Grill and Cru Wine Bar. Would also like to see a Houston’s/Hillstone or Roy’s.
Jennifer
September 16, 2010 at 10:16 am
Hal-
Can you please let us know who the developer is? I know it’s not Zapolski + Rudd anymore. Why is the name of the developer not mentioned in any of the news stories I’ve seen?
Mike Jaquish
September 16, 2010 at 10:33 am
Thanks for the coverage, Hal.
Waverly Place may not be perfect, but this certainly looks like an improvement over the current status of the shopping center.
Rita
September 17, 2010 at 11:50 pm
Hey all this is the leasing site for Waverly Place. http://waverlycary.com/ .The spot where Red Hot and Blue was is supposed to be another restaurant. As far as the plaza.. its an acre. Not terribly large. The whole center 17+ acres. I agree wth Brendans’ early post. It is a bad design. It was a problem from the beginning. I have spoken withe the original attny. He said it was doing poorly within the first 2 years ! It has never done well or been 100 % occupied.
And to correct the reporter, the center was not “vacated” the tenants were mostly pushed out by the old owners Zapolski and Rudd in their failed attempt to redo the place.
The place will be facelifted but again I agree with Brendan. There is only one anchor. Whole Foods, what about the other 3 sides ? As far as a theatre, there was a theater they closed up due to lack of business and it became the gym which filed for bankruptcy.The theatres in Crossroads are having problems.. The center is too large to be comfortably strolled, has too much asphalt. No cohesion no draw. The lower courtyard will be a fancied up food court.
The whole redevelopment is lipstick on a pig. A bargain facelift.
This land is worth a fortune and has great demographics. They had an opportunity to do something interesting and they blew it.
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Evan
September 24, 2010 at 1:15 pm
After looking at the leasing plans, what a disappointment. I have to agree with Brendan and Rita on this. Z&R were proposing a development similar to North Hills. What I see on the plans is a facelift to a bunch of old buildings that are already there. North Hills has an “in town” feel to it. This is really just a rehash of what was already there. Disappointed to say the least.
Laura K
September 27, 2010 at 2:26 pm
I think something is better than nothing. The economy isn’t what it was four years ago when planning began. I’m just happy to see some movement. I think we need to talk more about what sort of businesses would be a good addition to that space/location. It’s a great location with a ton of potential.
Kevin D
September 27, 2010 at 4:05 pm
I agree with Laura, this is still a big step in the right direction. They always say; build it and they will come! I guess will see. This should attract some nice restaurants, then stores like Ice Cream shops or smoothie bars would work well with this concept too. I agree some kind of entertainment would be nice, but at least with the open air area maybe some local bands, musicians, ect can make it more lively. At least I hope they will change the facades of the buildings to freshen up it’s look! Let’s hope!
Leslie
September 27, 2010 at 4:26 pm
I’m really glad someone is stepping in and taking over this failed spot. It’s great to see developers who are going to re-purpose the buildings and put a new modern face on an old spot instead of just bulldozing everything. It is a great location and will serve the community well if they can get the right type of tenants to bring the community in. Let’s support them in their efforts to reinvent Waverly Place. Bravo!
Laura K
September 27, 2010 at 4:41 pm
There are so many office buildings in this area along with the hospital. More places for people to eat lunch would be great. Maybe a good hot dog place? Or a good deli? We need more ‘mom and pop’ businesses and fewer chains.
Evan
November 1, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Laura–have to disagree that something is better than nothing and that fewer chains are needed. Cary needs the right kind of chains–Wavery is the opportunity to get restaurants like Legal Seafoods or a Mortons or a Smith and Woleski. We should aim higher than a deli or hot dog stand. The demographics around the shopping center in terms of individual income and businesses would support much more than what has been there and whay you are suggesting. Cary is much like Palo Alto without the university and we can do better than the types of chains we have. This is not to say that the shopping center cant have local businesses as well but for these to succeed a few well positioned and unique chains will help draw business to the center that will feed the rest.
Corey
November 3, 2010 at 3:55 pm
This is a bad idea. Who approved this? Throwing bad money after bad money!
Why not knock it down and build a N. Hills type shopping center?
John P
December 8, 2010 at 9:39 am
The center really needs to attract a higher end demographic. The upscale neighborhoods surrounding it would support such businesses. We do NOT need another discount store or hot dog shop. We need quality retail, with a mix of some upscale well-known chains (Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel, to start) and smaller businesses with quality goods that attract a young professional demographic. Restaurants such as Coquette in North Hills would be well received in this neighborhood. We’d stay in Cary in a heartbeat, rather than get on the freeway to drive to North Hills if there was something great here locally in Cary. The right mix of stores could really revitalize this place, in addition to a modernized facade. AIM HIGH.
The latest
May 9, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Whole foods will be bigger and better!! Word on the street (or in the store) is that they will take over current Rite Aid and Galaxy Cleaners locations. That will add a good amount of square footage. Yea!!! Love the Cary Whole Foods!!!
Cindy
May 10, 2011 at 11:17 am
I would love to see something like a microbrew pub. It would be wonderful to attract a mix of smaller retail and something with nightlife. There are very few places in Cary where you can go on a Weekend to hang out with friends after 10pm.