Town Hall Campus

A Study in Back-room Dealmaking and Crisis Management.

In Don's Cary Town Council Journal," former Council member and mayor pro tem Don Frantz wrote, on June 8, 2023:

". . . the town is considering the potential redevelopment of town hall campus as we need additional space to better serve existing and future residents – especially in regards to police, fire and parks. That said, the site does also present an opportunity for some private development so the town is exploring that possibility. The key word is 'considering.'

Citizens of Cary – and at least a few Council members themselves – had learned for the first time of the planned redevelopment of town hall campus in a May 16, 2023 News & Observer piece headlined "Cary seeks developer for transformative downtown project," which reported that the Town was looking for a developer to transform 18 acres including the Town Hall campus into a mixed-use development. The article was accompanied by images showing a bunch of people wandering about among skyscrapers.

Reacting to the outcry of a blindsided citizenry and at least one Council member, Mr. Frantz wrote,

"I apologize for the manner in which the town has begun this exploratory process. Cary citizens should have been informed of the town’s plans by the town – not learn about it through the media. Residents should have also been given the opportunity to provide input on the front end so that whatever vision the town pursues best reflects our community’s values and wishes."

Mr. Frantz continued,

"We will not make this mistake again and we will be rolling out a community input process in the near future so stay tuned."

Over two years have passed since this episode. [Editor's Note: It's now been three and a half years, as of August 15, 2026.] I've stayed tuned, but have heard nothing further from Town staff or any Council member about ceding Town Hall to developers.

It's my view as a proud citizen of Cary that such a profoundly important issue should be guided and led by our elected Council representatives, and that they should not be informed of plans when they are in such an advanced state that any objection would be taken as obstructionism. Citizens should make this decision, through open and particular discussion with our Council representatives, and the administration should only be given permission to proceed if there is broad citizen approval.