Cary Buys Jones-Foy House

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Story by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – More dramatic news about the quickening pace of re-development downtown was revealed this morning at the Heart of Cary Association monthly meeting.

Town Buys Jones-Foy House

Downtown Development Manager Ed Gawf gave an update of Town of Cary’s progress. He announced that the Town will close shortly on their purchase of the Jones Foy House at the corner of Dry Avenue and South Academy Street. Residents may remember this currently grey house as going through a series of owners and most recently sporting “For Rent” and “For Sale” signs.

Neither the purchase price nor the intended use were discussed at the HoCA meeting.

Kennedy Center in Cary?

In other Downtown news, Ed told the group that the recently purchased theater (and former auto parts store) has contracted with architecture firm Quinn Evans from the D.C. area. This group was one of 15 who applied to work on the renovation, and one of four that made the short list.

Quinn Evans has worked on prestigious projects including the Kennedy Center in Washington and many other theaters and public buildings.

Chatham Street Improvements

The theater renovation will also include updates on the entire block from Kitchen & Bath Galleries all the way to Chatham Street Cafe along East Chatham Street. Improvements will include public parking, new curb and gutters, new sidewalks and trees where appropriate.

Ed affirms the theater will be open by December 2012, an admittedly ambitious construction schedule. The name on the new marquee will be “The Cary”.

Join HoCA

If you have an interest in what is happening in the Downtown Cary area, attend the monthly meetings of the Heart of Cary Association, the first Thursday of each month at the Cary Chamber of Commerce, 8-9 AM.

Better yet, join the group, it’s the place to be.

 

6 replies
  1. Hal Goodtree
    Hal Goodtree says:

    Don Frantz sent in this comment:

    The Jones-Foy house, the Cary Arts Center and the downtown theater – all wise investments that will spur private investment downtown, and preserves Cary’s history and heritage.

    It is a shame that there are those with a political agenda who choose to make Cary’s investments downtown a campaign issue. Thankfully the majority of Cary citizens are smarter than that.

  2. MarkA
    MarkA says:

    I was visiting relatives in the Asheville area over the 4th of July weekend and we drove down to Hendersonville for their fireworks presentation. Hendersonville has a very nice downtown area for about 6 blocks along their main street with a community theater, restaurants and shops. It was very nice and was something Cary can easily achieve with the current plans.

  4. Brent
    Brent says:

    Also known as the James Jones house or Wiley Jones house, this is a contributing structure to Cary’s Town Center National Register Historic District.

    The Friends of the Page-Walker consider this one of the most important historic structures in Cary — it is one of 5 structures to earn the Friends’ informal “LDIFOB” designation (that stands for “Lie Down In Front Of Bulldozers”).

    I am delighted that this house is now secured as a lasting monument to Cary’s history.

    • Keith Bliss
      Keith Bliss says:

      The Historic Preservation Committee of the Friends of the Page Walker and The Heart of Cary Association couldn’t be more thrilled with these projects. With public & private partnerships, Cary Downtown is seeing more opportunities to create a place that is “uniquely Cary”.

      What a great location for a coffee/wine bar/craft soda fountain location with direct views of the future Cary Downtown Park and the Cary Arts Center!

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