Harold’s Blog: Downtown Update & More

Cary, NC — This week was a slow week with mostly small meetings and a few events.

Monday – Downtown Update

Monday I met with staff to go over the Academy Street streetscape project. This project is now several months behind and if not finished by the end of June could result in penalties to the developer. To make up time the developer proposed closing Chatham Street and the Academy Street intersection for several weeks. To my knowledge this is not gaining any support from council and will probably not happen. While I would love to see this project move forward quicker it is not worth shutting down a major intersection especially if there are no guarantees from the developer that the work would be done sooner.

Later Monday I met with town management to go over issues. There are several issues related to new businesses coming to downtown. Hopefully those can be resolved and we can announce these new businesses soon.

Tuesday – Mudcats

Tuesday I met with the Ticket and Corporate Sales Executive for the Carolina Mudcats. He let me know that Sunday, September 4th would be Cary Community Night. I encouraged him to talk with the Chamber and other business leaders to help get the community involved. He also asked that I throw out the first pitch which I, of course, accepted. Although it is a long way off, I hope to see you there.

Wednesday – Union Bank

Wednesday I attended the ribbon cutting for Union Bank in Cary. This is the first branch location in Wake County.

Speakers included the bank president, board members, and other employees. I gave the official welcome to Cary. Joining me from council was Mayor Pro-Tem Yerha, council member Robinson, council member Smith, and council member George.

After cutting the ribbon a DJ played while people enjoyed hors d’oeuvre, beer, and wine. I stayed about an hour before attending a private dinner with a guest from France.

Saturday – Litter Sweep

Saturday morning I joined several volunteers and council member Robinson at a litter sweep at Panther Creek High School. The weather was drizzly at the beginning of the sweep and turned into a downpour about an hour into the sweep.

Although my crew was thoroughly soaked, we did manage to pick up several bags of trash. Most of which seemed to be fast food cups and packaging.

Thanks to all of those who participated throughout the day to help keep Cary litter free, clean, and green. And if you want to get involved in keeping Cary beautiful please contact Sarah Justice and Sarah.Justice@townofcary.org.

Emails from Citizens

Emails from citizens this week included:

• Questions concerning the use of Wake Med Soccer Park.
• Concerns about a Sheetz gas station in Reedy Creek Plaza.
• Concerns about plans for a road on a Macedonia Road property.
• A request for a bathroom in the MacDonald Woods Park. (This park is built in a flood plain so we can’t add a bathroom there. However, the town is looking at other options.)
• A concern about downtown bicycle parking.
• A concern about the non-coordination of fiber optics competitors. (The town has no authority to require them to work in the same areas at the same time to minimize disruption. But it would be nice if we did.)
• Several requests to participate and speak in events. Some as far away as October.

Except for a brief meeting with the town manager next week will be spent out of town on vacation working at the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. So I won’t be posting a journal entry.

Get in Touch

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, April 17th. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

From the blog of Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht.