Issue link: http://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/791958
CHAPTER 6:SHAPE M I D D M North Downtown Future north aCadEmy subarEa Context The North Academy Subarea is bound by Boundary Road to the north, the Norfolk Southern/North Carolina and CSX rail- road corridor to the south, and includes a variety of residen al, business, and civic uses. Located along the southern boundary of this subarea is Cary's Amtrak sta on and the loca on of a poten al mul -modal transit hub. A cluster of key community business and government buildings located in this area includes the Chamber of Commerce, Town Hall, Police Department, Page-Walker Arts and History Center, and Herb Young Commu- nity Center. 1 2 3 4 Poten al Regional Transit Hub The Wake Transit Plan iden fies several new services (bus rapid transit, regional commuter rail, and enhanced bus service), which will likely necessitate a hub to allow commuters to transfer between services. This transit hub may be located somewhere proximate to the exis ng Amtrak Sta on located in the southern por on of the North Academy Subarea. Widening of Chapel Hill Road Chapel Hill Road is planned to eventually be widened to four lanes with a landscaped median to accommodate long-term projec ons for traffic. This will have a significant impact on the character of the corridor. There may be opportuni es to make the central por ons of this corridor within this Subarea designed to be more pedestrian-friendly and to reduce the physical separa on of the north and south sides of the corridor. Poten al Regional Commuter Rail Corridor The Wake Transit Plan calls for regional commuter rail service in the NCRR corridor, opening up future opportuni es for development that supports the use of transit in this subarea, including a new regional commuter rail sta on. The loca on of the sta on has not been determined. North Harrison Avenue Grade Separa on Alterna ves The 2015 North Harrison Grade Separa on Study sets out short-, medium-, and long-term strategies for addressing railroad crossings on N. Harrison Avenue. This include a long-term solu on for North Harrison Avenue to bridge over the Norfolk-Southern/ North Issues and Opportunities The North Academy Subarea is strategically important due to the many transporta on improvements and other planning opportuni es slated for this area. The map on the next page, and the cap ons below iden fy several of the most significant planning issues and opportuni es for the North Academy Subarea. 5 6 7 Carolina Railroad (NCRR). To date, the Town has not endorsed this solu on, but con nues to study it. Sidewalk Improvements on North Harrison Avenue Priority sidewalk improvements are planned for North Harrison Avenue stretching north and south across the subarea. Johnson/Gray/Boyd Street Neighborhood Property owners within this area have joined together to market their neighborhood as one unified redevelopment opportunity, with a vision for high intensity mixed use and residen al development. Poten al Walker Street Extension The Town's comprehensive transporta on plan (see Chapter 7: Move) includes the northward extension of Walker Street up to Chapel Hill Road, via a tunnel crossing underneath the railroad lines. The project calls for bicycle and pedestrian improvements along the corridor, and widening of the road at two intersec ons. Historic Proper es The North Academy subarea is home to numerous historic structures and resources, from bungalows on North West Street, to cra sman-style homes on Chapel Hill Road, as well as other loca ons. These sites should be protected, and adjacent redevelopment or infill should be sensi ve to the historic character, massing, and setbacks of these structures, to create a unified and context-sensi ve pa ern of development. 8 154