citizens help cary reach milestone ON DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE PROJECT, DRAFT PLANS TO BE UNVEILED THURSDAY

Town reaches 60% completion on Downtown Streetscape Project

CARY , NC – After nearly seven months since the first public input meeting, the Town of Cary has passed the half-way mark on design plans for the Downtown Streetscape Project and is inviting Cary citizens to an Open House to comment on the plans on Thursday, November 15 at the Old Cary Elementary School , 101 Dry Ave. , from 6-8 p.m.  Residents will have the opportunity to talk individually with Town representatives and design consultants to offer comments on the ongoing design plans that are 60 percent complete.

“Citizens living in downtown and throughout Cary, along with area business owners, are invited to see how their input is being incorporated into the Streetscape Project and setting the stage for a more enhanced downtown Cary,” said Senior Engineer Kyle Hubert.  “This open house will also be another opportunity for our community to continue to share their vision for downtown Cary and gain valuable information on project features.”

While there will not be any formal presentations at the meeting, staff will be providing handouts about proposed roundabouts for the project.  Also, the public artist for the project, Elizabeth Conner, will present the latest concepts for public art on the project.

In January 2007, the Town of Cary awarded Arcadis the contract to design the streetscape project that will create a unique identity for downtown Cary by incorporating pedestrian-friendly design elements such as a Town Square , on-street parking, landscaping, and widened sidewalks.  Art will be integrated into project elements such as street furniture, gateways, signage, gathering areas, water features, landscape, and sidewalks. The design will embrace the heritage of the area, while creating a desired destination that meets the needs of Cary ’s citizens, businesses and visitors. 

The streetscape project will encompass more than two miles of downtown streets in Cary with construction scheduled to begin in 2008.

For more, call the project information hotline at (919) 233-DWTN or visit the project website: www.carystreetscape.org.

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