Overview

A. Introduction

The Town of Cary places great value in the arts, understanding the vital role they play in the lives of its residents as well as in its ongoing economic development. With facilities such as the Jordan Hall Arts Center, the Koka Booth Amphitheatre, the Page-Walker Arts History Center, programs offered in the Old Cary Elementary School and the placement of Public Art, the Town has made significant strides in providing programs and activities that enrich the lives of its citizens. In support of its continuing efforts, the Town has undertaken a number of participatory planning activities in recent years, resulting in concepts for a new Town Center Park, the Public Art Master Plan, and the Parks, Greenway & Bikeways Master Plan – all of which stress the need for cultural programs and facilities that enliven and enhance community life in Cary. In addition, the Town has recently acquired Old Cary Elementary School, providing an opportunity to adaptively reuse one of the Town’s most historic structures as a community arts facility. Finally, the Town has adopted the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Facilities Master Plan that proposes a blend of high-intensity mixed use development on Academy and Chatham Streets, while maintaining the downtown’s historic properties and the small town, tree-lined village charm that characterizes Cary.

The Town Center Civic & Cultural Arts Study builds on these efforts, resulting in specific recommendations for the use of publicly-owned land within the study area; the adaptive reuse of Old Cary Elementary; proposals for new cultural facilities and recommendations for the creation of an overall cultural district in the downtown.

B. Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study undertaken by Pfeiffer Partners and its consultant team (Webb Management Services, Theater Consultants Collaborative, and Clark Nexsen) was to build on the tremendous amount of work undertaken to date and to evaluate, plan and implement new civic and cultural arts facilities in downtown Cary; combining these facilities in such a way as to create an overall cultural district. In addition, the purpose of the study was to address specific facility needs; determine the best use of key properties in the downtown; support the creation of a vibrant Town Center; and spark further redevelopment efforts.

C. The Process

Working closely with key representatives of the Town of Cary staff, the team, over the course of a six month period, engaged in a highly participatory process. This process included interviews with artists and arts organizations, meetings with elected officials, presentations to the Town Council, discussions with business owners and the hosting of two community workshops with participation by more than 120 citizens per session. The team also toured existing facilities, undertook a thorough needs assessment, researched comparable districts, developed initial concepts for community-wide review and prepared a set of final recommendations, supported by a phased plan for implementation and a business plan for ongoing operations.

D. What We Learned

Through community workshops, meetings, and focus groups, the team gained an understanding of what was important to the citizens and business owners of Cary and how the arts could advance broader goals for improving the quality of life. Specifically, workshop participants expressed their opinions and desires regarding their vision for downtown, the need for new arts facilities, the importance of a major visual and performing arts center, the need for parks and open space in downtown, commercial development opportunities including current obstacles to businesses, what brings families and children downtown today and what would bring them in the future, and how they would like to see the Old Cary Elementary School used in the future. (See Appendix for detailed meeting notes of each of the workshops.)

The following is a summary of the views expressed.

Downtown Vision

Small town feeling but with “behind the scenes vibe”

A vibrant, lively place

Pedestrian friendly with a mix of activities – “a real neighborhood”

A place to “meet and greet”

A quaint downtown – the first place you think of when you think of Cary

Arts Facility Needs

Performing and visual arts space

People making art as well as experiencing it – art education

Performing arts center - a permanent home for live theater and music

Variety of sizes for both performance and educational activities

Exhibition/gallery space

The Importance of a Major Visual and Performing Arts Center

Rated High – 41, Medium – 5, Low - 6

Long overdue

As long as it’s available to local arts groups

Need follow through this time

It would bring too much traffic

Parks and Open Space Needs in Downtown Cary

Rated High – 21, Medium – 7, Low – 4

Botanical gardens and greenways

Water, fountains

Sculpture

Facilities for children but not a playground

A “park with everything”

Historical interpretation

Commercial Sector – Development Opportunities

Need more housing and more retail, restaurants, shops

Create more pedestrian friendly environment

Unique and interesting shops

Evening entertainment, gathering spots

More parking and less traffic

Vertical mix of uses – residences over shops

Current Obstacles for Businesses in Downtown

Traffic and parking

Parking

Parking

Parking

Parking

Kids and Family Opportunities

– What Brings You Downtown?

Library

Lazy Daze

Page Walker

Post office

Restaurants

Special events

Kids and Family

Opportunities

– What WOULD Bring You Downtown?

Live theater and performances – for adults and children

More children’s activities – indoor or outdoor

More shopping, restaurants, art galleries

A cultural center

Family-oriented special events

The Future of Old Cary Elementary School

The first phase of a cultural arts center

Cultural/visual arts center with art classrooms

Learning center with studios

Classes, lectures, music, exhibits

Arts organization offices

Convert to housing