The Village’s Comprehensive Plan provides sensitive guidance regarding the Maplewood Property and the potential redevelopment of the 15 acre site.  The property is referenced on over 25 pages of the Plan with specific focus on the property provided within the Downtown Subarea Plan.  Areas of discussion include providing access to the north of the property by extending Industrial Drive/High Road, multi-family infill development, potential for mixed-use development, and integration with the downtown area and Metra station among others. In 2015 the Village and School District created a Joint Maplewood Committee to discuss issues related to the potential redevelopment of the site. Some of the documentation presented during these meetings is provided via the links below.

September 16, 2015 meeting:                                                    November 4, 2015 meeting:
Comprehensive Plan Presentation                                                Zoning Presentation
Maplewood Property Update                                                         Demolition Cost Presentation

The Maplewood Property has also been identified as an opportunity development site as part of the current Downtown Cary Strategic Plan. This planning document was adopted by the Village Board in 2021 and provides more focused guidance on reinvestment within the downtown area, which includes the Maplewood Property, and builds further upon the directives of the Comprehensive Plan.  The Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Strategic plan can both be accessed under the Long Range Plans and Studies portion of the Village’s website. 

Redevelopment History

In 2017 School District School District 26 advertised a request for bids regarding the sale of the former Maplewood School property.  The request for bids was released on May 31^st with a bid opening of July 5^th. The District received two bids which met their required minimum standards.  The proposals were reviewed and voted on by the District 26 Board during their meeting on July 17^th to select a preferred purchaser. Following this approval, Village staff had preliminary discussions with the purchaser, Patrick Taylor, regarding the property and the Village’s Development Review process. Through these discussions the developer requested an opportunity to meet with the Village Board to discuss the property and its potential redevelopment. On August 22nd the Village Board held a Special Village Board Meeting to meet with the potential developer and provide preliminary feedback on re-development of the site prior to production of plans.  Following this meeting the Village Board reviewed additional concept layouts for the potential redevelopment of the property in October and December. No formal zoning petition to redevelop the property has been submitted to the Village to date.

In June 2018, the school district terminated their purchase agreement with the developer and re-posted the property for sale. A second purchase agreement between the School District and Developer Patrick Taylor was executed in 2018 following the request for bids. However the two parties have since terminated this second agreement. No additional information related to the property or potential redevelopment of the site was provided to the Village following the concept plan review meeting held before the Committee of the Whole on December 5, 2017.

In 2020 the School District contracted with commercial real estate firm CBRE and began marketing the property for sale again in November. If a purchase agreement is executed between the School District and a potential developer, any redevelopment plans would need to be scheduled for the appropriate public meetings for review by the Village of Cary.

At the School Board Meeting on March 22, 2021, the Cary School District 26 Board of Education approved a real estate purchase agreement for the Maplewood School Property with AR Building Company, Inc. of Seven Fields, Pennsylvania. The real estate purchase agreement provided time for the developer to complete their due diligence on the property and undertake the zoning entitlement process. To date, no formal zoning petition to redevelop the property has been submitted to the Village of Cary for review.

Since executing the contract, the Developer has been performing due diligence regarding the potential redevelopment of the property. Village staff have had preliminary discussions with the Developer regarding the property and the Village’s development review process. Through these discussions, the Developer requested an opportunity to meet with the Village Board to discuss the property. The Village Board of Trustees public meeting on January 4th was an introductory meeting to introduce the Developer to the Village Board and provide preliminary feedback on redevelopment of the site prior to their commencement of producing a zoning petition related to the development of the former school site. Information provided by both Village staff and the developer during the meeting can be accessed using the link that follows: January 4 Meeting Presentations