Funding for $300M sports and recreation community center at South Hills up to Cary voters

Cary voters will decide whether to fund a $300 million community center and sports complex. Town residents will see it on the ballot.

The center is expected to include a 70,000 square foot community center with facilities for seniors and esports. Plus, there are plans for an 80,000 square foot sports center with eight courts for basketball, volleyball, pickleball and more.

Wake County has pledged $75 million for the complex. That money comes from its Hospitality Tax Fund, which is collected from hotel stays and food and beverage.

Assistant Town Manager Scot Berry said funding in voters’ hand through a $560 million parks and recreation bond.

“When we looked at what the region could support, what Cary could support, this seemed like a really good fit,” Berry said. “Now, we have it on the bond for the voters to let them decide: is that a project they want to move forward with?”

It’s at the center of a much bigger project to redevelop the town’s oldest mall: South Hills. Henry Ward with the LODEN development said the company has dreamt up ideas of retail, dining, living, a greenway and more that will be built around the proposed recreation center.

“These types of sports and entertainment-centric anchors are becoming more prominent,” Ward said.

The parks and recreation bond encompasses several other projects, including an Asian Garden, Walnut Greenway and more. Cary voters will also consider two other bonds: a town bond for housing and a county bond for libraries.

“[Cary residents] told us they wanted these facilities, and now it’s up to them to decide if they want to pay for it,” Berry said.

In Charlotte, a similar Eastland Yards sports complex initially had an expected price tag of up to $100 million. Developers did away with certain amenities and revised plans, which brought the cost down to $67 million.

A WRAL Viewer pointed to Charlotte’s development, asking why Cary’s proposed sports complex would cost so much more. WRAL brought that question to Cary officials.

“It’s a expensive project, but it’s a big project. It’s one that we think will be good for – not just Cary – but for the region,” Berry said.

“I think because of the demand that our area has specifically…We need a competition center like this. It’s really not fair to compare it to what another community may have,” said Mark Lawson, the president of the Cary Chamber of Commerce.

He said it’s a project that will impact future generations.

“The way the facility has been master planned and certainly talked about really will fit what Cary needs, not only for today, but more importantly, as Cary continues to grow,” Lawson said.

The Cary Town Council always has the option to supplement the bond funding with revenues from other sources including public/private grants as well as Town funds that might be available at the time.

Voters, however, are still split.

A group of Cary resident created a website, encouraging others to “Vote NO!”

“The facility’s on the Raleigh-Cary border, and the people of town of Cary are being asked to pay four times more than Wake County. That was the main concerns I had with it,” John Haselow told WRAL.

He said he believes the facility is a “great concept,” but will cost taxpayers too much.

“The other thing is, the bond doesn’t include any operational costs, so there’s going to be another tax increase to support it,” Haselow said.

The Cary Bonds website notes that operational costs would be determined through master planning and likely funded by additional property tax increases.

Another voter, Michael Barry, told WRAL it’s time for more recreation options in the area.

“It’s going to bring in more people, but it’s also going to bring in more revenue and provide a richer experience…why not?”

In order to pass, the bond requires 50% pus 1 vote. If approved, the project will take 5-7 years to open. The entirety of the South Hills redevelopment project is expected to take 10-15 years to complete.

If it fails, Lawson said amenities of the developments could change.