A new research park in Chatham County
Chatham residents have known for some time that the Preston Development Group was buying up land between Pittsboro and Cary south of Highway 64, but it was widely speculated that this land was being acquired for a housing development. As it turns out the developers have something much bigger in mind: a new research park that encompasses research facilities such as those found in Research Triangle Park, but also housing and probably commercial development as well.
Curiously, there have been no press releases or other news articles regarding this development; nothing except this video that mysteriously appeared one day last week. It’s about 8 minutes long, but well worth watching. It appears to me that the developers are positioning Chatham Park to be sold to a major national group but I’ll be watching carefully for further developments.
Update 2/14/12: A representative from Preston Development found this post and wrote to me that this video was intended for specific individuals rather than for the general public. They do not have a master plan, nor do they know what the project will look like. They are working on water and sewer and transportation at the moment (I suspect this has something to do with the 15-501 bypass around Pittsboro.)
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Comments
We live out in quiet Chatham County towns for a reason! The pan of the lake in the video is why we live out here.
Diversify the economy, attract Google and similar big names, walk to work? Are you kidding me? I don’t want a shopping mall in my neighborhood!!!
North Carolina is slowly losing its identity and being destroyed by projects like this. Won’t be long after “they” (Preston and like developers) over-populate Chatham County, that they will again be looking for greener pastures. Wow, this is indeed disgusting.
I am really torn, because I do live in Chatham County and I too moved there for peace and quiet. And then Briar Chapel was built right next to my quiet little neighborhood after a long fight. On the other hand, I love Pittsboro and it is dying. The only way to keep Chatham County alive is to populate it with people who will work in the county and not just use it as a bedroom community to work and spend money elsewhere.
This would take more than ten years to develop and a better economy than we have in February 2012. There are huge obstacles and risks and tremendous benefits at stake. An area grows or it languishes and dies. There is no “THIS” forever. I-540 is bringing changes that started when the railroad came to Siler City and Jordan Lake better managed crippling floods. This whole area was unaccessible swamp and wetlands before Jordan Lake. Don’t begrudge our neighbor’s prosperity for our self-interest. If a developer can overcome all the state and county rules and regulations, more power to them.
I think that I’ll worry a lot more once the hypothetical multinational buys it. The economy for large scale development is so trashed right now that this sounds like a sales pitch that may not have a buyer. Once it has a buyer, it could take years, possibly decades to actually enact on any kind of scale. I can see this sitting undeveloped for a long time…and hell, even if Google buys it tomorrow, I’d rather be annexed by Google than Cary.
I think the sales pitch is unduly optimistic, as sales pitches often are. Beyond that…well, it’d suck, but I guess someone was bound to notice that Chatham was awesome eventually.
I remember when Governor Luther Hodges envisioned the Research Triangle Park and the whole area was piney woods!
If Chatham County is going to grow, and it should,this developer has a excellent proven track record. Don’t stop growth, embrace it. Let’s attract strong business and quality homes, where their’s both growth and a quality way of life for all. It can be done, and we have one of the best developers in the country wanting to get it done.
It’s hard to tell from this video whether the development is being positioned to be sold, or whether they are trying to recruit businesses. But it seems odd that there is no press release or anything else on the web.
Like the words to the Eagles song goes ” Call someplace Paradise…kiss it goodbye ”
Its very sad and also maddening !
I have 5 acres on the cusp of the proposed development off Russett Run. I moved to Raleigh (before N. Raleigh) in 1955 and have seen RTP grow beautifully during these years. It’s beautifully done with crowding and only enhances it’s surrounding area. This will be a fitting use to our beautiful North Chatham. However, all along our road we have left our back 1 acres in woods for a barrier. We love our land….
The video makes me sick to my stomach. It shows how beautiful the area around Jordan Lake and the Haw River really is, but all of that would be destroyed if this development is built. I especially love the ending with the Eagle flying over Jordan lake. Do you seriously think that all that wildlife is going to hang around when this development is being built?
Likely this will never happen. They are bucking all current trends that suggest that people, especially young people, want an environment that is not automobile centered, where home, work and play are all within easy reach. They will be competing with downtown Raleigh and Durham and with any luck will not actually be able to pull it off.
I moved to Chatham County, Jordan Lake area for peace and to get away from corporations and city life. THIS SUCKS!