$87M development opens in Cary, marking a new era for downtown
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- Meridian East Chatham opens with 220 apartments and 8,000 sq. ft. of retail space.
- Cary invests $2.1M in public upgrades to support downtown revitalization efforts.
- NorthView also advancing 195-unit Meridian Cary project, set to open in January 2026.
A new $87 million mixed-use development is reshaping downtown Cary.
Meridian East Chatham, a five-story, 220-unit apartment building, has officially opened at 255 East Chatham St. — part of the town’s broader push to bring more density and investment to the town’s inner core.
Developed by Raleigh-based NorthView Partners, the property sits on a 2.95-acre lot and offers rental studio, one-, two-, three-bedroom apartments, ranging from 640 to 1,695 square feet.
Prices start at around $1,795 and go up to $4,950 per month. Among the amenities: pool, rooftop terrace, fitness center, dog spa and a 348-space parking deck. Private home office spaces are also available for rent.
Leasing is now open onsite with immediate availability for move-ins. Some units are offering up to two months’ free rent as part of move-in specials.
“We’re excited to welcome our first residents,” said Bryan Ward, NorthView’s development director, in a release.
The project also features 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. Tenants in the pipeline include Mega Fitness, a training studio, and Refreshery, a modern juice and wellness bar, which are set to open this fall.
A restaurant space is available for lease. Chatham Street Commercial is assisting with the retail component. CBRE is the leasing agent.
In 2022, the town approved the project as part of its sweeping revitalization strategy. It’s one of several projects transforming Cary’s downtown. It sits within the downtown special planning area, specifically the central Chatham subarea, which is designated for higher density.
As part of the public-private partnership, the town contributed $2.1. million for public improvements. Among them: the Hunter Street extension, and upgrades to East Chatham Street, which included replacing water and sewer lines and installing stormwater infrastructure.
Just a few blocks down, NorthView Partners is developing Meridian Cary, a 195-unit luxury apartment community at 119 S. Harrison Ave., steps from Downtown Cary Park. It’s part of the Jordan project, a mixed-use development that also includes office and retail on the original homestead of Henry Jordan, an early Cary mayor.
It’s scheduled to deliver in January 2026.
On Tuesday, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht said both projects are a “big step forward.” They create a “walkable, vibrant community our residents have told us they want,” he said.
This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 9:35 AM.
