Kane Realty buys 28 acres to expand North Hills Innovation District. What’s next?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kane Realty bought 28 acres at Midline Raleigh for $72.3 million.
- Plans include high‑rise residential and mixed‑use; zoning currently caps 20 stories.
- Project pairs with McCourt Partners; ties to greenways, bridge and bike plans.
North Hills’ $1 billion Innovation District is expanding.
Kane Realty, one of Raleigh’s most prolific developers, confirmed Monday that it has purchased a 28-acre site along I-440 called Midline Raleigh for $72.3 million.
The land includes The Pointe at Midtown, a 365-unit community, and the 115,413-square-foot Grove Towers office building, both of which the firm says it will demolish to create a major mixed-used expansion.
Triangle Business Journal first reported the transaction.
The innovation district was designed as “a natural evolution of the traditional innovation district model, one that prioritizes walkability, daily collaboration, and meaningful connections to nature,” said Warner Kuppin, chief development officer at Kane Realty Corp.
The firm is partnering with Los Angeles-based McCourt Partners for “the next era of NHID.” “Raleigh represents exactly the kind of high-growth, innovation-driven market where we see long-term opportunity,” said Jordan Lang, president of McCourt Partners. He said Kane’s “deep roots” in the community and proven track record to deliver mixed-used projects closed the deal.
What’s next for the North Hills Innovation District?
NHID’s phased 28-acre expansion along I-440 will extend mixed-use development to Wake Forest Road.
The firm said it will include two projects: a high-rise residential development with a rooftop pool and clubroom; and a mixed-use building that may include hotel, residential or office space.
The focus will be on “walkability, appropriate scale and integration with nature.”
The plans for specific project types are still “in the early phases,” but the firm noted that current zoning caps maximum building heights “at 20 stories and includes affordable housing requirements.”
In late 2020, Kane Realty first unveiled ambitious expansion plans for a 33-acre development within Raleigh’s Midtown. Since then, the firm has delivered a handful of projects. Among them: Vine Apartments in 2020, Channel House Apartments in 2021, Tower 5 and St. Albans Lofts in 2025.
Most recently, it broke ground on a six-story residential building called Tributary, just south of St. Albans Drive.
Separately, Kane Realty said it’s collaborating with the city to ensure tie-ins with future greenway extensions, a planned multi-modal bridge across I-440, and expanded bike infrastructure.
“As North Hills continues to grow, we’re focused on ensuring the next phase of NHID supports that growth with walkable streets, thoughtful connections, and more open, urban green space,” said Josie Reeves, Kane Realty’s managing director.
In recent months, the firm has faced growing backlash to its North Hills expansion. In January, in a split vote, the city approved Kane Realty’s controversial rezoning that will allow buildings up to 37 stories tall in parts of North Hills, adjacent to Midline Raleigh.
Concerned residents have since formed Midtown Neighbors United and launched an online campaign to campaign against what they call an “inappropriate” rezoning request.
“The city of Raleigh must acknowledge our well-founded concerns and take necessary actions to address them,” organizer Randy Jones wrote on the launch page.
