Kane Realty takes another shot at building taller buildings in North Hills
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- Kane Realty prepares to refile rezoning plans for taller buildings in North Hills.
- Developers seek up to 40-story limits without raising current density or square footage.
- Community members raise concerns over traffic, infrastructure and building heights.
Kane Realty wants another shot at reshaping North Hills.
The developers pulled the plug on a controversial rezoning for up to 37-story buildings in the North Hills area in 2023.
Now, Kane intends to try again and to resubmit new rezoning plans over two years later.
An “open house” style neighborhood meeting is set for 5 to 7 p.m. July 30 at Church of The Apostles Fellowship Hall, 333 Church at N. Hill St., Raleigh.
The rezoning involves several parcels:
- Lassiter District Site, 0 Rowan St. and 4411 Six Forks Road, zoned for 5 stories and requesting up to 12 stories.
- Six Forks and Lassiter Site, 4220 Lassiter Mill Road and 4359 Six Forks Road, zoned for 12 stories and requesting up to 40 stories.
- Six Forks Site, 4270 The Circle at North Hills St., zoned for 12 stories and requesting up to 40 stories.
- Main District Expansion Phase 2 Site, 0 Lassiter Mill Road, zoned for 12 stories and requesting up to 20 stories.
The letter sent to residents who live near the proposed rezoning, state developers will seek rezoning for buildings up to 12, 20 and 40 stories but with a maximum of up to 37 stories.
‘No imminent plans,’ developer says
Kallie Walker, director of development for Kane, did not respond to a request for an interview or a list of questions from The News & Observer.
However, Walker told Raleigh Magazine that Kane will not ask for more density or square footage than is allowed now, which includes 2,500 residential units and 3 million total square feet.
“We want to acknowledge that some of the properties included in the rezoning case are home to active businesses,” Walker told Raleigh Magazine. “We have no imminent plans to start these projects — this is a long-term planning process and it’s about future flexibility, not immediate changes or impacts to those businesses.”
Kane Realty pulled the last rezoning request in early 2023 after significant debate and after the Raleigh City Council put off a decision until after the 2022 election, which saw some new, more skeptical city leaders elected.
That proposal included new bike lanes, bike share stations, land for a city bus station and land to expand a nearby fire station.
Traffic, affordability concerns
Several neighbors, including former Mayor Nancy McFarlane, were critical of the plans to rezone the major shopping center. Many cited increased traffic, a lack of affordable housing and the height of the proposed buildings.
“I know that Raleigh is growing and changing,” McFarlane said at the time. “I know that we must provide density to accommodate that growth. My hope is that it is done in a thoughtful, sustainable way that allows us to retain the character that is bringing so many people here.”
Larry Helfant, who lives near North Hills, spoke against the rezoning in years past and has already started receiving texts and NextDoor notifications from his neighbors.
“I have the same feeling about it as before,” he said. “It’s going to be an increase in traffic. And [the city] just killed the Six Forks Road [widening] project so it’ll be no benefit from any increased road capacity. So it’s the same old story: Infrastructure is left behind.”
City leaders intended to add bicycle and vehicle lanes to a portion of Six Forks Road nearest to North Hills, but scrapped the years-long plan in July after big cost increases.
This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 3:09 PM.
