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The Meridian Cary celebrated its grand opening on June 4, 2026, welcoming residents, community members, project partners, and local stakeholders to explore the new downtown apartment community.
The grand opening ceremony invited guests to tour the new living amenities, enjoy refreshments, listen to live music, and experience firsthand how the development contributes to the continued growth and revitalization of Downtown Cary.
Located in the heart of Cary’s downtown core, Meridian Cary includes 195 luxury apartment units, an integrated parking deck, and modern residential amenities. The development marks an important milestone for a project more than a decade in the making.
A Collaborative Downtown Cary Development
The Meridian Cary is the result of years of planning, collaboration, and coordination among multiple public and private stakeholders, including the Town of Cary, NorthView Partners, Chatham Street Commercial, Cary First Baptist Church, and the project design and development teams.
The multifamily development was delivered in tandem with a reimagining of Cary First Baptist Church’s parking facilities and the continued evolution of W. Chatham Street as a walkable pedestrian-scaled main street. Together, these improvements support a growing mixed commercial corridor fronting E. Chatham Street and contribute to the renewed look and feel of Downtown Cary.
Construction began in 2023, and the opening of the multifamily community marks the completion of the first phase of development, including the apartment units, integrated parking deck, and church surface parking lots. A future phase will include commercial and office space that will anchor the corner of W. Chatham Street and S. Harrison Avenue.
WithersRavenel’s Role as Civil Engineer of Record
WithersRavenel served as the civil engineer of record for the full project, providing professional consulting services throughout the entitlement, design, permitting, and construction phases. WithersRavenel’s reputation in working with the Town of Cary and in Downtown Cary as well as the ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders and consultants set us apart.
WithersRavenel’s Site/Civil team provided site, grading, and utility design services to support the urban infill development. The Stormwater team provided stormwater design and permitting services, helping the project meet regulatory requirements and manage stormwater within a dense downtown environment. WithersRavenel’s Construction Administration team also supported the project through construction administration services and project sitework closeout for occupancy approval.
The project team was comprised of Northview Partners general contracting, ISG, Inc., formerly known as JDavis architecture, Bass | Nixon | Kennedy (BNK) Consulting Engineers, and Surface 678 landscape architecture.
Navigating Complex Downtown Infrastructure and Construction Challenges
The Meridian Cary required careful coordination with several active downtown initiatives and infrastructure improvements. The project team navigated construction and traffic control during the simultaneous opening of Downtown Cary Park, the buildout of a significant phase of the Town of Cary water system upgrade, and the relocation of the historic Ivey-Ellington House to its new home on Academy Street.
These overlapping efforts required close communication, flexibility, and coordination among project partners, municipal stakeholders, design teams, contractors, and the broader community.
Supporting Housing, Parking, and Downtown Revitalization
The Meridian Cary helps meet the demand for desirable and convenient housing within Cary’s revitalized downtown core. The integrated parking deck also helps address parking needs associated with downtown growth, supporting both new and existing uses in the area.
With thoughtful architectural finishes, modern amenities, and a location connected to Downtown Cary’s walkable environment, Meridian Cary adds to the continued transformation of the area into a vibrant mixed-use destination.
For WithersRavenel, the completion of this first phase reflects the value of long-term planning, multidisciplinary civil engineering, and collaborative project delivery.
Partner With WithersRavenel
From affordable housing communities to mixed-use developments and institutional campuses, WithersRavenel helps clients navigate planning, engineering, permitting, and construction challenges across North Carolina. To learn how our multidisciplinary team can support your next project, contact WithersRavenel today.
