The News and Observer reports that the McDonalds that I walked to many a time in Middle and High School may be going green… If it happens, and is approved by the USGBC, it will be the 3rd LEED certified McDonalds in the United States. I haven’t had McDonalds for anything besides breakfast in years (and the breakfast thing is really out of necessity… options for a quick bite down east are few and far between.)

While I doubt such a renovation will change my dining habits, I can certainly commend Ric Richards on his decision to think long-term rather than short term in renovating the old restaurant. (If the new establishment is the same footprint as the existing, the $2 million rehab project will come it at about $480/square foot… I don’t know what your average McD’s in North Carolina costs to get off the ground, but I think it’s safe to say that this decision is based on something more than making money.)

Hopefully this will be one more step towards a more progressive Cary as far as development is concerned… We’ve had a reputation for being an ultra-conservative, sprawl-driven community for too long. Cary was the home of the first public high school in the state of North Carolina, Cary High was established in 1896. A brief look at our history will show that we are much more than just an Automobile Suburb of Raleigh, and I think it’s time to revisit that reputation. In the two hundred fifty-eight years since Cary’s founding we’ve grown a lot, more out than up unfortunately, but it’s never too late to move in the right direction.

Here’s to hoping for a more diverse, more walkable, and more sustainable Cary to come!

The new structure could hold as much as 28,000 square feet of retail and 290 new residential units. The building is expected to achieve LEED certification, and will be replacing a handful of historic buildings currently within Cameron Village including the Village Citgo building, an office building, and the old Ballantines Cafeteria. The City Hall hearing on the amended streetscape plan will be held on July 15th.

It’s unclear how long the path to approval for this project will be, but there will no doubt be some resistance to some of the longtime residents of Cameron Village who would like to see the tall buildings remain in downtown. I for one, would like to have more information before weighing in on the design.

Cross-post from NewRaleigh