Garner is weighing whether to greenlight a walkable "village center" off U.S. 70 that developers say would pair shops and restaurants with 300 apartments on roughly 43 acres, a setup more lifestyle hub than strip mall. Plans call for more than 95,000 square feet of retail, a grocery store and four-story apartment buildings with amenities that include a pool and bocce courts. The developer's attorney told town leaders the vision is a North Hills- or Fenton-style destination, and the overall investment could top $100 million. For now, though, the Town Council has tapped the brakes so staff can sketch out safeguards on taxes and building design before anything is approved.
What’s proposed
Raleigh-based planner McAdams is asking for a special-use permit to build 300 multifamily units and eight retail buildings totaling about 95,598 square feet on roughly 42.8 acres of a larger 173-acre tract at the corner of U.S. 70 East and Timber Drive East. According to the Town of Garner, the filing, listed as SUP-SP-23-03, includes detailed site plans on file with the planning department and scheduled for a June 2 public hearing. The packet describes a "village center" made up of single-story storefronts and outparcels wrapped around a central gathering space.
Developer pitch and timeline
At a council meeting this week, the project’s attorney said Chartwell Property Group expects to spend roughly $105 million on the mixed-use development and has already lined up a grocery tenant, although the company declined to identify the brand. As reported by The News & Observer, attorney Toby Coleman told council members the site is intended to be “a new destination Garner” and likened it to Cary’s Fenton and Raleigh’s North Hills. The developer estimates that the retail and the adjacent WakeMed campus together could support about 1,250 jobs, and the grocery store is tentatively slated to open by fall 2028.
WakeMed campus nearby
The proposed village center would sit across from White Oak Shopping Center and directly next to the WakeMed Whole Health Campus, which broke ground in November 2025 and is set to include a 150-bed mental health hospital along with an acute-care component. WRAL and WakeMed planning materials note the campus is near White Oak Road and Timber Drive East and is expected to open over the next few years, something town leaders say could drive demand for nearby shops and housing. Developers told the council the proposed project is designed to complement WakeMed’s plans rather than compete with them.
Tax loophole prompts safeguards
Council members zeroed in on tax protections after recent reporting and county analysis highlighted the so-called “Blue Ridge housing” loophole, a state property tax exemption that is projected to cost Wake County about $4 million in revenue this year. As outlined by WUNC and other local coverage, officials worry investors could partner with nonprofits to claim charitable exemptions on large rental projects, stripping away tax revenue that would otherwise fund local services. Those concerns led town staff to commit to drafting ordinance language aimed at blocking the exemption’s use on this site and to require elevators in all apartment buildings, regardless of their height.
What's next
The Garner Town Council voted unanimously to continue the public hearing to its June 16 meeting so staff can write the new language and take a closer look at the special-use permit, The News & Observer reports. Documents tied to the application are on file with the town’s planning department, and council packets are expected to be updated before the next meeting, according to staff. Residents who want to dig into the details on the application, traffic studies or zoning impacts can contact the planning office to request copies of the packet and related technical materials.
Legal implications
State lawmakers and legislative committees have begun scrutinizing the Blue Ridge decision and similar exemptions, producing reports that list which properties have benefited and how much revenue local governments have foregone. A North Carolina General Assembly document lays out the properties claiming exemptions and the estimated lost county revenues, underscoring why municipalities like Garner are trying to lock in local protections before high-profile development approvals become final.
