| CARY, NORTH CAROLINA | REPORT No. 40 — OCT. 14, 2026 |
Good people of Cary,
Well, that was quite a weekend.
The remnants of Hurricane Isaias moved through North Carolina on Sunday, bringing tornado warnings, heavy rain and damaging winds across the Triangle. Cary was right in the middle of several of those warnings, including one involving a confirmed tornado moving out of Chatham County toward western Wake.
Thankfully, the worst of the damage appears to have missed most of Cary, although the storm still left behind plenty of reminders of how quickly conditions can change around here. While there has been some property damage, no injuries or deaths have been reported.
We also have a major NCDOT project moving forward near the railroad crossing at NE Maynard Road and East Chatham Street. The roughly $84 million project could eventually take Maynard Road underneath the tracks, but it could also force several nearby businesses to move.
And one housekeeping update: I finally launched a dedicated events page on The Cary Report, so instead of picking just a few events each week for the newsletter, you can now browse a much larger calendar whenever you want. The whole website is actually refreshed, so I hope you get a chance to check it out!
More on all of this below.
Thank you for continuing to support local,
James
The remnants of Hurricane Isaias moved across central North Carolina Sunday, producing multiple tornado warnings and reports of tornadoes throughout the region.
One of the closest calls came shortly after noon. At 12:06 p.m., the National Weather Service said a confirmed tornado was located about nine miles east of Pittsboro, moving northeast toward western Wake County.
The warning specifically listed Cary, Apex, Carpenter and Jordan Lake among the areas potentially impacted. A few minutes later, another tornado warning was issued for a storm located about nine miles west of Cary and moving northeast toward Wake and Durham counties.
Tornado watches in Wake during hurricane season are normal, but tornado warnings are more rare. At least seven tornadoes were confirmed.
There were reports of damage to cars, buildings and trees from the storm, but luckily no injuries or deaths have been reported.
- The proposed Cary smoking and vaping ban failed its first Town Council vote 4-2 Thursday night, falling one vote short of the five required on first reading. The ordinance can return at a future meeting, where it would only need four votes to pass. I published a full update explaining what happened and why here.
- The Cary Report now has a dedicated events page. Instead of squeezing three events into each weekly newsletter, I can now keep a much larger calendar in one place that you can check whenever you’re looking for something to do around Cary. Browse upcoming Cary events here.
- Cary’s Historic Preservation Commission meets Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, and one item on the agenda is forming a subcommittee for the Kildaire Farm Road properties, the town-owned parcels at 600 and 604 Kildaire Farm Road. It is a first step toward studying the history of the land, including whether the former Cary Colored School once stood on one of the parcels. The meeting agenda and details are here.
- Early voting for the November 3 general election opens Thursday, October 15, and runs through Saturday, October 31 at 3 p.m. Cary has two sites, the Cary Senior Center and the Herbert C. Young Community Center, and Wake County voters can use any early voting site in the county. See every Wake County early voting site and its hours here.
| THIS WEEK IN CARY | EVENTS |
| NE MAYNARD ROAD | E. CHATHAM STREET |
The railroad crossing at NE Maynard Road could eventually disappear.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is moving forward with a plan to take NE Maynard Road underneath the railroad tracks near East Chatham Street. Right now, cars and trains cross at the same level. Under the plan, the road would pass below the tracks, and the crossing as it exists today would be gone.
For reference, this project would be in-between Chatham Square Shopping Center and WakeMed Soccer Park.
| PROJECT MAP | NCDOT |
NCDOT says separating the road from the railroad would eliminate the conflicts between the two and make the crossing safer. Earlier this year, an Amtrak train struck a construction trailer that had become detached from a truck at this crossing. Six passengers were treated for minor injuries, and Maynard Road was closed for more than seven hours.
It is not a small project. The current estimate is about $83.8 million: roughly $37.3 million to acquire property, and $46.5 million for construction and utilities.
The harder question is what happens to the businesses nearby. NCDOT is still working out exactly how much property the project needs. The estimate of around a dozen affected businesses dates to 2018, and the agency says the number could end up higher, since more businesses have opened in the area since then. It also says it is too early for a final list of which ones would have to move.
Some of those owners are already speaking up. Cooper’s Furniture has been in its location since 1949, according to owner Alex White, who told CBS17 he only learned the project was moving forward again about a week before the public meeting, by postcard. The Sea Depot, a family business on East Chatham Street, has been there for nearly 20 years. Li-Chun Young, whose family runs it, told WRAL they understand Cary is growing and that the infrastructure has to grow with it, while raising the question of how that growth happens around the businesses in its path. Another owner, Chris Spinks, told WRAL he left the public meeting more confused than when he arrived.
The timeline is long. Property acquisition is expected to begin in summer 2027, and construction is tentatively scheduled for summer 2030. The News & Observer reported the intersection would be closed for more than two years during construction. Both dates could move as the design comes together.
NCDOT is taking public comments on the project through Oct. 27. If you own one of those businesses, live nearby or drive Maynard regularly, this is the window to weigh in.
ADVERTISEMENT Interested in partnering with us? Reach out at james@thecaryreport.com and let’s find something that works for you. |
| LAKE TRAIL | BOND PARK |
If you have lived in Cary for any length of time, I’m sure you’ve visited Bond Park before. This is one of the best parks in Wake County, it packs a lot in it. There’s a senior center, community center with sports courts, a playground, soccer field, fishing, a boathouse with comfortable seating and views of the lake, and lots of trails.
Two of Cary’s largest greenways begin here: White Oak Creek and Black Creek Greenway. But if you want something a little more quiet, the Lake Trail is one to check out.
It is a 2.1 mile loop around Bond Lake, and it is the longest of the six non-greenway trails in the park. Part of it is paved, but most of it is natural surface/bridges through the woods, so you get lake views on one stretch and full tree cover on the next.
| LAKE TRAIL | BOND PARK |
Leashed dogs are welcome on the trail, but no bikes. Once you’ve been on it, you’ll understand why. It is very narrow with tight corners.
It’s a fairly easy walk and would take most folks around 35 minutes. It is pretty rooty at parts, so it would be best to stick to the paved greenways if accessibility is a concern.
Fall is a great time for it. The trees around the lake are starting to turn, and the trail is much quieter than most of Cary’s actual greenways. Go check it out this week.
Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 801 High House Road
Boathouse: 197 Bond Park Dr. Head toward the path to the left of the boat house and look for signage (there’s plenty).
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