Cary’s Maplewood Elementary Redevelopment Project Collapses

Cary School District 26 thought it had sold the 15.6 acre Maplewood school site to Barrington developer Patrick Taylor for $2.5 million to be redeveloped into 200 apartments and 65 townhomes, but Cary’s Village Board refused to rezone the property as multifamily residential, and the proposed project has collapsed. Cary Mayor Mark Kownick says there is currently no known interest from anyone in purchasing the closed school from the District.

When District 26 originally put the school parcel up for bid last year, Taylor’s Central One LLC was the only bidder, offering just $250.00 more than the District’s $2.5 million minimum sale price. The 42,000 square foot school, built in 1929 is one of the district’s oldest schools, and was closed in 2010 due to declining enrollment and high maintenance costs.