Cary officials on Friday released the State of Cary address and leaders predict 2018 is going to be one of the most transformative periods the town has ever seen.
“This year, we will be embarking on one of the most transformative periods in Cary’s history,” said Mayor Harold Weinbrecht.
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Known for its sprawling growth, Cary had about 94,000 residents in 2000. That number grew by 42 percent to a population of 133,000 by 2010 and the growth continues.
“As of Jan. 1, Cary’s population was about 162,000, which is about a 1.79 percent increase in the last 12 months, Weinbrecht said.
Stephen Petrilyak, 32, has lived in Cary his whole life and has witnessed the changes first-hand.
“The population has grown so fast and just the construction in general,” he said.
Weinbrecht also discussed accolades the town received over the past year, including Cary being named as one of the best places in the south for a business to relocate their headquarters and one of the best cities for quality of life.
“There’s such a great community here and there’s just so much culture and literally you don’t have to go outside a square mile to get everything you need,” resident Emily Bray said.
“It’s a safe place, very family friendly, a lot of small businesses. It’s a pretty tight-knit community,” Petrilyak said.
Weinbrecht said more redevelopment is on the way with major projects like the incoming IKEA making waves. The downtown area, he said, will also see a change.
“We can no longer afford to be perceived as a small town or suburb if we want to keep Cary great. As we move forward, we will have to be intentional, deliberate and very, very strategic.
The State of Cary address wasn’t all good news though. Weinbrecht addressed the opioid crisis, saying the town has seen an increase in overdoses and overdose-related deaths.