FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2026
There is a groundswell of opposition to Kane Realty’s request to rezone several of its properties at North Hills to allow taller buildings, up to 37 stories in some cases.
According to Midtown resident Larry Helfant, opponents of the rezoning are asked to attend Tuesday’s Council meeting on January 20 at 1pm and to wear red to demonstrate their opposition. And opponents are also encouraged to email or call Council members before Tuesday to voice their opposition.
Former Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane has sent an email to Council in opposition to the request.
Helfant explains, “Midtown residents have expressed deep concerns about inadequate traffic infrastructure, negative impacts of shadows that will be cast on residences, as well as the lack of housing affordability. It is not just the height of the buildings that are a problem. By placing buildings at the perimeter of the development rather than transitioning that height from the core of the development, the negative impacts of excessive height will have a direct environmental impact on surrounding neighborhoods!”
Helfant went on to say, “Kane added a condition of payment towards the affordable housing fund of 1% of the residential units (2541) they construct at $40,000 per unit ($1,016,400). Kane has been adamant that he will never build affordable housing, leaving that responsibility to the City. Shouldn’t a Regional Mixed Use Center along a major Transit Emphasis Corridor have affordable housing? People that work in the retail, restaurant, grocery store and a variety of other establishments in the North Hills development should be able to walk out of their building and walk directly to their jobs.”
A recent Citywide poll of Raleigh voters revealed that Council is failing on Affordable Housing, Transportation, and Citizen Engagement.
Kane Realty’s rezoning request is incompatible with the City of Raleigh’s Comprehensive Plan, as well as with the Midtown Area plan, which was unanimously approved in December 2020. Both plans were adopted by previous councils after significant expenditures of City budget (i.e., our tax revenues), City staff time, and resident time.
Yet Council seems intent on muscling this rezoning through, despite inadequate community engagement. They have repeatedly been asked to send the issue to a Council committee to allow for more discussion and opportunities to compromise.
Learn more about the sound reasons to reject this rezoning request:
Former Mayor McFarlane asks council to DENY North Hills rezoning
North Hills rezoning has THREE Critical Inconsistencies
WHAT’S THE RUSH? – WHY must North Hills be rezoned NOW?
Warning! Why bother having a Comprehensive Plan to simply ignore it?
Where is Height Transition to Neighborhoods?
Development without Infrastructure Planning
Residents say input and infrastructure falling behind at North Hills
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Media Contacts
Larry Helfant, kidlaurie@gmail.com, 919-880-7692
Stef Mendell, StefMendell@gmail.com, 919-412-2635
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