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🔥 Get Ready: Developers Are Moving Fast and the Triangle Is the Target
Published 27 days ago • 5 min read
Happy Friday, Triangle!
This week’s updates tell a bigger story about where the Triangle is headed, and it’s happening faster than you might think.
Just north of Durham, a 700+ home development in Butner signals that growth is officially pushing past old infrastructure limits.
Downtown Raleigh is doubling down on its hotel boom, with a second tower planned next to the iconic round building.
And on the economic side, Raleigh just landed on a short list of top U.S. retail markets for 2026, backed by some pretty telling numbers.
Driving the news: A 787-unit residential development called Patriot Point is set to break ground this summer in Butner, just 15 miles north of Durham off I-85.
Details:
The Butner Town Council approved rezoning for 148 acres off East Lyon Road.
Developer Tom White of Axiom LLC and NorthPoint Development are leading the project.
The plan includes 92 townhomes, 259 single-family homes, and 436 apartments.
The development follows a $75M regional utility expansion to boost water and sewer capacity.
Why it matters: This marks a major step forward for Butner, a historically underbuilt area held back by infrastructure limits. With water capacity no longer a barrier, the town is now positioned to attract new families, renters, and businesses.
That means more housing options, more local spending, and a broader tax base — all without pulling growth away from Durham.
The big picture: Patriot Point joins a growing list of residential projects eyeing South Granville County as the next up-and-coming corridor off I-85.
Nearby Creedmoor Village, also in development, adds to the momentum with a proposed 575 homes and 140,000 sq. ft. of commercial space.
Between the lines: Butner's overlooked reputation is starting to shift. White said the town’s WWII history inspired the name Patriot Point, hinting at a vision for community identity rooted in local pride.
What’s next: Construction is expected to start in summer 2026, though price points for homes and rental rates haven’t yet been released.
Final project details may adjust as the town continues to modernize its infrastructure.
The bottom line: With new utilities and a clear development path, Butner is poised to finally catch up with other Triangle suburbs, and developers are paying attention.
Driving the news: Tidal Real Estate Partners is doubling down on Downtown Raleigh with plans for a 13-story, 180-room hotel, right beside the historic round building it’s already renovating into a Hotel Indigo.
Details:
The new hotel will go up at 300 Hillsborough St., a half-acre lot next to the old Holiday Inn.
Plans include: a sixth-floor pool and patio, a 2,500-square-foot restaurant, bar and lounge, plus a ground-floor boardroom.
The building will have no parking deck; cars will enter via Hillsborough St. and exit on West Edenton.
Tidal’s historic round building at 320 Hillsborough is being transformed into a Hotel Indigo, set to open in late 2026, operated by Denver-based Sage Hospitality Group.
Why it matters: Downtown Raleigh needs more hotel rooms. Tidal’s expansion helps meet that demand while adding a modern mix of amenities, hospitality jobs, and visitor spending, all without disrupting the skyline or demolishing beloved architecture.
The big picture: Raleigh’s hotel supply is growing fast. The proposed Omni near the convention center will add 553 rooms, and another 170-room hotel is in the works for the Warehouse District.
Tidal originally planned to demolish the round building but chose instead to preserve and rebrand it, securing historic landmark status last year.
By the numbers:
Hotel occupancy in Wake County (Jan–Sept 2025): 67.8%
Average daily rate: $137.41 (up 2.3% from 2024)
Wake County outperformed state (62%) and national (63%) hotel averages.
What’s next: Tidal hasn’t named a brand for the new hotel yet. Renovation work on the Hotel Indigo is already underway.
If both open as planned, the block could become one of downtown’s hottest hospitality hubs.
In this video, we are going to take a look at the most profitable sports district in the entire U.S! Welcome to athletic life in Raleigh Research Triangle Park!
Driving the news: Raleigh has been singled out as one of the five U.S. cities with the strongest consumer momentum heading into 2026, according to new data from Placer.ai.
Details: Raleigh’s young population, steady job growth, and diversified economy are helping drive a retail surge:
Median age: 34.9 years (lower than the U.S. average)
Rapid growth: Raleigh-Cary metro population rose 10.2% since 2020, hitting 1.6 million
Major developments: $134M Smoky Hollow and $191M Fenton urban village are drawing premium foot traffic
Anchored by the 7,000-acre Research Triangle Park with $6B in annual research activity
The city also benefits from corporate heavyweights like Apple and Google, each with $1B campuses in the area.
Why it matters: This momentum is a strong win for Raleigh's local economy. It signals rising consumer demand, more business opportunities, and long-term vitality for dining, retail, and employment. For residents, this means better shopping, more amenities, and a strong job market in a fast-growing metro.
The big picture: Raleigh stands out in the Southeast for its balanced mix of affordability, education, and economic power. Its draw for young professionals is transforming the city into a magnet for both talent and investment.
Between the lines: Not every sector is riding the same wave. Raleigh’s multifamily housing market is feeling the heat from a pandemic-era building boom. A spike in supply is pushing landlords to offer deals—at a rate 45% higher than the national average.
Still, Kane Realty’s Rob Reid sees a healthy trajectory:
“We’re absorbing that wave at record demand levels, further signaling the long-term vibrancy of the Raleigh multifamily sector.”
What’s next: Expect steady growth in high-end retail and mixed-use hubs as more residents with disposable income settle in. Meanwhile, multifamily developers are watching absorption rates closely to rebalance supply.
The bottom line: Raleigh’s mix of youth, jobs, and growth is setting the stage for a strong consumer economy in 2026—and beyond.
I’m a Raleigh-based agent who’s passionate about real estate, local life, and making homeownership feel easy (and fun!). Subscribe and join 2,000+ readers who get the inside scoop every week!
