Location
Raleigh, NC
Size
31 acres
Project Type
Remediation and mixed-use revitalization of 500,000 square foot mall in northwest Raleigh

Project Background
North Hills is a regional mall located in a once-thriving district of Raleigh. After nearly twenty years of successful operation, the mall was run-down and had various environmental problems. Contaminants affecting the property included asbestos containing materials in the main building and leaking underground storage tanks from various nearby service stations. Gasoline contamination was found beneath the site with evidence that infected groundwater was migrating south toward the main mall structures. To date, the North Hills Mall property suffered from the largest underground gasoline plume in North Carolina.

The Cherokee Solution
Cherokee acquired the decaying mall property in 2001 and began an assessment of the environmental factors affecting redevelopment. Cherokee’s comprehensive remediation plan began in 2002 and included removal of asbestos in the flooring, roofing and insulation materials in the main mall building and an extensive cleanup program addressing soil and groundwater contamination. Cherokee then teamed with land planners and a development partner to create a redevelopment plan that maximized the re-use potential of the former mall.

Redevelopment Plan
The comprehensive redevelopment plan transforms the 31-acre property into a mixed-use town center style development with urban streetscapes, landscaped pedestrian plazas and subsurface parking. The new North Hills redevelopment emphasizes walkability and includes more than 300,000 square feet of anchor tenants, 210,000 square feet of retail shops and restaurants, a 14-screen movie theatre, 100,000 square feet of office space and a 150-room boutique hotel. The revitalized North Hills opened to the public in the fall of 2004 and serves as an access point for periphery communities of Raleigh.

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