- Lake Crabtree land would become 'wellness destination' under bid by group led by Hurricanes owner
- Why is NC seeing so much rain and flooding in July?
- With the death toll still rising, the Austin area's recent flooding is one of its deadliest ever
- “You can’t replace memories”: Volunteers seek to return personal items after Texas floods
- Flood relief resources: Where Chapel Hill businesses hit hard by flooding can get help
Lake Crabtree land would become 'wellness destination' under bid by group led by Hurricanes owner
A closely watched tract adjacent to Lake Crabtree County Park would become a “recreation and wellness destination” under a proposal being considered by the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority.
The governing body of the airport said Thursday that it is in talks with a Dallas-based developer to redevelop 136 acres of airport land near Aviation Parkway and Interstate 40 — land that once contained a 9-mile tangle of mountain bike trails.
RDU’s preferred developer, Pacific Elm Properties, is a unit of Dundon Capital Partners, whose chairman is Tom Dundon, the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team.
It would be the latest Triangle project for Pacific Elm, which is also planning the 200,000-square-foot entertainment district near the Lenovo Center, an ambitious Raleigh project that likely probably won’t be finished until 2030.
The Lake Crabtree land has been at the center of a saga over its future has been in the news for months. The airport’s plans to develop the land drew vocal complaints from cyclists who frequented its trails.
A new FAA rule meant RDU had to charge market value for the land it was leasing to Wake County, the land being used for the park.
Over the years, around 9.4 miles of bike trails and walking paths were constructed on the property. In June, those trails closed.
RDU leased part of the land back to Wake County, for about $200,000 a year. RDU owns 330 acres of the park, and for years leased the land to Wake County for $1 a year. A big chunk of the land went back to RDU.
“Pacific Elm Properties shares our vision of building an innovative destination that serves outdoor enthusiasts and supports the increasing demand for air travel at RDU,” RDU Airport Authority President Michael Landguth said in a statement. “This is an opportunity to enhance our region’s outdoor offerings while creating a valuable revenue stream for our growing airport.”
The airport authority and Pacific Elm would be part of three upcoming meetings to gather the community’s thoughts and ideas for the site. The authority scheduled open meetings on Aug. 19, Sept. 23 and Oct. 21. A Pacific Elm spokesperson did not immediately respond when asked for comment.