Kane Realty unveils ‘Rockway Raleigh’ project near Dorothea Dix Park

North Hills developer John Kane has unveiled new details about developments near Dorothea Dix Park and downtown Raleigh.

The development on South Saunders Street across from Dix Park will now be called Rockway Raleigh, a nod to the nearby Rocky Branch Creek and greenway that runs along the property.

Construction on the 335 mid-rise apartments began in 2022, with the first residents expected to move in by mid-2024.

“Rockway Raleigh is designed to harmonize with Raleigh’s natural surroundings, providing residents with unparalleled access to urban amenities immediately on the Greenway, and adjacent to Raleigh’s central park,” said Josie Reeves, director of design with Kane Realty Corp. in a news release. “This unique combination exemplifies a new way to live and play in Downtown Raleigh.”

The apartments will include “robust work-from-home spaces, a large pool and sundeck, a rooftop lounge and a terrace overlooking” the park. The first floor will include retail and office space along South Saunders Street and the Rocky Branch Greenway Trail and creek.

Plans have also been submitted for a residential building called The Heath that will include 350 apartments with a rooftop lounge, pool, fitness center, bicycle storage and “tranquil internal courtyard.” The first floor will include 7,000 square feet of retail space that will “invigorate S Saunders Street,” the company said in a release.

A second residential building, with 200 units, is also underway. Construction on The Heath will begin in mid-2024 and will end in 2026.

Earlier this year the Raleigh City Council approved a plan for the edge of Dix Park, which has faced intense development and gentrification pressure after the city purchased the park.

The study found residents in the neighborhoods around the park were more racially diverse than in the rest of the city and were less likely to make the median income. It found some renters are already being forced to leave as development along Lake Wheeler Avenue begins.

Downtown Raleigh apartment buildings

In downtown, Kane announced that Platform, a 442-unit apartment building, will be open later this year.

Located at 518 W. Cabarrus St., the building is next to Raleigh Union Station. The ground-floor is “designed to accommodate small and local businesses and promote community engagement.”

Construction on a second building next to Platform will begin later this year. That project will include 252 luxury apartments and about 3,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space.