Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012

Pam Payne: Like a sore thumb

Like a sore thumb

When I heard an inn was being considered for Academy Street in downtown Cary, I wasn’t opposed to the idea – until I saw an artist’s sketch of the future Mayton Inn. I almost cried.

Can our town council members not see that this design will not complement the homes and businesses already on Academy street? It will stick out like a sore thumb. Perhaps it would be better to build near the Fidelity Bank downtown or on Harrison Avenue – anywhere but on Academy Street.

My family used to live on Academy. The Maytons lived across the street. Their home still stands there today. (Unfortunately, the town of Cary bought our house and two others in 1956 to make room for the new post office.)

The current plans are to move the Mayton house and the Walter Rood house to the back of the proposed Mayton Inn property. I have always visualized a small cafe in the Mayton House where ladies could go for lunch or for a romantic candlelit dinner.

Dreams don’t always come true, but I am appealing to the developers to reconsider their design. Something like the Ogle house would be more in line for Academy Street – a romantic inn with a wraparound porch, rocking chairs, swings and hanging baskets of flowers.

I’ve watched Cary buying up all the property downtown while I’ve been trying to explain to my granddaughter what was happening. I will never forget her turning to me and asking, “But don’t people live in those houses?” Perhaps progress is not the answer.

Pam Payne

Cary