🎨🏢 Adaptive reuse isn’t the only way buildings can evolve—sometimes a redevelopment creates an opportunity to add something new to the community.

Jun 26, 2026 | News

A renovated Refuel location in Chapel Hill is preparing to reopen with a new mural from local artist Scott Nurkin, whose original Dean Smith mural became a local landmark for many residents.

📍 Takeaways:
• Retail properties can become community landmarks
• Public art helps create a sense of place
• Local identity remains an important part of development and redevelopment
• Small design decisions can have a lasting impact on how a property is perceived

For property owners and developers, successful projects often balance modernization with the character that makes a community unique.

🏀🎨 A reminder that real estate is about more than buildings—it’s also about the places people remember.

Dylan Cunningham

J Dylan Cunningham, CCIM is the founder of Oak Street Commercial Real Estate, LLC, a firm located in Apex, NC on a mission to help business owners and commercial real estate owners create long-term strategies that align with their objectives through real estate.

We believe in going beyond the transaction, taking a deep look at where you want to be in five, ten or even twenty years from now—and how we can help you get there with thoughtful, strategic decisions today.