Blue Sky Robotics Expanding Chapel Hill Headquarters, Moving to Rosemary Street

Blue Sky Robotics, which has been headquartered in downtown Chapel Hill since its founding in 2023, will be moving to the Innovate Carolina Junction building at 136 East Rosemary Street. The company is currently located in the Hill Commercial Building on 142 East Franklin Street.

In a presentation to the Chapel Hill Town Council Wednesday night, Town Economic Development Director David Putnam discussed a proposed economic development incentive package to help BlueSky’s downtown expansion. The package includes a parking credit for up to 30 spaces valued at $52,200 annually across the next five years and a $57,000 cash grant for the next five years. Putnam’s presentation said Blue Sky would provide 152 full-time jobs with average salaries at or above $77,303. He also noted the competition among other American cities to host Blue Sky, including two potential locations in Texas.

“Innovative companies like Blue Sky Robotics have a lot of choices for locations, especially for their headquarters,” Putnam said in an official town release. “Chapel Hill’s quality of life, access to talent, strong connections with UNC, and civic infrastructure were all factors in their decision to expand here — and the incentive package served as the icing on the cake.”

Prior to Putnam’s presentation, the Blue Sky project was known by the codename “Project Stark Tower,” an homage to the popular Marvel character and engineer Tony Stark — also known as Iron Man.

Blue Sky Robotics was founded by Steven King, an associate professor in UNC’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media. In a statement, King said Chapel Hill “is the right choice” for his business, and a place “where innovation is a part of the culture.”

“Our team is incredibly excited about what’s ahead,” King said, “and truly thankful for the town’s support.”

The Innovate Carolina Junction building officially opened in September 2023. Its construction was part of a larger redevelopment of the Rosemary Street area, including a new parking deck at 125 East Rosemary Street and a proposed pocket park project which has since been put on hold.

Featured image via Chapel Hill Media Group/Brighton McConnell

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

‹

Rezoning Approved for Lincoln Center Expansion in Chapel Hill

Local residents and school district employees appeared before the Chapel Hill Town Council earlier in the week to discuss the proposed redevelopment of the Lincoln Center. Kerry Moore, the director of preschool programs for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, steered the discussion toward plans to establish a centralized preschool on the campus. “If we were to […]

Lincoln Center in Chapel Hill Under Consideration for Redevelopment

The Chapel Hill Town Council met on Wednesday to consider a proposal to redevelop the Lincoln Center, an administrative campus under the jurisdiction of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. The campus was known as Lincoln High School in 1950 when it became an all-black educational institution, but national desegregation efforts led to its repurposing in 1966. […]

Chapel Hill Officials Approve Redevelopment Guide for West Rosemary Street

After nearly a year of planning and deliberation, the Chapel Hill Town Council has approved a comprehensive guide for developers seeking to build along West Rosemary Street. Speaking in her capacity as a municipal senior planner, Rae Buckley explained that the guide is intended to address the desires of both residents and developers. “The recognition […]

Top Stories of 2025: In Orange County, An Anticlimactic Election

The municipal election was always going to be one of the top stories of 2025 in Chapel Hill - though this year's race was unusually quiet.

New Traffic Calming Measures To Be Installed Around Wegmans

Earlier this week, the Chapel Hill Town Council authorized traffic calming improvements to be implemented around the new Wegmans under construction off 15-501. The main goal of these improvements is to alleviate traffic in the residential areas around the grocery store development. As part of the Wegmans Special Use Permit, approved by the Chapel Hill […]

CHCCS Bus Involved in Monday Morning Wreck

An SUV ran into the back of a Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools bus just before nine o’clock Monday morning, according to Chapel Hill Police. There were nine students on board the bus at the time of the crash, officials said in a release, but there were no student injuries reported. The bus was […]

Lincoln Center or Chapel Hill High? CHCCS Board Working Toward Funding Solution

A controversial issue is set to go before the Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools Board of Education on Thursday. The CHCCS board will work toward finding a solution to a crucial infrastructure question on Thursday night. Should the district use bond money to finance a project to redevelop the Lincoln Center that houses administrative […]

Chapel Hill Officials Discuss Designs for Local Light Rail Train Stations

The Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project is picking up steam as the Chapel Hill Town Council considers how to approach the construction of train stops in the area. Gateway Planning Group President Scott Polikov briefed council members earlier this week on design philosophies for six local light rail stations that stand to be built. A […]

Chapel Hill Officials to Consult with Residents on American Legion Property

The American Legion sold its post in Chapel Hill to the municipal government last December, but town officials are still deliberating over how to put this new acquisition to use. Town Manager Roger Stancil appeared before the Chapel Hill Town Council earlier in the week to present options for combining residential input with municipal intentions […]

Blue Sky Robotics Expanding Chapel Hill Headquarters, Moving to Rosemary Street

Blue Sky Robotics, which has been headquartered in downtown Chapel Hill since its founding in 2023, will be moving to the Innovate Carolina Junction building at 136 East Rosemary Street. The company is currently located in the Hill Commercial Building on 142 East Franklin Street. In a presentation to the Chapel Hill Town Council Wednesday […]

›