The big box of big boxes, ubiquitous on the suburban scene, is just one of the projects in the pipeline for the “Peak City” as commercial development in Apex races to catch up with its booming residential growth.

According to the town’s development report, Apex’s population has grown 69 percent since the 2000 U.S. Census. It now stands at about 34,000.

Jim Stella with the Apex Chamber of Commerce said the new retail projects are doing their part to help beef up Apex’s commercial-to-residential ratio to improve its tax base.

Stella said a healthy ratio is 60 percent residential, 40 percent commercial. Businesses are great for the tax base because they pay a lot of taxes and don’t use as many town resources as homes, he said.

Right now Apex’s tax base is 81 percent residential, 19 percent commercial, Stella said.

The new Wal-Mart will anchor Broadstone Station, an approximately 299,600 square-foot retail center that will occupy 57 acres in the western quadrant of the N.C. 55 and U.S. 1 interchange.

Being developed by Kite Realty, the center is already under construction. But that’s not the only big project in the works for Apex. Other large mixed-used projects are also planned.

• The Villages of Apex

Across from the Apex Town Hall, this mixed-use project will span about 126 acres total, with about 600 residential units, 94,000 square feet of retail and 53,082 square feet of office. Stella said builders have begun construction on residences in one of the project’s northern areas.

• Trinity

This development is located in the southern quadrant of the U.S. 1 and N.C. 55 interchange. Situated on approximately 1,000 acres, this mixed-use development will include nearly every kind of use — office, institutional, retail and residential. Four thousand residential units are slated.

Stella said the project is in the planning stages.

• Jessie Commons

This development, in the eastern quadrant of the U.S. 1 and N.C. 55 interchange, will have commercial, office and industrial uses — a total of 435,000 square feet — on 64 acres, according to town documents.

• Tobacco and Mule Exchange

And don’t forget Apex’s historical downtown. One project currently under construction is making use of a historical building.

Helm Builders are busy renovating the early 20th-century Tobacco and Mule Exchange at 225 N. Salem St., across from the Apex Chamber of Commerce. In addition to being the new home of Helm Builders, the building includes retail space.