24 replies to this topic

[yfreemark]

Hey: an image of the current and recent Durham Downtown redevelopment Areas.
Hope you enjoy.



In Yellow (North-South): North-South Greenway/American Tobacco Trail

In Red (East-West): Future TTA/SouthEast High Speed Rail Line

In Green: Recent Projects
A. Durham School of the Arts
B. Brightleaf Square
C. Peabody Place
D. West Village
E. Durham Bulls Athletic Park
F. Durham County Jail
G. YMCA
H. Durham Civic Center/Carolina Theatre/Arts Council

In Blue: Current/Proposed Projects
1. Duke Arts Building
2. N.C. Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Building
3. West Village II
4. TTA Station/Durham Multi-Modal Transit Center
5. Imperial Building (Measurement Incorporated)
6. American Tobacco Complex
7. Durham Theatre/Events Center
8. Durham Judicial Building (New Courthouse)
9. Triangle Biotechnological Building at Venable
10. New County Health Building(s)
11. Hope VI Few Gardens/North East Central
12. Baldwin Lofts
13. The Renaissance at Durham Centre
14. Durham Senior Center
15. Durham Central Park
16. Durham Athletic Park
17. Main/Chapel Hill Streets Realignment
18. Durham Central Square
19. Woolworth Building
20. The Eleanor

Edited by orulz, 29 January 2007 - 11:32 AM.

[ChiefJoJo]

I was digging today and noticed this from a couple of years ago... I think most of it is still relevant.  Yfreemark, please post here if you get a chance to update this.  -thx

[yfreemark]

Hi, This is the Updated Version of the Downtown Durham Development Map.
I know that I've forgotten a few things and there are many mistakes in my (quickly written) descriptions, so please reply to this list with additions and comments. thanks.




Red = Transportation
Aqua = Mixed Use (Residential + Something Else)
Blue = Municipal (city or county) investments
Green = Parks Space
Yellow = Residential (can include retail)
Orange = Office (can include retail)
Pink = Retail
Purple = Potential Future Development (plans haven't been enumerated)

A larger version of this image is available here: http://www.transitti...urham-Large.jpg

This image includes numbers on each of the development sites, spelling out where each of the following developments are going on the map.

1. Center City Plaza (CCB Plaza) Complete 2007
2. Sun Trust Building Residential Conversions (by Greenfire Properties) Complete 2008
3. Woolworth Office Tower, with Black Wall Street / Durham History Museum
4. Residential, office, and retail conversions by Greenfire (Mr. Shoe Building)
5. Parish Street Renewal Project and Outdoor Museum
6. Baldwin Condos
7. Kress Building Condos
8. Assorted retail, residential, and office conversions, including Rue Cler, the Eleanor, etc.
9. Penny Furniture Building retail and office Space
10. Former Joe and Jo's new restaurant
11. Mechanics Building (currently owned by county), potential future development
12. Country Social Services Building
13. Durham Public Library, potential renovation or redevelopment
14. Durham Senior Citizens' Community Home (completed 2006)
15. Durham Central Park (in Progress, begun 1999)
16. Liberty Warehouse (currently used by arts and industrial uses, may be converted to other uses in the near future)
17. Renaissance at the Durham Centre, a new residential tower proposed but unlikely to be built
18. Imperial Warehouse, Office Development by Measurement Incorporated, Completed 2006
19. Future greenway on former rail tracks (development time period uncertain)
20. West Village Phase One (residential, with a few retail spots), completed 2000
21. West Village Phase Two (residential, office, and retail, including (potentially) a new Durham Amtrak station), completion 2009
22. Downtown Durham TTA Station (Delayed pending review of Triangle transit options)
23. Durham Station, new terminal for DATA buses, completion 2008
24. American Tobacco Historic District, Phase I, mainly office, but with some restaurants and retail, completed 2005
25. American Tobacco Historic District, Phase II, with residential, office, and retail, completion 2007
26. Diamond View II and III, office spaces looking over the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, completion 2009
27. American Tobacco Historic District, Phase III, with residential, office, and retail, completion 2009
28. American Tobacco Historic District, Phase IV, residential, completion 2010
29. Durham Performing Arts Center (D-PAC), 2,700 seat theatre, completion 2008
30. Elkins Chrysler Dealership redevelopment, timeline unclear
31. New Durham County Courthouse, completion 2009
32. Venable Warehouse, new office and lab space (including offices of the Independent Weekly), by Scientific Properties, completion 2006-2007
33. 305 South, retail and performing arts space, completed 2005
34. Future rails-to-trails conversion, timeline uncertain
35. Main Street Townhomes (part of Few Gardens Hope VI project), completed 2005
36. New Townhouses on Main Street (part of Few Gardens Hope VI project), completed 2006
37. Main Street redevelopment, led by Hayti Community Development Corporation, development timeline uncertain
38. Golden Belt redevelopment into artists' spaces, timeline uncertain
39. Senior Citizens' Homes (part of Few Gardens Hope VI project), completion 2007
40. Central Park School for Children, completed 2004
41. Durham Bulls Park Redevelopment - potentially the site of NCCU Baseball, a minor league baseball training facility, and new condos or offices by SBER, timeline uncertain
42. Trinity Home, new condos, completed 2006
43. City Place Office Development, completed 2002
44. County Social Services Redevelopment, coordinated by SBER, timeline uncertain
45. Durham School of the Arts expansion, completion 2007
46. Trinity Park Hotel and Condos, by Park Place development, completion 2008
47. Duke University arts and office expansion, completion 2008
48. Former Durham Cycle Center into restaurant conversion, completion 2007
49. Studebaker Building residential conversion, completion 2007
50. Duke Street Building Conversion, completed 2006
51. Brightleaf Square Redevelopment, completed 2004
52. Peabody Place, in redevelopment with the replacement of Fowler's, timeline uncertain
53. Durham Medical Building redevelopment, timeline uncertain
54. Former Durham Ramada, residential conversion, completed 2006
55. Redevelopment of former public housing, led by SBER, timeline uncertain
56. Heritage Square redevelopment into large mixed-use compound, led by Scientific Properties, completion 2009
57. TTA Regional Rail (as well as Southeast High Speed Rail), indefinitely delayed until regional transit priorities have been established.
58. Durham North-South Trail (including American Tobacco Trail), completed 2006

Edited by yfreemark, 30 January 2007 - 01:59 AM.

[ChiefJoJo]

Terrific!  Thank you again yfreemark!

[Sven]

Yonah

Very nicely put together. Do you know something I don't about the Medical Arts building on Gregson (#53)?

Two other notes - the County Human Services Complex parking will take the two blocks east of Dillard St., between E Main and Ramseur, and the HOPE VI project also extends to the southeast from the area marked '36'.

Strong work - thanks for sharing it.

GK
www.endangereddurham.org

[JDC]

^Great site.

And great map up there. One problem I notice though is #44, the County Social Services redevelopment. The shaded part includes two buildings (one of which I'm typing this from in my pajamas) that are not part of social services.

Edited by JDC, 31 January 2007 - 10:50 PM.

[heart]

Great map there! Do you think these timelines are realistic, particulary the Suntrust residential finishing in 2008? That would be impressive, what a view they would have.

[ChiefJoJo]

This map of street improvements is probably a good companion to yfreemark's map:

[Spartan]

So I made my first pass-through of Durham last weekend. I assume that most of these improvements are done, because downtown looked really sharp- fresh pavement and what looked to be new pavers, sidewalks, etc.

I also have to say that of the North Carolina cities I've been too, I think Durham is one of my favorite. There is a really cool urban vibe going on there. I just drove around for a few minutes but it was more than enough to make me want to go back. I'm digging the warehouse district and the downtown area in general (which is pretty much all I was able to see in such a short time). Fortunately I have a wedding to go to later this month, so I'm going to try to figure out how to spend some extra time wandering around.

Are there any restaurants or bars downtown that I shouldn't miss?

[Gard]

^

If you haven't been there yet, you MUST check out the American Tobacco campus.  Easily one of the greatest places in the Triangle.  The place is filled with bars and restaurants and has a really cool vibe to it.

[Jones133]

Spartan, on Jun 4 2009, 08:32 PM, said:

So I made my first pass-through of Durham last weekend. I assume that most of these improvements are done, because downtown looked really sharp- fresh pavement and what looked to be new pavers, sidewalks, etc.

I also have to say that of the North Carolina cities I've been too, I think Durham is one of my favorite. There is a really cool urban vibe going on there. I just drove around for a few minutes but it was more than enough to make me want to go back. I'm digging the warehouse district and the downtown area in general (which is pretty much all I was able to see in such a short time). Fortunately I have a wedding to go to later this month, so I'm going to try to figure out how to spend some extra time wandering around.

Are there any restaurants or bars downtown that I shouldn't miss?

What's your taste in that area? The Federal and Rue Cler are both awesome to me but most folks probably prefer one or the other.

[Spartan]

Yeah American Tobacco is defintely on my list of things to see. I like dive restaurants, but anything that isn't over-priced is fine with me. I don't go to trendy restaurants too often, but I'll go if that's the reccomendation Probably not asian for my first time there though. Any bar that doesn't involve obnoxious club music is ok wtih me.

[Jones133]

Spartan, on Jun 4 2009, 09:51 PM, said:

Yeah American Tobacco is defintely on my list of things to see. I like dive restaurants, but anything that isn't over-priced is fine with me. I don't go to trendy restaurants too often, but I'll go if that's the reccomendation Probably not asian for my first time there though. Any bar that doesn't involve obnoxious club music is ok wtih me.

Federal on Main Street then...I don't get to Durham enough to have rooted out any other places....
Ringside was cool back when I used to go there....this review is why I like it Ringside has a myspace too which will give an idea too.
Blog on Durham with a feature on Ringside's building
Other reviews of downtown Durham spots here, including Federal.

Edited by Jones133, 05 June 2009 - 03:03 PM.

[ChiefJoJo]

The two main areas of DTD are basically American Tobacco and the Brightleaf Square area.  There are a few good spots in between (Toast, Rue Cler, Locopops, and there's a newish Irish pub on W. Main), but it's mostly those two districts.  I really like Brightleaf due to the varied options in such a small area:  Taverna Nikos (Greek), Alivias, and Federal are great options, but I recommend allowing some time to walk around and see what you like--most of the restaurants are very good.  Also Ninth Street, about a mile west of downtown is another spot with plenty of great options (plus you have to check out Regulator Bookshop, one of the few urban, independent bookstores in the region, and Elmo's Diner, a great spot for breakfast.)

Enjoy!

[Spartan]

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Where is Brightleaf Square? I'm still trying to figure out Durham's "districts." I had no idea that 9th St was even an option Can anyone point me to a good map?

[ChiefJoJo]

Check this out for DTD: flash map.  Even thought it's actually just a single square area, I consider the multi block area west of Duke St, the unoffical Brightleaf Area, with the area east being West Village (Liggett & Myers).

Here's a google map of ninth St: map.  Basically go west on Main St from DTD and turn right on Ninth St and there's a nice strip of shops right there to enjoy.

Again, I would allow yourself some time to walk around and explore.  That's what I like to do.  There's a whole lot to like about Durham (and I didn't even mention American Tobacco), and IMO these are among the better walkable urban places to start looking.  Hope that helps.

[RaleighRob]

Spartan, on Jun 19 2009, 09:57 AM, said:

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Where is Brightleaf Square? I'm still trying to figure out Durham's "districts." I had no idea that 9th St was even an option Can anyone point me to a good map?

Brightleaf District would roughly be the whole area along West Main Street from about the Downtown Loop westward to Buchannan Blvd.  "Brightleaf Square" is the actual old tobacco warehouse building that's turned into virtually a little mini-mall of shops and restaurants, at the corner of Main and Gregson.  But the whole district is worth exploring by far.  (Be sure to check out Morgan Imports....good for gifts for hard-to-shop-for people.)  

Ninth Street isn't technically downtown, but it's definitely a pedestrian-friendly urban area by Duke University that is worth mentioning.  Sort of like an urban satellite of downtown, in much of the same way Raleigh's Hillsborough Street is....or at least, as intended to be.    
As far as the Triangle's three "College Rows" (Hillsborough Street, Franklin Street, and Ninth Street) go, Ninth Street is, in my opinion, the nicest and most enjoyable.  (As much as it pains this NCSU alum to admit!)

Edited by RaleighRob, 19 June 2009 - 09:49 AM.

[Jones133]

These folks have it nailed. Durham is a little awkward though for the pedestrian imo, since little of the cool stuff actually beckons the pedestrian cruising by on foot. The nature of most of the tobacco redevelopment is turned inward (other than a few of the Brightleaf shops that cut entrances onto Main Street). There is definitely a pedestrian gap between American Tobacco and Downtown and Brighleaf caused primarily by the railroad tracks and lack of development in between. Not to be a naysayer at all...I love Durham and am fairly well acquainted with it. Just adding some more "heads up" to the equation. Have fun...the whole place feels more like a northern industrial city than anything southern.

[Spartan]

During my brief drive around Durham, it seemed like there was plenty to see by foot, particularly in the main downtown area. It was a little dead, but it was also Sunday morning. I'm hoping that Saturday it will be more lively. I notice that most of you suggest that I head towards Brightleaf of 9th St. Is there nothing in the vicinity of the Marriott that is worth walking to?

[ChiefJoJo]

Spartan, on Jun 22 2009, 03:38 PM, said:

During my brief drive around Durham, it seemed like there was plenty to see by foot, particularly in the main downtown area. It was a little dead, but it was also Sunday morning. I'm hoping that Saturday it will be more lively. I notice that most of you suggest that I head towards Brightleaf of 9th St. Is there nothing in the vicinity of the Marriott that is worth walking to?

I can vouch for... the Carolina Theater, which is a great old venue for shows and concerts, Rue Cler, a nice French bakery/restaurant around the corner on Chapel Hill St, "Toast," a nice lunch place (never been there late), and Loco Pops on Market St.

Bull McCabes is a newish Irish pub on W. Main.  Never been there, but when I walked by last time it was packed.  Those are all 'inside the [Ramseur, Morgan, Roxboro St] loop' that are possibilities, but as we've already mentioned, most of the vibrant retail where you will find contiguous shops is at American Tobacco, Brightleaf, and 9th St.