24 replies to this topic

[Spartan]

Well the trip didn't go quite as planned. I was only in town for one night (that part was planned). I spent most of my evening at in the American Tobacco area... but WOW that is a cool place. The whole thing is done amazingly well.

My only complaint is that downtown felt entirely too empty for a Saturday night (except or the random club that had only black people going to it). After the baseball game let out things picked up somewhat. But I didn't get over to Brightleaf Square or 9th St, which I hope are more active.

On Sunday I wandered over to the Brightleaf Square area. That whole area is pretty cool too. I think that Brightleaf is probably the highlight of my trip. It has a lot of cool things going for it besides a decent urban vibe. I didn't make it over to 9th St, but there's always next time.

My overall thought is that Durham's historic area and architecture match anything that you can find in Asheville, and it's superior to all of the other larger cities in North Carolina that I've been to so far.

[Durhamite]

Spartan, on Jun 29 2009, 07:44 PM, said:

Well the trip didn't go quite as planned. I was only in town for one night (that part was planned). I spent most of my evening at in the American Tobacco area... but WOW that is a cool place. The whole thing is done amazingly well.

My only complaint is that downtown felt entirely too empty for a Saturday night (except or the random club that had only black people going to it). After the baseball game let out things picked up somewhat. But I didn't get over to Brightleaf Square or 9th St, which I hope are more active.

On Sunday I wandered over to the Brightleaf Square area. That whole area is pretty cool too. I think that Brightleaf is probably the highlight of my trip. It has a lot of cool things going for it besides a decent urban vibe. I didn't make it over to 9th St, but there's always next time.

My overall thought is that Durham's historic area and architecture match anything that you can find in Asheville, and it's superior to all of the other larger cities in North Carolina that I've been to so far.

Yep, there ya go!  A large majority of people in the Triangle fear downtown Durham (or Durham period).  Percentage wise, it's the blackest city in the state with an abundance of black professionals/student population.   Of course many people are familiar with Duke U (history of the Duke family), but Durham is rich in black history (the most prominent bldg in Durham is a black owned business...North Carolina Mutual Life),  the Black Wall St. (Parrish St.),  http://www.ncmutuall...ent_future.html, black banks etc.

http://www.ncmutuallife.com/

Note, the website has more bldgs of Charlotte than Durham (so sad).

Durham really needs a signature park in the downtown area.  Admittedly, Durham does have some tough sections surrounding downtown, but it deserves a better reputation.

[NCMike1981]

From around downtown Durham:







The above building was actually Sears from 1947-1973, currently the Durham County Health Department although it is soon to be demolished for the new Health and Human Services Project.

[kermit]

Has anyone ever considered an urban circulator streetcar loop along the old seaboard loop line around downtown? While ridership would certainly be low at first it does seem like the downtown / Duke area is now ripe for streetcar service -- this might be a cheap way to get started.

Just a thought after walking a portion of the old seaboard loop near West Village today.

EDIT: Here is a quick sketch map. http://maps.google.c...029719,0.060596

In a world of unlimited money spurs down main st to East campus and then to Duke Hospital and also down Fayetteville rd to NCCU would also be groovy.  The network could nicely connect up future commuter rail to a growing entrepreneurial community around DT Durham.

FWIW: I grew up in Durham but moved away 20 years ago. Downtown was a place I NEVER went. As I walked around today waiting for my train home I was struck by how much potential the city now has. It could become the jewel of the Triangle -- something I would have never expected..

Edited by kermit, 03 April 2012 - 04:25 PM.

[Jones133]

Durham feels like a street car downtown. Any idea where the old trolly tracks were? I have seen an old map for Raleigh somewhere....