American Tobacco Historic District

[DPK]

I wish they'd tear down that towering blighted failed hotel turned condo turned hotel again project that lumbers up on the hill when you exit off of 147.

[DPK]

Add Which Wich to the list of retail (Ed Mitchell's restaurant called 'Que and a Moe's Southwest Grill) coming to the nearly complete Diamond View III soon!

 

Future location information:

359 Blackwell Street, Ste. 2053
Durham, NC 27701
[email protected]

Edited January 4, 2014 by DPK

[DanRNC]

Downtown Durham is continuing to push ahead as one of the more interesting urban areas in NC, if not the southeast. Rather than trying to be something they are not, they have focused on unique characteristics of the city which gives it authenticity lacking in most of the other cities in NC. 

[RALNATIVE]

Downtown Durham is continuing to push ahead as one of the more interesting urban areas in NC, if not the southeast. Rather than trying to be something they are not, they have focused on unique characteristics of the city which gives it authenticity lacking in most of the other cities in NC. 

 

I think that I agree with you on this one. When you think of Durham's developments, you don't see lofty aspirations of grandeur, but rather practicality. Kind of like Asheville, the city's charm exudes from it's ability to work with what they have and make it better, rather than trying to become the next best thing in urban environments.

[Durhamite]

I do like what's happening in and around Durham but let's not be so quick to credit local leaders (developers) without glancing down 15-501 at the big pickle debacle.  I don't know whether to attribute the historic stock (and cities like Asheville) to urban conservationist, good luck or plain ole development stagnation during urban renewal.  I'd like to think the former of those factors but even Charleston, SC considered overhauling dilapidated buildings during urban renewal without incentives/investments and voices from a few staunch urban enthusiast.

 

I love Durham's unique and unappreciated character but let's not be so quick to throw others under the bus, it could've easily happened here.  Winston, Gboro, Fville, HPoint, Wilmington and portions of Raleigh have maintained quite the historic charm in appropriate sections of their city.  Greensboro continues to build on those positives downtown in around Elm St. and other areas...more so than Durham in my opinion.

 

Durham has benefitted from a scaled (or slower) growth pattern which allows for a practical approach and consistency in regards to urban expansion and it shows.  Thank goodness most if not all of Durham's old tobacco warehouses stood the test of time and crane.  Although Asheville is more nationally recognized  and vibrant, Durham is much more demographically diverse and resides in a growing professional metro that affords people the option of living in a gritty town like Durham, or a fabricated upscale community like Cary or an obnoxiously self-absorbed college town like Chapel Hill .   That aside, I do like Chapel Hill....

Edited January 29, 2014 by Durhamite

[DPK]

Durham's old tobacco warehouses stood the test of time and crane.

 

Too bad that big block (Liberty Warehouse) in the warehouse district near Fullsteam is about to get knocked down for apartments.

[Jones_]

  I don't know whether to attribute the historic stock (and cities like Asheville) to urban conservationist, good luck or plain ole development stagnation during urban renewal. 

I have been told, but am not certain, that Durham and Asheville and a handful of others paid their debts during the great depression while most cities defaulted on their debt. Then when the 50's rolled around and urban renewal was all the rage, Durham and Asheville did not have money to go in and wipe out whole blocks for urban malls or to say condemn and demolish block after block to hand off to and lower the cost of redevelopment for developers. 

[NCMike1981]

Check out this site:

 

http://www.opendurham.org/buildings/first-main-public-library-five-points-east

 

http://www.opendurham.org/buildings/five-points-west-five-points-drug-company

 

 

More has been lost over the years then you'd think....look at how densely developed downtown Durham used to be (see attached picture)...

 

if you explore this site you will also be appalled at what has been lost for and around the downtown loop, and not just all related to businesses but residences as well. At least downtown seems to be out of it's "tear things down for open space, surface parking lots or non descript office buildings" phase. Hopefully preservation will continue to be the trend, with additional infill projects for the numerous surface lots and empty spaces...

Edited February 6, 2014 by NCMike1981

[Durhamite]

Yes, I've seen a lot of those pictures and is awful the city didn't attempt to at least consider replacing some of those buildings that burned down.  The freeway also destroyed and disconnected the Hyati area (Fayetteville St) which had a strong blues presence.  Durham still has plenty to work with and the first order of business is to make full usage of what's there.

[DanRNC]

More BBQ headed to downtown Durham. Pretty funny that both Hatem and Mitchell move their BBQ war to Durham. Hatem to the DIY district and Mitchell to the corporate district. 

 

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/24/3651596/durham-father-son-hope-barbecue.html

[DPK]

Not entirely new news, but Eschelon Hospitality's sushi restaurant called Basan is coming to DVIII.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2014/04/02/raleighs-eschelon-restaurant-group-expanding-into.html

Edited May 4, 2014 by DPK

[BullDurhamer]

diamond view I, II, DBAP

[BullDurhamer]

[DPK]

diamond view I, II, DBAP

 

That building in the foreground and in picture two is actually Diamond View III.  Diamond View I is not in either of those pictures, but rather on the far side of DBAP, next to 147.

Edited February 7, 2015 by DPK

[SeaninNC]

Ed Mitchells "Que" is now closed.

Edited February 21, 2015 by SeaninNC

[DPK]

Ed Mitchells "Que" is now closed.

 

I don't think anyone is really going to miss that place.  In the sense that it was overpriced "okay" bbq with a staff that was kinda "meh" as well at times.  Whatever replaces it will probably not be an independent / mom-pop establishment due to the rent prices there.

Edited February 21, 2015 by DPK

[mattncsu]

University Ford Kia lot has finally been brought by Capital Broadcasting Corp. and will be developed once the dealership moves to 15-501.

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2016/10/17/university-ford-kia-downtown-durhman-nc-sold.html

[KJHburg]

This is a great adaptive reuse of these old tobacco warehouses and factories.  Including some apartments near the ballpark and the Aloft hotel. Downtown Durham is booming. Outside of Winston Salem not another downtown area in the state has as much old factories turned into a mixture of  uses like here. 

Couple more of the American Tobacco factory area. 

[DPK]

On 9/23/2013 at 9:38 PM, DPK said:

I wish they'd tear down that towering blighted failed hotel turned condo turned hotel again project that lumbers up on the hill when you exit off of 147.

While out taking pictures today of the tearing down of that blighted failed hotel turned condo turned hotel again project, I grabbed the below "tower" pictures.  Crazy all the new development that's now happening around the American Tobacco area.  Will be interesting over the next few years as University Ford gets gone shortly.

    

Edited February 8, 2018 by DPK

[KJHburg]

Walked all over the American Tobacco District.  what a great project and renovation!  Today on my trip to the Bull City. First time walking around inside AT and has lots of wonderful spaces.  

[KJHburg]

few more from American Tobacco and it is such a great project.  From yesterday.  3rd photo is Burt of Burt's Bees cabin from Maine relocated to ATC  Lets hope Apple gets on the NC Idea Express and located a facility in RTP right down the road from here. 

[SydneyCarton]

Hopefully, the Triangle will get Apple and Amazon!

[KJHburg]

1 hour ago, SydneyCarton said:

Hopefully, the Triangle will get Apple and Amazon!

I believe the former could be announced within weeks! 

[SydneyCarton]

I agree.  Apple seems to be guaranteed.   It would nice if they build in downtown Durham or Raleigh instead of an office park in the RTP.

[DanRNC]

21 hours ago, KJHburg said:

I believe the former could be announced within weeks! 

If it's not announced this week, this deal is probably in trouble as it should have been done last week. Leave it up to the NC bubbas to screw it up.