Developers propose 1,300 new apartments, townhomes in Durham. Here’s where.
Developers proposing more than 1,300 apartments and townhomes in Durham won praise from the Planning Commission Tuesday night for planning dense projects in a city clamoring for more affordable housing.
The proposed developments range from southernmost Fayetteville Road to Research Triangle Park to near the Eno River. Most include a significant number of affordable units, which could help get them approved.
All five projects won the Planning Commission’s recommendation and will be heard later this year by the Durham City Council, which gets the final say.
Fayetteville Road farmland could house apartments
The largest proposal comes from Raleigh-based Aventon Companies, which hopes to build 490 apartments on undeveloped land at 8250 Fayetteville Road. Fifty of the units, or about 10%, would be priced to meet income guidelines.
“Our team is responding to one of our city’s greatest concerns: the growing cost of housing,” said Patrick Byker, the attorney for the developer.
A dozen nearby homeowners showed up to oppose the project, saying the density would be overwhelming.
The apartments would occupy 40 acres inside the city limits. The land, valued over $1.1 million, is owned by the descendants of Fadine Harris, who died last year.
If the rezoning request is granted, 5,000 square feet of office space could also be built. The developer would have to make improvements to both Fayetteville Road and N.C. 751, including adding lanes and a new traffic signal.
The planning commission voted 8-0 to recommend the project.
Southeast Durham sees more development interest
A new development in the Little Lick Creek watershed, where intense development has raised environmental concerns, could add up to 350 apartments.
The proposal would occupy 27 acres at 1102 S. Miami Blvd. It’s currently in the county, but the developer hope to have the site annexed into the city limits.
An LLC linked to Bonaventure Realty, a northern Virginia firm, bought the land in 2021 for $2.8 million, property records show.
The developer has committed to making 10% of the units — 35 apartments — affordable, promising 30 years of affordability at 60% of the area’s median income.
“Ten percent affordable is extremely commendable. We don’t see that often. But I do recognize the environmental concerns,” Planning Commissioner Garry Cutright commented before voting to recommend the proposal. “There are costs to everything.”
The developer would be responsible for constructing new turn lanes on U.S. 70.
The planning commission voted 8-0 to recommend the project.
New apartments just outside RTP
A local developer has proposed building 270 apartments on land just outside Research Triangle Park.
East Wake Industrial submitted a rezoning request for nearly 14 acres, which today is divided among several owners.
“South Miami Boulevard is a five-lane road with bus stops. A very good spot for apartments I think,” developer Jarrod Edens said.
It’s located at 2610 S. Miami Blvd., within the city limits.
The developer offered to set 5% of the units aside as affordable. That amounts to 13 units for 30 years priced as affordable for those making 60% of the area’s median income.
The planning commission voted 8-0 to recommend the project.
Transforming hotel into apartments
An old hotel near RTP could soon become apartments, thanks to the nonprofit Reinvestment Partners.
The community development corporation has filed a request to rezone the Extended Stay America at 2504 N.C. 54. The rezoning would allow them to convert the existing building into studio apartments.
“The individual hotel rooms are actually quite a bit larger than the typical hotel room. They average about 550 square feet,” said Howard Partner, who applied for the rezoning.
Of the 72 units, half would be affordable.
Surrounding business owners opposed the project, saying it would bring crime and endanger families with children.
“This area is not meant to be residential. It’s commercial. It’s corporate,” Charlotte Weaver said.
The hotel was built in 1996 on nearly 2 acres. It’s within the city limits. The property last sold five years ago for $767,000, property records show.
The planning commission voted 8-0 to recommend the project.
North Durham townhomes
Another developer proposed rezoning to build up to 99 townhomes in north Durham near the Eno River.
The proposed neighborhood is on 18 acres just east of North Roxboro Street and north of Infinity Road. It is within the city limits. The rezoning would also permit a 5,000-square-foot office building.
“This is really an infill request between developing areas in north Durham,” said Jamie Schwedler, an attorney representing the developer.
Records show SunHausRealty, an LLC registered under an Apex address, bought the land in 2019 for $230,000.
No affordable units are included in the proposal, though they offered to contribute $65,000 to the city’s affordable housing fund. The developer would be required to put new turn lanes on Infinity Road.
The planning commission voted 5-3 to recommend the project.
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