🌱 Future of McDougald Terrace + Investors Purchase 1/5 Of Homes

Christina Fullford
Updated ·4 min read

Happy Pistol Patent Day Durham!

First, today's weather:

Periods of sun with a shower. High: 72 Low: 37.

Here are the top five stories today in Durham:

  1. Residents at McDougald Terrace should prepare for changes as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) says that the Durham Housing Authority must come up with a plan on how to move forward with the complex. The plan will need to be finalized by the end of the year and DHA will have to help residents find another place to live after. Residents are concerned as many Durham residents are struggling to find housing even with housing choice vouchers available. (abc11)

  2. As home inventory continues to remain low, first-time homebuyers and other potential buyers are losing options to investors. More than one in five properties in Durham are being purchased by investors, and median home sale prices have jumped 33.3%. (WRAL TechWire) People looking to find homes are frustrated with high home values, but others seeking to refinance are questioning bias within the home appraisal industry in the Triangle. (abc11)

  3. A Durham church is facing foreclosure due to a hefty tax bill in spite of tax-exempt qualifications. The Shepherd's House United Methodist Church received the property as a gift from the last congregation in 2008, and officially purchased the building about four years ago. The church then struggled with communications hindered by the pandemic and are now concerned that the church and other community focused organizations that utilize the space will be forced to leave. (abc11)

  4. On Wednesday, Investigator John Bell with DPD spoke about preventative measures the department is taking to prevent deadly crashes in 2022. The city has already had two deadly crashes this year, and officers are cracking down on speeding. The penalty for speeding is a citation up to $250 and complaints from the public help determine areas that need more attention. Residents can also request speed bumps be added to their neighborhoods with the Transportation Department. (CBS17)

  5. Candidate filing for the 2022 elections resumed Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after new redistricting maps were selected. Senate Leader Phil Berger said that they do not approve of the interim Congressional map and will be seeking a stay of that map, but also expressed it is time to move on and allow filing. (Spectrum News 1) You can find your legislators here.

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Today in Durham:

Bonus: WRAL's 7 things to do with your kids this weekend. (WRAL) & Weekend Best Bets (WRAL)

From my notebook:

  • Since earlier this week we read about firearm seizures in the city, I thought Pistol Patent Day would be the perfect opportunity to share some of North Carolina's gun laws.

  • Duke University will be ending asymptomatic COVID testing for vaccinated students as of the week of March 21. (CBS17)

  • The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about how to protect themselves from online shopping scams that are on the rise. (CBS17)

  • Wonderpuff of Durham is providing puffs of joy while reminding others that it's ok to cry. (WRAL)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

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You're all caught up for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update!

— CJ Fullford

This article originally appeared on the Durham Patch