Durham affordable apartments, townhome developments get green light. Here’s where.
The Durham City Council has cleared the way for four new developments that will bring more than 400 townhomes and apartments to the city.
Each project was approved Monday night.
We’ve got the details on all of them.
Fairhaven Walk
The City Council was thrilled to pass a rezoning paving the way for Fairhaven Walk:
- 192 apartments — all priced affordably — and a daycare onsite
- On 8 acres at 313 Old Oxford Road
The land is in Braggtown and is within walking distance of the Food Lion on North Roxboro Street.
The parcels are currently spread among several owners, but the Wisconsin-based Commonwealth Development Corp. of America is developing the project.
They are seeking a 4% low-income housing tax credit. Gap financing from the city’s affordable housing bond will total $3.3 million.
The affordability commitments will last 30 years and will be offered to those making 30% to 60% of the area’s median income.
Justin Mitchell, the project manager for Commonwealth, applauded the neighbors for welcoming the project.
“A lot of times when we look to bring new affordable housing into a neighborhood, we’re met with considerable opposition: ‘We don’t want rentals in our neighborhood. We don’t want multifamily. We don’t want affordable housing, those people,’” Mitchell said. “Those are the types of things we hear.”
He called the reponse from Braggtown “YIMBY-plus.” YIMBY stands for “yes in my back yard.”
“It was: yes, we want you here and we want as many of the 30% AMI units as possible,” Mitchell said.
The City Council passed the rezoning unanimously. Review the development plan online.
Brightleaf North
The developers behind Brightleaf North had their rezoning approved unanimously:
- 90 for-sale townhomes
- On undeveloped land at 2040 Copper Leaf Parkway
The 20-acre property is bordered by single-family homes, some woods and a busy stretch of U.S. 70, with apartments a short distance away.
It’s being developed by DHI Communities, an affiliate of the national homebuilder D.R. Horton that’s working on multiple projects in the area.
The townhouses will be “entry-level” homes, selling in the mid-$300,000s, according to attorney for the developer Nil Ghosh.
“They’re aiming for a very low price point. As low as I’ve seen in Durham,” Ghosh said.
Review the development plan online.
Fletcher Crossing
Fletcher Crossing required an annexation and had a tougher time making it through the City Council.
- 80 for-sale townhomes
- On a 9.5-acre property at 707 S. Mineral Springs Road
Single-family homes line that stretch of Mineral Springs Road. Most of the houses are modest in size and spread far apart, though denser developments are springing up not far away in southeast Durham.
The townhouses will be marketed at a higher price point, perhaps around $400,000, Ghosh estimated. They will be hooked up to city water and sewer.
The land is owned by members of the Fletcher family, according to tax records, and a single century-old ranch home is there today. The developer is a Wake County homebuilder operating under the name ODG 87 LLC.
The annexation and rezoning were passed by 4-3 vote:
- Voting yes: Mayor Pro-Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton, Jillian Johnson, Javiera Caballero and Leonardo Williams.
- Voting no: Mayor Elaine O’Neal, DeDreana Freeman and Monique Holsey-Hyman.
Review the development plan online.
Clayton Road
A project on Clayton Road also required an annexation so residents can access city water and sewer lines:
- 61 for-sale townhomes, 15% affordable
- On nearly 8 acres at 633 Clayton Road
The project will be built on a wooded lot across the street from Southern High School.
Nine of the townhouses will be sold to households earning no more than 80% of the area’s median income. Pete Gitto’s Raleigh-based company owns and is developing the property.
The annexation and rezoning passed 4-3, along the same lines as Fletcher Crossing.
Review the development plan online.
This report was updated Aug. 8, 2023 to correctly identify the developer of Brightleaf North.
This story was originally published August 8, 2023 at 11:36 AM.
