Developments could bring nearly 900 new housing units to north Durham
.jpg "Arial views of the two proposed developments in north Durham that could bring nearly 900 new rental homes.")
Proposed developments could bring hundreds of new apartments and homes to Durham, just northeast of Braggtown and the Museum of Life and Science.
The Planning Commission will consider proposals on Wednesday for two nearly adjacent development projects in north Durham, made by Joven Group and TMTLA Associates, developers based in Apex and Durham.
The plans propose rezoning to let more housing units than now allowed be built on nearly 50 acres of a 134-acre plot — currently called Carver Street Assemblage at 3819 Club Creek Road — and 43 acres at 955 Old Oxford Road.
The plans for the Carver Street project propose up to 675 housing units, including at least 100 each of apartments, townhouses and single-family homes. The plans also include preserving at least 20% of tree area and a bus shelter along East Carver Street adjacent to the site.
Currently, Joven Group owns three of the eight parcels of land in the assemblage — nearly 100 of the 134 acres — with the other parcels owned by families and another company.
City staff support the rezoning, saying it would be consistent with the surrounding development and that “the existing infrastructure will be better utilized” by increasing the development density in the area.
In a 2018 map of housing in Durham, the projects fall on a block with nearly 1,800 renter-occupied housing units. The Carver Street development would complement other developments in the area and provide “an opportunity to help meet the needs of Durham’s housing demand,” a staff analysis stated.
Old Oxford Road project
The Old Oxford Road development would create up to 65 detached single-family units and 145 townhouses. The proposal does not say how much the units would cost, or whether they would be for rent or sale.
City staff says it would would allow for a “generally more affordable unit type (multi-family as opposed to single family)“ than current zoning provides.
According to a 2019 report by the N.C. Housing Coalition, nearly half — 29,000 households — of Durham renters are burdened by the cost of their housing, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities.
No timeline has been listed for either project.
The Planning Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday (June 3) to discuss the proposals. The meeting will be streamed on the city’s YouTube channel.
The commission will recommend the city approve or deny the rezoning of each property, and the Durham City Council will vote on them at a later date.
