Author: Valerie
I took some snapshots of Windsor Commons. The small upscale development is between the Knollwood homes and The Mews apartments, facing an entrance to the Hope Valley neighborhood. It looks like about 1/2 of the homes are completed. They are made of brick and stone, and sidewalks and crosswalks connect the community. Mid-size trees have been planted along the roadways. The residents will be in walking distance to Shannon Plaza and, reasonably, the Southwest Library Branch and the Harris Teeter complex off Martin Luther King Parkway.
Author: Valerie
The sign outside the Hope Valley Commons reads “Harris Teeter Opening 10″ which we think must be a countdown to opening day. Workers are inside and out setting up the store. The parking lot held about 25 cars this morning, presumably of these employees.
We spied two new “coming soon” signs: Rita’s Ice-Custard-Happiness and Fast Frame. Construction continues on the other units, including Char-Grill and Japan Express.
Leasing information available from Weingarten Realty (866) 373-9437.
Author: Valerie
With all the talk about Hope Valley Commons happenings, don’t forget about the development down the street. University Marketplace was set to begin construction this month. Hawthorne Retail Partners confirmed that interior work is being done in preparation for demolition, which should begin in the next few weeks.
Author: Valerie
We visited the open house at the Ark houses on Martin Luther King on Sunday.
I was surprised that:
- The two houses don’t seem too close when you are inside them.
- The floor is heated with water flowing past the solar panels on the roof, quite warm to the tootsies.
- The house can very easily be off the grid for most of the year, with the solar panels, angle of the roof against the windows, and air flow.
- The bottom level could easily be free-standing and rented out to help with the mortgage payment.
- Very few trees were cut down on the lot, with the small footprint of the house and building materials.
- The walls are well-insulated, made out of something that looks like styrofoam encased in two pieces of drywall.
Author: Valerie
The end of December, the parking lot of Shannon Plaza was repaved. Then this sign appeared. It has a link to Hawthorne Retail Partners, and the drawing on the sign shows that the Post Office will remain.
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Author: Valerie
Development is creeping from downtown to Foster Street. Across the street from the Scrap Exchange, a vacant building was demolished and hauled away. Across the street from that, Nu-Tread Tire was closed, and sits vacant…to be demolished, too? An old gas station parking lot was paved last week and lined for parking, and next door, workers are slowly replacing broken wood-paned windows with shiny new modern windows. Not to mention Trinity Lofts one street over.
Author: Valerie
I wish there was a main website for this neighborhood called Carillon Forest so you could see how pretty these houses are, but this will have to suffice.
The street plan is laid out in circles with a center artery off the main road. All the roads are named after Duke notables… like Keohane Rd. and Few Circle (hence the Carillon). It’s near Erwin Road, Duke Forest, and the Orange County border. We went to a playdate and the playground was a big hit. New neighborhoods in Durham, check it out!
Author: Valerie
I have to share this email (with permission)!
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I wanted to relate a quick story that I thought you would like to hear. I received a phone call a couple weeks ago from someone who said that they had been in the Triangle area looking for homes for a potential move from Boston. He was working with a Raleigh real estate agent and he kept telling this agent that he wanted to look at Durham. Unfortunately, the agent insisted that there was nothing to see in Durham. A few hours before this man and his wife had to catch their flight home (almost certain now that they were not going to accept the company offer to relocate) they went to Elmo’s for breakfast. While they were there, they started talking to a couple and related their story. The couple knew me and insisted that they contact me before they made their decision. I talked to them on the phone and followed-up with a few emails listing lots of information about Durham, including a link to YOUR website. To finish this long story, I heard from them this evening and they have decided that they are going to move to Durham. I really think that your website played an important part in their decision as they referenced it on a couple of occasions. Thanks for helping people discover what a great city Durham is!
Regards,
Courtney James
Your Community Realtor
Fonville Morisey Realty
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This made my day. Yay Durham! (Courtney is a realtor in Durham NC.)
Author: Valerie
Nearly every day, we pass a lot with two buildings being constructed. They are 6-sided, or maybe octagonal. Finally today I was stopped far back enough from the light to read the sign… apparently a “green builder” named Sun Space Ltd. is building them. I am intrigued, and would love to know more! But they seem to be un-Googleable. Anyone?
Author: Valerie
There are nearly 2000 homes for sale in Durham County. Beautiful homes! You can learn more about Durham neighborhoods here.
