Neighborhoods
Northern Durham - country-style living, abundant outdoor recreation, lots of elbow room!
Northern Durham offers a variety of neighborhoods and landscapes, from master-planned communities to single family homes nestled in the woods. Most communities in Northern Durham are within a few minutes drive to Duke University and downtown Durham, but still manage to maintain a rural ambiance. Northern Durham is less crowded than the central and southern parts of the city and county, making it a popular choice for those who like to escape from it all at the end of the day!
Treyburn
Treyburn was established as a full amenity community that is centered around a Tom Fazio-designed, 72-par golf course. The well-manicured putting greens, superior home construction, and the variety of floral displays within Treyburn have been created to precise standards. That attention to detail continues today, a fact that earned Treyburn the title "Best Community in the Triangle." Treyburn offers ten flourishing neighborhoods amid the forests, lakes and streams of Northwest Durham. These neighborhoods include a variety of housing types such as garden homes, estate homes and villas, many with views of the golf course, lakes, and forests. Treyburn's residential areas are just a short drive away from thriving Treyburn Corporate Park, home to such companies as AW North Carolina, bioMérieux, BD Biosciences, Freudenberg, Cormetech and Merck . Historic Stagville, which comprises the remnants of one of the largest plantations of the pre-Civil War South, is also located within the boundaries of Treyburn. A large network of winding trails allows residents to enjoy the nature that surrounds them. Homes range from the $190's to $2 million.
Eno River Area
The various neighborhoods in the vicinity of the beautiful Eno River in Northern Durham range from upscale planned communities to single family units on large parcels. Several older abodes include traditional Southern homes with wrap-around porches, as well as ranches with lots of open space. The 40-mile long meandering Eno River provides natural habitat for several species of flora and fauna as well as incredible recreational opportunities for visitors looking to get away from the city. On both sides of the river, rich forests and meadows abound with wildlife. In order to protect the river and the rich riparian habitat, housing densities in this area are strictly limited. The low-density housing and abundance of open space give this area a distinct rural feel, though in reality it is only minutes from Duke and downtown.
Bahama/Rougemont/Northern Durham County
North of the Durham city limits, the urban landscape quickly gives way to the rolling hills and open country that is so characteristic of central North Carolina. Don't be surprised to see folks riding their horses, as several horse farms and working farmsteads can be found here. The landscape of Bahama (pronounced Ba-hay-ma) and Rougemont in the far northern corners of Durham County is rural and beautiful. It is country living at its finest!
Central Durham - the heart of it all, proximity to Duke University, Downtown Durham and historic districts, Durham's finest restaurants, Northgate, lots of entertainment options, easy commute to Research Triangle Park
Central Durham is where it all began and remains the heart and soul of the city. In 1849, Dr. Bartlett Durham, for whom the City is named, provided land for a railroad station in what is today downtown Durham. In addition to our growing downtown and its many amenities, Central Durham includes historic neighborhoods, both Duke University and North Carolina Central University and several shopping opportunities such as Northgate (anchored by Sears and Hecht's), the funky shops on Ninth Street and Brightleaf Square. Spectator sports such as the Durham Bulls AAA baseball team, as well as Duke and N.C. Central universities' basketball and football, have always been hometown favorites. Recreational opportunities including hiking, jogging, and golf, also abound in Central Durham.
Watts Hospital - Hillandale
The Watts Hospital - Hillandale neighborhood contains some of Durham's finest historic homes. The first homes were built in the area around Watts Hospital, which began construction in 1908. The surrounding neighborhood grew rapidly in the 1910's and 1920's, and then again in the 1940's after the end of the Great Depression. Watts Hospital, which closed in 1976, is now the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, the state's only public boarding high school (11th and 12th grades only) for North Carolina's most exceptional students. Students representing all 100 North Carolina counties attend this beautiful school where average SAT scores range between 1330 and 1360. The Watts Hospital - Hillandale neighborhood is known for its many unique homes, most of which were built in the first half of the century. Several homes have large wrap-around porches that beckon neighbors to stop and chat with one another. A thick canopy of majestic oaks, planted around 1913, lines the neighborhood streets. Watts Hospital - Hillandale is less than a mile from Duke University, the Ninth Street district and the Northgate shopping area.
Trinity Park
The Trinity Park neighborhood runs along the northern and eastern sides of Duke University's East Campus. Trinity Park, like the Watts Hospital - Hillandale neighborhood, is characterized by large historic homes, many with unique architectural styles. The area has also seen some new construction in recent years, with the addition of several neo-traditional single family homes and row houses in the Trinity Heights development directly across from East Campus.
The campus itself, built in the early 1900's as Trinity College, adds great charm to the neighborhood. Large lawns and towering oaks dominate the beautiful scenery. A well-maintained path encircling the campus draws hundreds of walkers and joggers each day. Baldwin Auditorium, also located on East Campus, is home to several musical concerts, including those of faculty staff, students, and guest jazz, folk and classical artists. Trinity Park is within walking distance to the shops and restaurants on Ninth Street and is just down the street from Northgate and Downtown Durham.
Downtown Durham
Downtown Durham is quickly gaining popularity among graduate students, young professionals and even empty-nesters looking for an urban environment in which to live, work, and play. Most people immediately notice the dozens of former tobacco warehouses found throughout the downtown area, a stark reminder of the days when tobacco was king. Even though Durham's economy has moved away from tobacco over the last several decades, we are still very proud of our history. The tobacco warehouses of downtown offer some of the most beautiful, ornate architecture in North Carolina. Several of these treasures have recently found new life redeveloped as retail, office and living space while their historic integrity has been preserved. Within minutes you can be on the campus of Duke University or at the Research Triangle Park, home to some of the most prolific innovation and technology companies in the world.
In the early 1980's, two former tobacco warehouses were converted into Brightleaf Square, today an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, and offices. Brightleaf touched off the redevelopment of several adjoining buildings, further enhancing the options for diners, shoppers and entertainment seekers in the downtown district. In the late 1990's, several tobacco warehouses just down the street from Brightleaf were renovated and turned into the West Village Apartments, an instant hit for those seeking a unique urban setting in which to live. West Village features loft-style apartments with wood floors, exposed brick walls and high ceilings. No two apartments are the same. West Village Phase Two is already underway and is set to add more loft space, retail and restaurants.
Located in the heart of Downtown Durham, the American Tobacco Historic District features amenities such as a waterfall, amphitheatre, restaurants, a YMCA and other shops as well as office space, American Tobacco has set the stage for many of Durham's up and coming redevelopments.
More downtown living is on the way! Developments such as American Tobacco, Diamondview II and III, Durham Kress, Baldwin Lofts and Mangum 506 are already getting a lot of attention for those seeking the urban lifestyle.
Other apartments and condos have emerged within downtown Durham in recent years as well, including several along West Main Street.
When it comes to entertainment, there is no shortage of it in Downtown Durham. In addition to Brightleaf Square and the many restaurants and bars that surround it, the beautifully restored 1926 Carolina Theatre in the heart of downtown offers cinema, performing arts, and several film festivals that attract thousands of people from both near and far. Downtown is also the home of the Durham Bulls, America's favorite minor-league baseball team.
In 2001, the Bulls (the minor league affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays) broke their all-time attendance record with over 500,000 fans coming to the ballpark! Bulls games offer some of the most family-friendly entertainment in the Triangle.
Each September, the Durham Arts Council hosts Centerfest, an outdoor festival featuring 125 artists and craftsmen from several states, as well as performers and food vendors in the center of downtown. These entertainment options, as well as countless others, truly make Downtown Durham an exciting place to be.
Great things are happening in Downtown Durham! Check out the update Downtown Master Plan.
Duke Forest
Central Durham also offers contemporary and ranch style homes nestled in the wooded areas surrounding Duke University. Several homes abut the Duke University Golf Course, a public course on the property of the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club. The course also features a 3-mile cross-country running trail, popular among visitors and residents in the area. A short distance away along the western edge of Durham County lies the 7,900-acre Duke Forest. The forest has been managed for research and teaching purposes since the early 1930s but is open to the public for recreational use. Its five major divisions and several smaller tracts are fully accessible through a network of roads and fire trails.
Looking for luxury loft living? Check out the Lofts at Lakeview, a four-story building with 351 units that opened in 2005. An example of true luxury urban loft-apartment living, the open and expansive floor plans include gourmet kitchens and luxury bathrooms. The fitness club, the private screening room with surround sound and stadium seating, and the pool are just what residents can expect here.
Southern Durham - rapidly growing suburban area, close to Research Triangle Park and Chapel Hill, Streets at Southpoint Mall
Southern Durham has seen the most rapid growth in the county over the last decade. Several new housing communities have been developed in the area offering a variety of home styles. Older, more established communities can also be found in this section of town. Southern Durham offers convenient access to the Research Triangle Park, where over 45,000 people are employed by 137 research-based companies. It is just a short drive from Duke University and is in close proximity to the town of Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina. In March of 2002, The Streets at Southpoint, a regional shopping mall with over 150 stores, opened its doors to the public. The mall includes such anchor tenants as Macy's, Hudson Belk, Sears, JC Penney and the only Nordstrom in North Carolina, as well as a 16-screen movie theater. A few of Southern Durham's most prominent communities are described below.
Hope Valley
Hope Valley was Durham's first full-fledged country club suburb, developed around an 18-hole golf course in the late 1920's. Traces of the farms that occupied the land in the 19th Century remain around the suburban landscape, developed by the Mebane Company to attract the successful young professionals who were thriving with Durham's tobacco, textile, and health care industries. The golf course was designed to allow the most houses to face it. The homes of Hope Valley are an eclectic mix of revival styles popular in the 1920's and 1930's, including Tudor, English Cottage, Colonial, Norman Provincial, and Spanish. Winding narrow roads conforming to the hilly terrain weave their way throughout the neighborhood.
Hope Valley Farms
Hope Valley Farms is a relatively new community in Southwest Durham that offers convenient access to RTP and area shopping. Three distinctive neighborhoods offer homes ranging from the $190's to the $300's, as well as a town home community from the $100's. Hope Valley Farms boasts several outdoor recreational facilities such as a playground, walking paths, lighted clay tennis courts, and a competition-sized pool, as well as a club house offering classes and other activities.
Woodcroft
This community in Southwest Durham consists of several neighborhoods of single family homes, townhouses, condos and apartments. Woodcroft is a short drive from Research Triangle Park, Duke , and UNC-Chapel Hill. On its western end, the community is anchored by the Woodcroft Shopping Center, which has several popular Durham restaurants. The Streets at Southpoint Mall is also located nearby. The well-landscaped and shady Woodcroft Parkway runs through the community and is a favorite among walkers and joggers. Woodcroft has done a successful job in preserving many of the tall pines and oaks that make North Carolina such an attractive place.
