Moved to Twitter

I found that most of the stories relevant to this blog can be tweeted rather than posted, which is why I am moving all  the new content to my twitter feed at @ninthstreetwatc [no h is not a typo]. The posts on this blog will serve as an archive.You can see the   latest tweets on the right hand side of this page.

                                                       Thank you.

City to Stabilize Ellerbee Creek Culvert on W. Knox Street

It looks like the City is finally getting to work on a much needed stabilization project to repair and reinforce the culvert that carries Ellerbee Creek under W. Knox Street. For more detailed information, please see the public works page devoted to this project. According to the bid documents, the project will entail soil stabilization by means of high density polyurethane system. The estimated date of construction is mid-September.


View Larger Map

The the image detailing the precise location of the project and the work expected to be performed is after the break.

Hurry-up to sign up for the Durham Home Energy Savings Program

According to the press-release reprinted after the break, there are still some spots left for homeowners to sign-up for the Durham's Energy Savings Program -an EPA funded initiative that provides homeowners with up to $1600 in funds to weatherize their homes for free or at greatly reduced price.

To qualify, your home must be:
• Located in Durham
• 2,300 square feet or less of heated space
• No unvented gas, propane, oil, or wood appliances in the living space
• No major structural, moisture, or hazardous materials issues
• Rental property must have approval from the landlord and tenants
• Occupants must agree to allow access to energy use data for one year prior and two years after the retrofits
• Occupants or landlords must provide the contractor with the $400 payment at the time of the initial home assessment with the Durham Home Energy Savings Program paying up to an additional $1,600 per house
• Occupants must be available to be home when contractors come to do the work (estimated two visits)
• Occupants must remove contents of attics and/or crawlspaces to allow contractor access to those spaces
• Occupants and landlords must be current on all local taxes

There are about 50 slots left,so hurry and sign-up online. 

Durham is named America's #1 Creative Class Metro

If you are a regular reader my blog (thank you!), you probably know that I am not a big fan of rankings of various sorts because so few of them use metrics that shed light on anything other than the publishers motivation to increase click-through rate on their websites. Every now and then, however, there is a ranking that is both methodologically  rigorous and eye-opening.

The latest ranking compiled by the Martin Prosperity Institute and featured on the Atlantic Cities Blog (required daily reading), is of this rarer variety, using the data from the Bureau of Labor Statics to take a look at metro areas with the largest concentrations of the "creative class," defined as professionals in the fields of science and technology, design and architecture, arts, entertainment and media, and healthcare, law, management and education.

 Durham came out on top with 48.4% of its workforce employed as the creative class. This bodes well for our future, as the creative class has been the only meaningful long-term driver of stable middle-class jobs in the U.S. economy in the past decade, and there is little evidence of this trend changing anytime soon. For a much more thorough and in-depth treatment of the creative class and what role it will play in our economic well being, I direct you to the excellent book by Richard Florida, The Rise of the Creative Class.

The full article from the Atlantic is reprinted after the break.

Fourth of July Parade in Watts Hillandale

Despite the sweltering heat and unpredictable weather, the city and the neighborhoods adjacent to the Ninth Street Shopping District will be out in force on Wednesday, July 4th to celebrate the annual Independence Day Parade (now in its 63 year!).

Among the highlights: the parade is led by kids and features flags from all  50 states and many countries and lemonade is generously served, compliments of Watts Grocery.

The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of Club Boulevard and Oakland Avenue (see map below) and will last for approximately an hour and a half. The route will take the revelers and the onlookers from the Center of Club toward Oval Park on Alabama and Woodrow streets

 
View Larger Map . 

To learn more about  the history of this wonderful neighborhood tradition and much more background, read on after the break. 

New Sandwich Place/Butchery coming to the area soon

The Durham Magazine Blog has an interesting article about a two budding entrepreneurs, Katie and Justin Meddis, who have recently moved to the Triangle from California and are looking to start a small organic butchery and sandwich/pastry  shop in Durham. They are calling it "Rose's Meat Market  and Sweet Shop." Between them, the couple has extensive culinary experience and deep appreciation for sustainable agriculture and business practices.

The couple is currently looking at retail space on Ninth Street (the old Magnolia Grill space, anyone?), Watts-Hillandale or Trinity Park. In the meantime, they are doing a series of private dinners where you can check out chops

East Campus Wall gets two access points; creates greater connectivity to Ninth Street

Since the very beginning the relationship between Duke University and Durham has been a complex one, mostly friendly, but sometimes fraught with disagreement and, particularly in the late 80's and early 90's, strained by Durham's rising crime rate. I have often heard long-term residents joke that stone wall ("the Wall") that runs along the perimeter of the East Campus is the physical manifestation of Duke's reluctance to engage with a wider Durham community, and that the University was literally trying to wall itself from the city and regretted not making the wall a bit taller

Photo by Bryan Roth.

This new entrance to East Campus was constructed by the Buchanan Boulevard-Main Street intersection. Duke is adding two entrances for pedestrian traffic. Photo by Bryan Roth.

But this was all in the past. Since early 00's, Duke has emerged as the principal force behind the wholesale reinvention of Durham as a vibrant, diverse, and tolerant place to live and work. And nowhere is this relationship obvious than the widespread popularity of the East Campus Walk,  the 1.5 mile gravel pathway circling the Wall, which has become a magnet for joggers, strollers and walkers. Far from walling itself from the community, Duke's wall and the pathway that runs alongside of it, morphed into a public space.

Until relatively recently, however,  the access to the walkway was constrained by the lack of pedestrian access from Broad and Main streets. The University recently changed that when, taking advantage of the Water Main repair work on Main Street, it added two additional entrances  -- the first changes to the wall in over 30 years -- one at the intersection of Main and Broad Streets, and the other on Main and Buchanan Street. In addition to the existing entrance off Broad and Perry Streets, the West side of the East Campus is far better integrated into the Ninth Street  Shopping District.

While this is indisputably a very positive development, Duke and the City have additional work to do before the East Campus can be said to be truly integrated into its surrounding communities. The most obvious and lacking issue is the lack of sidewalks on the outside of the wall across large portions of Board Street, the entire length of W. Markham Avenue. The need to have such a sidewalk is obvious, as evidenced by a clear walking trail created by students and residents, as they navigate mud, grass, roots, stones and other obstacles.Here is to hoping that it will take Duke less than 30 years to recognize this need and build such a sidewalk.

Read the Duke Today article about the new enterances after the break.

New Proactive Rental Regime Begins in OWD

 A little over a month ago the City of Durham rolled out a new Proactive Rental Inspection Program (PRIP), designed to "proactively identify and remediate rental housing that does not meet the [code and related ordinances]. This program is the implementation of the March 5 resolution of the City Council enacting the PRIP ordinance. As described more fully in a previous post, this represents a significant change in the way the City investigates and enforces violations of the housing code in rental properties.
 

The city has designated several "priority zones," including a significant portion of the OWD and Trinity Park neighborhoods (see map below) in which all rental property owners will undergo periodic inspections to ensure compliance with Durham's Minimal Housing Code. Furthermore, landlords whose property registered three or more housing code violations in the past 12-month period will be required to register their property with the Department of Neighborhood Improvement Services (DIS). 

The trigger for proactive (i.e. unprompted) inspections will be something called "Reasonable Cause", defined as (1) a history of 3 or more violations in 12 months; (2) a complain has been received; (3) there is knowledge of unsafe conditions, or (4) violations of the code are visible from the outside of the property. Both single-family and multifamily buildings will be targeted, with penalties as high as $300 a month, and a maximum penalty of $5,000 for failure to register properties found to have more than 3 code enforcement violations.

This program is long overdue, particularly in the neighborhood like ours, where upward of 50% of all properties are rentals. While most neighborhood landlords have been diligent and conscientious in up-keeping their properties, a few bad apples have cropped up here and there.

Although this program is a great start, several areas for improvement immediately jump to mind:

1. Increase the maximum penalty - given potentially significant costs of repair, some proverbial "slum-lords" may make an economic calculation that it is simply cheaper to pay a $5,000 fine rather than fix up their dilapidated eye sore of a building. To change this calculus, DIS should have the power to fine $5,000 per violation. 
2. Create a publicly searchable database of all properties found to to have three or more code violations in a year, including the fines levied and the business address and telephone number of the registered owner. 

Still, this a step in the right direction, and I hope with time, the program will be revised and strengthened to improve the overall appearance and safety of our neighborhood. The full scope of the program is described in greater detail after the break.

Harris Teeter construction to start late summer; lots of other development to follow

The yesterday's Herald Sun has a good summary of all of the new development coming to Ninth Street, from the new Harris Teeter (which has undergone significant design changes in response to the neighborhood concerns) to renovating the space formerly occupied by George's Garage, and the shops along the west side of Ninth Street, including "Duck Shop" and 701 Ninth Street.

Much of this has been covered by this bog previously, but one significant piece of news is that the developers have secured all of the financing and now seem primed to begin renovations in late summer/early fall.

1. The look of the new Harris Teeter on Ninth Street
2. Redesign drawings for the former George's Garage Building
3. Suggestions for improving Harris Teeter parking lot 

For a look at the proposed designs, see my previous posts above. The full article is reprinted after the break.

Durham Homes Sales Up in May

 The Triangle Multiple Listing Service (TMLS) reports that the Durham Home Sales were up 38% this month compared to the same time last year. As can be seen on the chart below, this continues a positive trend that began in January and continues to accelerate. The Durham market performed better than the region as a whole (up 26%). The median sales price of a home increased by $2,250 from a year ago to $177,250 with the average price of a home at $197,639 (3.5% increase). The days on the market have gone down by 9 from 120 to 111. Finally, in another crucial detail, the months supply of inventory is sharply down from 11.2 months in 2011 to 7.2 months now, a decrease of 35.8%. 

The full breakdown is  embedded after the break

Local Indy's 2012 Best of the Triangle Winners

The Independent Weekly, an alternative Triangle weekly, is famous for many things, including outstanding music and entertainment reporting, groundbreaking investigative pieces and high quality and in-depth local news reporting.

But perhaps one of its most visible features is the "Best of the Triangle" series in which people vote for a broad range of best in everything - from a radio station to a strip club, with restaurants, bakeries, groceries, music stores, and anything-else-you-can-imagine thrown in between. And, as in most years, the Ninth Street and its adjacent area business did not disappoint.

In fact, it is striking how many of "best in the triangle" establishments of all sorts are located within a one-mile radius of Ninth Street. From a music venue to a pool bar, a jeweler to a fabric store, a dance studio, top-notch french food, fantastic breakfast, sea food, coffee shop, bookstore, B&B, cake-maker, and frozen desert, one cannot walk more than a few feet without bumping into an establishment of one sort or another that has been voted Best of the Triangle.

A full list, clocking at a staggering 23 different categories of best in the Triangle Ninth Street businesses is after the break.

City studies parking situation on Ninth Street; can new parking deck be in the works?

In the last year I have covered many planned construction and development projects around Ninth Street, including the controversial Harris Teeter, the Circle Nine apartments, the renovation of the space formerly occupied by George's Garage, and other miscellaneous projects. 

But while growth -- smart or otherwise -- is on the way, questions have been raised by local businesses and residents alike about the future of Ninth Street Shopping District, particularly in light of the attention the newly revitalized downtown Durham has grabbed in the imagination of the local leaders and the national media.

One such concern, expressed very clearly by several business owners of Ninth Street establishments, as well as  the commenters to this WRAL article about Ninth Street, is the lack of parking. Aside from street parking, shoppers can park at a city-leased lot directly across the street the Regulator Bookshop Shop. There are also some parking lots on Hillsborough Road and on Iredell St. but no clear guide or path to find parking for a person who is not familiar with the area. 

So it was with some interest that I have recently learned that the City Council has recently commissioned a comprehensive parking study for Ninth Street and Downtown, retaining Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to provide professional consultant services on the situation. 

If, as I suspect, the consultants determine that there is a lack of sufficient parking to attract additional shoppers to Ninth Street, the most logical remedy would be to build a well-designed and unobtrusive parking deck somewhere in the strip, perhaps replacing the surface parking lot. If designed and built correctly - this new parking deck can be a boon for business, giving new shoppers an easy and clearly demarcated way to park without subtracting from the overall pedestrian and small-town feel of the area. 

Several Ninth Street Restaraunts Featured in the New York Post

A few days ago, the New York Post has published a fairly extensive article  detailing culinary delights of the Triangle, with Durham restaurants getting banner treatment. Two-- or three, if you count the recently closed Magnolia Grill -- of the neighborhood restaurants were featured: Vin Rouge and Watts Grocery. The write commented on both the inventiveness of the food, the high quality of the ingredients, and the atmosphere.


The entire article is reprinted after the break.

New tenants for 721 Broad Street

Anyone driving down Broad Street will be hard-pressed to overlook a massive renovation that is taking place at 721 Broad Street, a former one-story building occupied by Triumph, a mental health counseling agency, that has now morphed into a striking two-story building with the help of BLOK architecture and its principal, Sasha Berghausen.

Well, it looks like the renovations are almost over and several new tenants are moving into the building. First, Sasha reports that a boutique shop will be occupying the front of the building. Next, American Dance Festival will be moving its offices into the building, together with a new bakery concept -- allegedly called Hummingbird -- the brainchild of Army Tornquist of Watts Street Grocery. And, finally, the Outsiders Gallery is growing and will be adding a second location, dubbed "Outsiders Too," projected to open on August 1. (While on the subject of Outsiders, check out their appeal for funds to refurbish the old space and add to the new space here)

Adding to the excitement, the former parking lot between 721 Broad and Nataraja Healing Arts will be turned into an outside patio and exercise deck.  Read more about this project here.

It is amazing how just one building has the potential to transform a formerly hum-drum stretch of Broad street into a vibrant community space!

Triangle Week is Back!

 Next week the Triangle Week returns in full force to Durham the week of June 4-10. A total of 19 Durham restaurants are participating, providing you with the opportunity to try out new food at fixed prices. 

As before, most, although not all, participating restaurantswill have a $15 lunch menu and $20-30 dinner menus, excluding drinks, tax and tips.Among local eateries, be sure to check out:

•  Blue Seafood and Bar
•  Metro 8 Steakhouse 
•  Parizade 
•  Vin Rouge 
• Watts Grocery.

The full list of all participating restaurants is available here.

New Tenant for the space of Magnolia Grill?

This Thursday, May 31, Magnolia Grill will close its doors forever. People have been literally lining up outside the door to get their last taste of the amazing food served there for over 25 years by Ben and Karen Barker. But time does not stop for anyone and, following Barker's decision to retire, the News and Record reports that Tom Ferguson of Durham Catering Co. and Only Burger Fame may be eying the space to launch his new venture - Rise, a doughnut and biscuit restaurant.

According to the article, Tom's concept is similar to restaurants in Portland and New York that serve gourmet sweet and savory treats using organic, high quality ingredients.  In addition to Magnolia Grill space, Tom is reportedly looking at space on Foster Street, smack in the middle of Durham's hottest DYI district.

Here is hoping that he chooses Ninth Street! First, the location is hard to beat, convenient as it is to most of Ninth Street restaurants and bars. And, of course, the legendary reputation of Magnolia Grill is sure to give this new restaurant a patina of class and authenticity he would be hard-pressed to find in a converted garage. Plus, would Tom be stepping on Monuts Donuts turf?

The full N&O article is reprinted after the break.

Bike Buddies Kickoff

*This post is authored by Casey Collins

Hello neighbor.  It’s very nice to meet you.  Won’t you join me for a bike ride?

“What?” say you.  You mean that no one has ever asked you this question out on the street?  Well, now someone is asking you.  Come join your neighbors on Tuesday, May 29^th, 7:00 PM at Oval Park to kick off the Durham “Biking Buddies” program!

We’re looking for any and all potential bike riders who are interested in bike commuting in Durham.  Maybe you’ve been riding for years, maybe you ride occasionally, or maybe you haven’t even looked at a bicycle since you were twelve years old – it doesn’t matter, because we can get you started riding to work, riding for errands, taking your children to school, and any other thing you can do.

And no, this will not be some intimidating spandex-clad racing crowd looking down well-tanned noses – we’re just folks who want to share our experiences with cycling for utility.  We think that once you start biking around town, you’ll see why we prefer it over other modes of transportation.  Yes, it’s environmentally friendly.  Yes, it saves you money.  But most of all, it is fun.

Watts-Hillandale, you’re in.  Old West Durham, you too.  Come on Cleveland-Holloway. Woodcroft – hop on the American Tobacco Trail and come on up.  Forest Hills, you can come, but you have to swing by Nana’s and pick us up some delicious comestibles.  DukePark?  Yes, but you should swing down by Fullsteam to bring some beer.  

One of our primary goals will be to team up groups of neighbors who may commute to similar locales, so that experienced bike commuters can share knowledge and experience with those just getting started.  Durham has commuters riding to downtown, Duke, SE Durham, RTP, Chapel Hill, and most anywhere you can find to ride on two wheels.  

At our kickoff meeting, we’ll discuss:

• The basics – acquiring a bicycle and getting started
•   Safety -  helmets, lights, riding with traffic, road etiquette
•   Commuting – origins/destinations, available routes, parking/racks, carrying equipment and clothes (“How do I commute by bike without walking into my morning meeting all sweaty?”)
• Utility – biking for errands, grocery shopping, riding the TTA with your bus, etc.
•  Biking for families – hauling children, specific safety items
• Knowledge base – communicating routes, using social media for sharing ride information, etc.

·         Any other questions that you’d like to ask  

We’ll get you moving, and all you have to do is show up!  Ii the meantime, peruse these links for existing cycling resources in Durham:

Local Shops:

·         Tip-Top Cycles (http://tiptopcycles.com/)

·         Durham Cycles (http://www.durhamcycles.com/

·         Seven Star Cycles (http://www.sevenstarscycles.com/)

·         The Bicycle Chain (http://thebicyclechain.com/)

·         Durham Bike Co-Op (http://durhambikecoop.org/)

Maps and Community:

·         American Tobacco Trail (http://www.triangletrails.org/ATT.HTM)

·         Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (http://www.bikewalkdurham.org/index.html)
·     Durham Bicycle Coalition (https://www.facebook.com/durhambicyclecoalition)

·         Bike Duke (http://bikeduke.com/)

·         Bike Commuting in RTP (http://www.trilug.org/~chilcote/Bike/rtp-bicycle-commute-FAQ.html#Q1)

·         Durham’s Comprehensive Bicycle Plan (maps & more) (http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/transportation/bike_plan.cfm)

Anyone interested in attending is welcome – however, a response indicating your attendance is appreciated – RSVP to casey.collins@duke.edu