A comprehensive guide to the more than 30 development projects that are underway in and around downtown Durham
Compiled By Taylor Motley, Kate Loeffel & Renee Ambroso | Map By Kevin Brown
1) TRINITY PARK TOWNHOMES, 114 Watts St.
– Expected completion spring 2027
– 20 three-story townhomes with brick facade
– 2,300-2,500 square feet, plus garages
2) BRIGHTLEAF DISTRICT
Includes historic Brightleaf Square at 905 W. Main St., 910-914 W. Main St., 815 W. Morgan St., 810 W. Peabody St. and 112 S. Duke St. In total, the neighborhood aggregation is approx. 220,000 square feet of mixed-use space. – Charlotte-based Asana Partners purchased the property in late 2019. Over the past year, Brightleaf Square has welcomed several new tenants, including Raleigh based Afters Dessert Bar and fitness studio FlowCorps. Most recently, floral design boutique Mood Fleuriste opened its doors, adding a distinctive touch to the district’s evolving retail mix. Natural wine shop and bar Sol House Wines is slated to open soon. These newcomers join Emmy Squared Pizza, Known for its Detroit-style pies, Nikos, an authentic Greek dining experience by restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias, and Fonda Lupita, a Mexican eatery.
3) THE GREGSON, 204 S. Gregson St.
– Developer is Baltimore-based real estate company Wexford Science & Technology, which also developed The Chesterfield building – Nine levels with 218,000 square feet of state-of-the-art lab and office space
– On-site multi-level parking garage
– Currently in predevelopment, expected delivery TBD
4) FORMER DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, 505 W. Chapel Hill St.
– 4-acre parcel owned by the City of Durham
– Originally built in the 1950s as offices for Home Security Life Insurance Company and most recently occupied by the Durham Police Department, the building became vacant in late 2019
– The city is partnering with Laurel Street Residential to deliver 80 units of affordable rental housing at the site. The developer is expected to submit an application to the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency in January 2027 for an allocation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Should the project receive an allocation, construction could begin as early as mid-2028 and be completed by 2029.
– In addition to ground leasing the land, the city is providing up to $6.3 million in gap funding to support the project.
– The developer is expected to submit an application to the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency in January 2027 for an allocation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Should the project receive an allocation, construction could begin as early as mid-2028 and be completed by 2029.
5) ARBOR VISTA, 512 Gordon St.
– 1-3 bedroom townhomes, 1,251-2,287 square feet
– Four distinctive floor plans crafted for downtown living, with rooftop terraces, 1-2 car garages, and 10-foot ceilings in the main living space, plus home offices and/or flex spaces in every home as well as features like quartz countertops, modern cabinetry with a stylish range hood, premium KitchenAid, floating bathroom vanities and LVP flooring throughout
– Features first urban pedestrian malls in the state
– Starting in the mid $400,000s; homes available for move-in now
6) ELM HILL 518 Morehead Ave.
– Project by New York developers Alchemy Properties and Takamatsu Construction Group, with architecture and design by ISG, and sales by Urban Durham Realty
– Townhome-style condominiums, offering two- to four-bedroom homes with versatile flex spaces ideal for a bonus room or home office; each home features functional layouts, high-end finishes and a private rooftop terrace
– Community amenities include a clubhouse with a state-of-the-art fitness area and lounge/coworking spaces, along with a fenced dog run and landscaped greenspaces throughout the neighborhood
– Construction underway with first closings anticipated in summer 2027
7) MARKET DISTRICT AT AMERICAN TOBACCO CAMPUS – PHASE 1, 601 Willard St.
– Former site of University Ford
Development by CBC Real Estate, a division of Capitol Broadcasting Company, and Hines in partnership with Affinius Capital
– 700,000-square-foot mixed-use project on 8 acres bordering the west side of American Tobacco Campus
– 350,000 square feet of leasable space in two Hines T3 (Timber, Transit and Technology) creative office buildings; 350 multifamily units in a 14-story, high- rise residential building; and 100,000 square feet of experiential retail, like a theater/draft house. prepared foods grocer, shops and restaurants
– Activated central plaza and intimate pedestrian alleyways programmed with events and experiences
– No definitive construction start date at this time
8) THE NOVUS, 115 Morris St.
– Close to two acres of land
– Existing South Bank building was demolished and construction is underway
– Austin Lawrence Partners project that will be constructed in two phases: Phase 1 will encompass a mixed-use 27-story high-rise with a residential portion to include 54 condominiums with layouts of up to five bedrooms; 188 apartments; 450 parking spaces
– Amenities include an outdoor movie theater, resort-style pool with accompanying spa pools, golf simulators, coworking space and expansive indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces plus city views through floor-to-ceiling glass, spacious private balconies, chef-appointed kitchens and modern bathrooms.
– Condominiums are more than 90% sold, and the apartments are nearly 75% leased. The public parking deck is also open.
– Ground-floor retail totaling nearly 23,000 square feet; first tenants include local cycling studio Revel and Pilates studio Solidcore, with Dose Yoga + Smoothie Bar slated to open, as of press time, in fall 2026, with other prospective food and beverage tenants in letter of intent negotiations
– Global Holdings Management Group will be evaluating development of an additional phase of the project.
9) DOWNTOWN DURHAM YMCA, Center of Blackwell and W. Pettigrew Streets
– 0.79-acre site
– 65,000 square feet
– Estimated cost of $46 million
– YMCA of the Triangle acquired the property from CBC Real Estate in September 2025 and selected Little Diversified Architectural Consulting as the architect and Thomas & Hutton as the civil engineer in late January 2026.
– Multiple rooftop terraces with outdoor fitness areas, an indoor pool, basketball court, indoor track, group fitness studios, and dedicated space for youth and family programs
– Planned features include multiple rooftop terraces with outdoor fitness areas, an aquatics center, an indoor track, a full basketball court, group fitness studios, dedicated youth and teen spaces, health and wellness programs, and clinical space for community health services.
– 80 on-site parking spaces and additional reserved spaces nearby
– Construction slates to begin fall 2027, with doors opening early 2029
10) KRESS CONDOMINIUMS, 162 W. Ramseur St.
– Corner of West Ramseur and South Mangum streets, current site of a 0.15-acre parking lot next to the historic Kress building
– Development by Raleigh-based real estate firms White Oak Properties and CityPlat
– Six-story building with 26 residential units, including rooftop units, all with balconies
– 2,000 square feet of ground-level retail
– No definitive construction start date at this time
– First-floor suites are currently occupied by High Dive and Strike Martial Arts
11) THE JAMES, 320 W. Morgan St.
– 312 mixed-use apartment units, 32-story tower
– 13,000 square feet of retail space
– Craig Davis Properties project
– In planning stages
12) DURHAM INNOVATION DISTRICT
Total area: 1.8 million square feet, 27 acres, bordered by Duke Street, Morgan Street, West Corporation Street and Roney Street
– 200 Morris – Duke Clinical Research Institute leases entire building; Google is a subtenant in the building; Virge Yoga opened in early 2025; 2,780 square feet of retail space is available.
– 300 Morris – Office, lab and retail nearly fully leased. Retail tenants include Narrative Coffee Company and Flying Bull Brewery & Restaurant. Gallery art rotation in the lobby in partnership with Durham Art Guild. Hoofprint Biome leases lab space in the building.
– Morris Green Park – at the corner of Morris Street & Fernway Avenue; offers public green space and a dog park.Enjoy a food truck and live music on Third Thursdays during lunch from March through October
– Public parking garage on Roney Street
– Courtyard between 200 & 300 Morris buildings includes seating, signature lighting, Wi-Fi, water features and lawn games. Public art includes Raleigh artist Matt McConnell’s 100-foot sculpture and Charlotte artist Sharon Dowell’s two-part series along Morris Street. Raleigh artist Anna Payne Rogers Previtte’s mural is showcased in the 300 Morris lobby.
– Future phases will include more than 180,000 square feet of lab & office space
13) WYE JUNCTION, 701 Washington St.
– Adaptive-reuse mixed-use development on the former Erwin Oil site, a landmark Durham oil distribution facility dating to 1937
– 310 residential units across two buildings on 5.2 acres; a signature open-air pedestrian bridge connects the two structures; 400+ parking spaces
– Architecture and interiors by Cline; developed by Ram Realty; built by Thomas Construction Group
– 7,791 square feet of retail space in new construction, activating the street and shared pedestrian plaza; approximately 18,500 square feet in existing historic garage building, Atomic Clock Brewing Co., M Hansik, Timber Pizza Co. and Bull City Running Co. currently occupy retail space
– 4,677 square feet of public gathering space, including shaded outdoor seating and a future pocket park
– Completed in 2026
14) DURHAM RAIL TRAIL, Abandoned Norfolk and Southern rail bed
–1.8 mile multi-use trail that reclaims a portion of unused railroad tracks for walking and biking from north Durham to downtown.
– City staff engaged historically underrepresented communities in alignment with the city’s Equitable Community Engagement Blueprint
– Construction estimated to begin in winter 2027; trail expected to open summer 2028
– An alignment for the basic trail has been set, which includes generous path widths and materials, neighborhood connections and end points, and specific elements for roadway crossings.
– Trail will have proximity to the American Tobacco Trail as well as major transportation nodes, such as the Amtrak Station and Durham Station.
15) THE GEORGE, 512 W. Geer St.
– Boutique condominium from Raleigh-based Beacon Street Development
– Seven-story building with 34 custom residences for sale, featuring one-, two- and three-bedroom homes
– Historically inspired exterior design, with classic, crisp interiors
– Ground-floor retail and building amenities including an owner’s retreat and fitness center
– Estimated completion date is end of 2027
– “Our goal was to create a classically inspired building with the rich architectural character found throughout downtown, while offering highly customized, luxurious residences with exceptional views overlooking the Historic Durham Athletic Park and downtown.” – Mary Rae Hunter at Urban Durham Realty
16) THE CALLISTA, 802 Washington St.
– Currently undergoing a required resubmittal process with the City of Durham for planning and permitting
– Six-story, four unit project: Three 2,600-square-foot, single-story flats (two or three bedrooms) and a two-story penthouse with a roof deck that is already presold
– $1.1 Million+
– Durham Performing Arts Center architect Phil Szostak of Szostak Design
– Construction anticipated to begin early 2026
17) GEERHOUSE, 620 Foster St.
– 2.2-acre site near Durham Central Park
– Phase 1 to include 220 new multifamily rental units, averaging 785 square feet (range from 566 to 1,310 square feet) with a unit mix of 20% studio units, 50% one-bedroom units and 30% two-bedroom units
– Amenities include: Landscaped courtyard with water feature, major amenity rooms with west-facing terrace overlooking the historic Durham Athletic Park, ample garage parking and linear park through the site connecting Foster Street to Rigsbee Avenue
– Project includes an expanded Motorco Music Hall, plus 13,000 square feet of new retail space. Tataco, a Mexican eatery by James Beard Award-nominated chef Oscar Diaz, Nectar Cafe, Steelo Salon, Nanny Goat Market and Uwa Sushi all opened
in a portion of the first floor.
– First units were delivered in October 2024 and have been leased
– Phase 2 is in planning stages and will feature 260 units and 12,500 square feet of new retail. The project will be a similar scale to GeerHouse and will complete the pedestrian linear park through the block.
18) THE RHYTH 715 Rigsbee Ave.
– Mixed-use project including 262 rental apartment units and 11,500-square-feet of new retail
– Ground floor of the Rigsbee Avenue and Foster Street sides features café-style retail with outdoor dining plazas, while the retail lining the cross-block linear park shared by GeerHouse will complete that promenade
– Project partners include Studio Twenty Seven Architecture, Cline Design, Thomas and Hutton, and John Moriarty & Associates
– No groundbreaking date set as of press time; completion will be approximately two years after start
19) NORTH & BROADWAY, 120 Broadway St.
– A Lock7 Development of 24 18- and 20-foot wide townhomes
– Builder is Concept 8; sales and marketing is handled by Chappell [Powered by Compass]
– Over 75% sold (19 of 24 units closed)
– Features include roof terraces in all units; one- and two-car garages in all units; large windows (store-front glass on some units); multiple flex spaces in some units; and skyline views in some units
20) 106 BROADWAY
– Joint venture of Center Studio Architecture, White Oak Properties and Chris McGee
– 14 modern two-bedroom, 1,028-square-foot townhomes starting at $499,000; construction slated to begin early 2026
– Private outdoor balconies off top floor living rooms with soaring ceilings + a one-car garage with flex room
– Construction slated to begin early 2027
– Taking contracts now, sold by Urban Durham Realty
21) THE WILLOW DURHAM, 601 N. Roxboro St.
– Two five-story buildings, constructed in two phases
– Seven condominiums per building; plans include two- and three-bedroom units of 1,855 square feet, 2,410 square feet and 3,320 square feet; all include a flex room
– South building (Phase 1), completed Q1 2025, has one move-in-ready, three-bedroom unit available, listed at $1.295 million
– North building (Phase 2) is scheduled for completion Q2 2027, with three three-bedroom units and one
two-bedroom unit still available
– Ground-floor garage and services areas totaling 7,000 square feet per building
– Amenities: two to three balconies per unit, dedicated laundry room in each condo, modern mail room with refrigerated delivery, guaranteed parking space per unit; dedicated first-story storage for each unit
– Units start at $1.1 million
– Developed by Lorient Homes and sold by Clara Harrison with Inhabit Real Estate
22) DILLARD CO-LIVING, 218 N. Dillard St.
– 19 co-living townhomes, each with five private suites and shared kitchen/laundry
– Affordable rents, all utilities included, and flexible lease terms
– Leasing now at communityroomrental.com
23) 300 & 500 E. MAIN ST. APARTMENTS
Mixed-use buildings with total of 305 affordable residential apartments, 248 market-rate apartments, 16,500 square feet of commercial space and more than 1,600 parking spaces
300 E. Main Street.
– Includes a roughly 753-space parking deck at 115 N. Queen St. with 110 affordable housing units at Renegade, located at 335 E. Main St., which serve households making 30%-80% AMl with a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units
– 3,900 square feet of commercial space and a 10,499-square-foot child care location with two pre-K classrooms, allowing Durham County to serve children from birth to 5 years old; Durham County continues to work with Early Years (formerly known as Child Care Services Association) to finalize the request for applications to get a child care operator on board
– Queen Street side of the building includes a structural public art installation that also serves as a screen wall for the parking deck
– Construction of the parking deck is complete and currently operational
– Affordable housing is complete, with leasing currently underway; occupancy began early September 2025
500 E. Main Street
– Redevelopment includes a parking garage with approximately 847 spaces along with 195 affordable housing units at Revive, serving households making 30%-80% AMI with a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units along Ramseur Street
– Includes Maizon Durham, 248 market-rate apartments along Main Street handled by Florida- based developer ZOM Living, which has an office in Raleigh, with a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments (ranging in size from 555 to 1,450 square feet) and 13,000 square feet of street-level retail space that includes plans for an anchor tenant and a cafe
– A linear park between the two buildings will provide a landscaped pedestrian walkway connecting South Dillard Street and South Elizabeth Street
– Parking deck is complete; opened in August 2025
– Market-rate housing units are complete and currently available for leasing
– Affordable housing construction began in June 2025 with an anticipated completion in Q2 2027
24) EMBLEM APARTMENTS 519 E. Main St
– 148-unit, $40 million project; fourth and final phase of Liberty Street/519 E. Main St. redevelopment
– Mixed-income development offering studio, oneand two-bedroom apartment homes, along with commercial and retail space
– Durham Housing Authority co-developing property with Laurel Street Residential
– Construction expected to begin by end of 2026
25) CAMDEN DURHAM, 425 S. Roxboro St.
– 420 apartments; average unit size around 900 square feet; most units (about 75%) will be either studios or one-bedrooms, with the remainder two-bedrooms
– A budgeted cost of $145 million
– Construction completed Q4 2024
– 6,000 square feet of retail space, no current tenants leased
26) HERITAGE SQUARE, 606 Fayetteville St., 401 E. Lakewood Ave.
– Joint venture among national development firms Sterling Bay, Acram Group and Harrison Street to create Multistory Class A office, purpose-built laboratory space and residential units on a 10-acre site located in the Hayti District
27) THE VILLAGES OF HAYTI, 1103 Merrick St.
– 252-unit, $80.8 million project: first phase of Fayette Place redevelopment
– Mixed-income development that includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes for individuals and families.
– Building amenities include a multipurpose room, fitness center, computer lab, playground, laundry facility and covered picnic area.
– Durham Housing Authority co-developed property with Durham Community Partners Construction will complete in spring 2028
28) BORDEN BRICK II, 618 Ramseur St.
Four tenants, which include Peace & Saint, an upscale hookah and cocktail bar, and Vida Dulce, an ice cream and dessert shop
29) STRIDE APARTMENTS (FORMERLY DILLARD STREET APARTMENTS), 540 Liberty St.
– Mixed-income development that includes 146 affordable and market rate apartment homes; third phase of Liberty Street/519 E. Main Street redevelopment
– Durham Housing Authority co-developing the property with Laurel Street Residential
– Construction on the first 48 units will be completed in fall 2026; the remaining 98 units will be delivered mid 2027
A pocket park and community center will be built as part of this phase, which will offer a community room, fitness center, computer lab, playground and outdoor seating
30) VANGUARD APARTMENTS, 544 Liberty St.
– 72-unit, $23.9 million project; first phase of Liberty Street/519 E. Main St. redevelopment
– Mixed-income development that includes one:, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes tor individuals and families. Building amenities include storage lockers, a multipurpose room, fitness center, computer lab, playground and outdoor picnic space
– Durham Housing Authority co-developed the property with its instrumentality, Development
Ventures Inc., as well as Laurel Street Residential
– Construction completed in May 2025, and the building is fully leased
32) CONVERGE (FORMERLY COMMERCE STREET APARTMENTS, 135 & 143 Commerce St.
– 172-unit, $56.6 million project; second phase of Liberty Street/519 E. Main Street redevelopment
– Mixed-income development that includes one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartment homes; 88 of the units will be reserved for older adults, while 84 will be available to individuals and families of all ages
– Durham Housing Authority co-developing the property with Laurel Street Residential
– Construction completion estimated in fall 2026
33) GOLDEN BELT CAMPUS, 800 Taylor St., 807 E. Main St.
– Mixed-use: adaptive re-use renovation
– 320,000 square feet of rentable space
– LRC Properties and Alliance Architecture renovated Mill No. 1 and have welcomed occupants including, but not limited to: 25 artist studios, Couple and Stein, Mettlesome, Durham Art Guild, Hi-Wire Brewing, WillowTree, Two Roosters Ice Cream, Cugino Forno, MetaMetrics, Urban Tails Veterinary Hospital, Progressive Companies and The Tipsy Bull.
– The Mill Stage features free music programming during the summer in conjunction with Third Friday Art Walk each month.
– A trellis walkway connects Mill No. 1 to the Golden Belt side of campus, which includes 37 residential lofts, office and lab space, and retail tenants such as Moshi Moshi Salon, The Cotton Room/Belt Line Station, Dogstar Tattoo Company, Empower Dance, Tribal Fit and Yaya Tea.
