[UPDATED 11/13/2024] Brickworks Project Goes Before Durham Planning Commission

UPDATE 11/13/2024: The Durham Planning Commission voted to send the Brickworks project forward to the City Council with a favorable recommendation. A single board member, Kari Wouk, opposed sending it forward. Patrick Byker, an attorney representing Charlotte-based developer Spacecraft, assured the board that another neighborhood meeting will be scheduled with improved outreach after commissioners raised concerns about residents of nearby rental properties not knowing about such a large project coming their way.

An 1,880-unit residential project with as much as 49,500 square feet of non-residential use called The Brickworks, between Angier Avenue and Interstate 885, is on the agenda for consideration on Tuesday by the Durham Planning Commission.

The project plan, submitted by Dan Jewell of Thomas & Hutton, would convert more than 95 acres from industrial, industrial light, and residential urban to planned development residential. Brickworks would include at least 100 apartments, and five of those would be set aside as affordable housing at an average 60% AMI.

Once built, it is projected that Brickworks could add 158 students to Y.E. Smith Elementary School, 63 at Brogden Middle School, and 95 at Riverside High School.

Planning documents show that, currently, about 923 vehicle trips per day use Angier Avenue in that area. Under the proposed designation, 13,755 vehicle trips are expected.

Potential roadway improvements include:

• Building an exclusive westbound right-turn lane on East End Avenue and making an exclusive southbound left-turn lane on Angier Avenue.
• Constructing a roundabout at the entrance to the site on Angier Avenue.
• Adding an exclusive eastbound left-turn lane at East End and Rowena avenues.
• Putting an all-way stop at East Pettigrew and South Briggs avenues.

The staff conclusion states:

“While the proposal sets aside a significant amount of environmentally sensitive land from development, and commits to a maximum impervious surface of 24%, there would be up to five stream crossings and one wetland crossing under the proposed development plan. Via the stub out to Carr Road, and access to East End Avenue and Angier Avenue, the site would be able to distribute vehicular traffic to lessen congestion effects. Furthermore, with existing transit service on the west side of the site, well-designed pedestrian infrastructure would provide easy access to bus service.”

The commission also will consider a zoning change for about six acres on Pickett Road for a multifamily development of as many as 140 units, with 14 units set aside as affordable housing.

The Planning Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. in the council chamber on the first floor of City Hall in downtown Durham.

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