SoDu Week in Review - Jan. 18, 2025

Planning Commission Opposes Sheffield Farms

The Durham Planning Commission voted against recommending approval for a scaled-down M/I Homes development along Farrington Mill Road.

Sheffield Farms, which would bring 702 single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments to southwest Durham, previously had been slated for 950 residential units.

Sheffield Farms would involve 218.5 acres at 8422 Farrington Mill Rd. and would include the residential units as well as 5,000 square feet of retail space. The developer also planned to convey about 2.5 acres containing some old building sites, including a log slave quarter outbuilding on a pre-Civil War farm for historical preservation. Preservation Durham in July 2024 sent a letter to M/I Homes to express interest in accepting the parcel as “a rare artifact of rural Durham County.”

The project's not dead yet, though. Next, Sheffield Farms could go to the Durham City Council for consideration. Not date set for that meeting yet.

New Cava Opens in Southpoint

Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant Cava opened its new location in Renaissance Village. It takes over the old Harvest 18 spot, offering salads, pitas, and dips. The restaurant expects to employ between 25 and 40 people. It's located at 8128 Renaissance Pkwy., No. 114. Hours are 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Hope Valley Community Comes Through with Winter Gear

Among the concerns Hope Valley Elementary School families have about the new family responsibility or "no-bus" zones that go into effect Jan. 21: making sure students who must now walk to school have appropriate winter clothes to wear.

The HVE PTA held a drive, calling on the community to contribute clothes for students in need.

The PTA expressed thanks to all who contributed, particularly Epworth United Methodist Church and residents of Lassiter Street. PTA President Jocelyn Dawson indicated that, for now, the school has enough winter gear and doesn't need further clothing donations.

In Other News

• Crayons2Calculators Now Part of DPS Foundation
• Protecting Durham's Immigrant Families: Preparing for Uncertainty in a Second Trump Term
• Chin Page Road Apartments Get Commission Nod
• Burton IB Named Top Magnet School of Excellence
• Durham Man Wins $8M Lottery Prize
• SoDu We Like WEIRD News?
• Seasonal Delights: Fresh Fruits and Vegetables to Enjoy in North Carolina This Winter
• Cancer Death Rates Decline, But Cases Rise Among Women
• [Raising Durham] To Bot or Not to Bot? How AI Became My Ride or Die
• [Nerdspresso] I Spy A Mediocre Espionage Romp in "Argylle"

Milestones

• [In Memoriam] Durham Obituaries - Jan. 14, 2025
• [Welcome to the World] Durham Births - Jan. 2-10, 2025
• [Dearly Beloved] Durham Marriage Applications for Dec. 26, 2024-Jan. 10, 2025

SoDu We Like Podcasts?

• SoDu We Like Local News Episode 5: On Board with Durham Schools' No-Bus Zones?
• SoDu We Like Local History Episode 1: Dr. Bartlett Leonidas Durham.
• Nerdspresso Phase II Episode 2: Still No Flying Cars.

Let's Play

• Crossword: The Dream Perseveres

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