While the last-minute withdrawal of a rezoning request for the Heritage Square life sciences campus in Durham came as a surprise to many, including sitting council members, the divisiveness of the project did not.
Why it matters: With so much growth and construction hitting the Triangle, several high-profile projects have garnered attention from neighbors and activists wishing to see their sizes scaled back.
- It’s giving city councils a lot to consider as they navigate a population that continues to surge, placing more demand on housing and infrastructure.
Here are some notable projects that still need to win approval from city councils in the Triangle:
Heritage Square
The Heritage Square project in downtown Durham, which the Chicago developer Sterling Bay envisioned adding a life sciences campus and apartments on an abandoned strip mall, was one of the most hotly anticipated council meetings of the year.
- The property, which Sterling Bay paid $62 million for in 2022, sits on the edge of the historically Black majority Hayti neighborhood. Members of the community raised concerns that it would raise property values and lead to displacement.
Zoom in: The developer spent the past three years meeting with community members and was offering $2.3 million in contributions, including scholarship funds for N.C. Central and affordable retail space for local vendors.
Between the lines: While it remains unclear why Sterling Bay pulled the request at the last minute — the company declined to comment in-depth — several city council members facing reelection this fall expressed concerns.
- The market for life science space has also slowed significantly in recent years.
What’s next: Because Sterling Bay officially withdrew its request before a vote took place, the developer will need to wait at least six months before resubmitting any rezoning to the city.
- It can also be built without a rezoning, but the developer said it needed more height because of issues with the bedrock that made building underground parking more expensive.
Northgate Mall
Northgate Mall in Durham has been closed and empty for five years, and it remains to be seen what will ultimately be built on the property…