Council Approves Infinity Road Rezoning
This week in Durham: Council approves Infinity Road rezoning, Duke Gardens reopens, and Full Frame returns downtown.
Thursday, April 9 · ☁️ 67°/32°
Council Approves Infinity Road Rezoning
Durham City Council approved the Preserve at Infinity rezoning 4-3 Monday, clearing the way for up to 90 multifamily homes and 5,000 square feet of commercial space at 301 and 401 Infinity Road. The split vote came after residents from nearby neighborhoods warned that more building near North Roxboro Street could worsen flooding and traffic.
The decision went against a 6-5 Planning Commission recommendation from January. It also adds another housing project to a part of North Durham where residents said more than 1,000 units are already in progress nearby.
- Mayor Leo Williams and council members Javiera Caballero, Matt Kopac, and Carl Rist voted yes. Council members Nate Baker, Shanetta Burris, and Chelsea Cook voted no.
- The rezoning conditions include 8% affordable housing, permanent conservation of a FEMA floodplain area, a utility extension agreement with SunHausRealty LLC, and 100% native tree plantings.
- A stormwater condition says peak flow at the culvert under Infinity Road cannot exceed pre-development levels during a 100-year storm event.
- Residents pointed to Tropical Storm Chantal flooding and the lack of a scheduled NCDOT fix at Infinity Road and North Roxboro Street.
The vote answered the rezoning question. The road work and flooding concerns that shaped the debate are still unresolved.
Duke Gardens Reopens With New Cafe
The $30M Garden Gateway project adds the Barnes Welcome Center, a cafe, and a 2,000-capacity lawn, plus weekday parking that's been closed since early 2025.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens opens its renovated Anderson Street entrance Wednesday, April 8, ending more than a year of construction on the $30 million Garden Gateway project. Weekday parking, closed since early 2025, resumes the same day.
Roundup
- Five Durham parks will stay closed through a second summer as the state still has not finished its lead cleanup plan.
- More than 200 of Durham's 800+ miles of roads are rated poor or failing, with $25M needed annually just to hold the current condition.
- A state tax break tied to nonprofit partnerships is costing Durham and Orange counties millions in property tax revenue from apartment owners.
- Durham launched a $1.75M pilot program to fund about 20 backyard rental units with $80,000 loans at 2% interest.
- Durham is accepting community input on its next police chief through a survey closing April 24, before Chief Patrice Andrews retires May 1.
- Full Frame returns downtown April 16 with more than 10,000 expected attendees and opens with Sam Green's "The Oldest Person in the World."
- Jean's By The Sea Opens in Old West Durham, Kate Elia's new seafood spot opened last month in the former Wimpy's Grill space on Hicks Street near Hillsborough Road.
Events
Nick Offerman: Big Woodchuck - April 9, DPAC
Snarky Puppy - April 10, Carolina Theatre
Oyster Roast at Ponysaurus Brewing Co. - April 12, Ponysaurus Brewing Co.
Spring Food Truck Rodeo - April 12, Durham Central Park
Dance for Cuba Fundraiser - April 14, The Pinhook
Kishi Bashi: Sonderlust 10th Anniversary Tour, with Bayonne - April 15, Cat's Cradle
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival - April 16, Carolina Theatre / Durham Convention Center