A Realtor’s Guide to Experiencing the Best Durham Has to Offer

Durham, North Carolina is a city steeped in history with a landscape that is always changing and evolving, yet it somehow manages to retain the historical southern charm that has endeared the city to generations of residents. Known as “Bull City,” Durham is one of the vertices of the Research Triangle, along with Raleigh and Chapel Hill. The “Triangle,” as it’s more commonly known, originated in 1959 after the founding of Research Triangle Park in an effort to create a science and technology hub anchored by the three cities and their respective universities: Duke University, NC State, and UNC. Durham is a global center for medicine, and with healthcare being a major industry in the city, it has garnered the additional nickname “City of Medicine.” Due to the job opportunities, affordability of real estate, access to premier, higher education institutions, and recreational activities in the area, Durham has become one of the most desirable locations in the country for professionals and families. Durham ranked 9th in Livability.com’s Best Places to Live in the US list for 2020. Erica Anderson, a top REALTOR® and owner of Team Anderson Realty, has been serving the real estate needs of the community since 2014.

History: 

The town of Durham is named after Dr. Bartlett Durham who donated land to build a railroad station in 1849, which was needed as a resupply stop for steam engines needing wood and water in between Raleigh and Hillsborough. Twenty years later when Durham Station’s population exploded, the station was officially incorporated into a town in 1869. During the Antebellum period prior to the Civil War, Durham was home to many plantations, including Stagville, one of the largest plantations in the South where over 900 enslaved African Americans were forced to work the land and harvest its cash crop… tobacco. During the Civil War, armies from both sides noticed the pleasant flavor of the area’s Brightleaf tobacco leaves. After the end of the war, the tobacco industry flourished due to veterans returning home and inquiring about purchasing the tobacco they sampled from the area, which led to Durham’s thriving tobacco economy during the 19th century and into the 20th century. The American Tobacco Company, originally named W. Duke Sons & Co., was founded by Washington Duke and was one of the original twelve members of the industrial Dow Jones Average. Duke was an entrepreneur and philanthropist who made a significant endowment to Trinity College under the condition that it “open its doors to women, placing them on equal footing with men.” In 1924, Trinity College was renamed Duke University to honor Washington Duke and his contribution. After the Federal Government forced the breakup of the American Tobacco Company under antitrust laws, the Duke family turned their sights to the then-new industry of electric power, forming what is today known as Duke Energy. As the tobacco and textile industry that had been the lifeblood of the economy began to dissipate in the mid-20th century, Durham innovated by investing in the fields of science, technology, and healthcare, with these industries still going strong today. Durham has long been home to a strong, vibrant African-American community and to a number of successful, prominent black-owned businesses that started in the early 20th century, with the two most recognizable being North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company and Mechanics and Farmers Bank. These businesses were centered on Parrish Street, which became known as “Black Wall Street.” In 1910, Dr. James E. Shepard, an African American pharmacist and educator, founded the North Carolina Central University in Durham which was the nation’s first publicly supported liberal arts college for African-Americans. Durham was a stronghold during the civil rights movement with Martin Luther King, Jr. visiting the city advocating for non-violent resistance to the discriminatory laws of the south. Durham is widely credited as being the first sit-in of the civil rights movement, when in 1957, young African-Americans led by Reverend Douglas E. Moore sat in whites-only booths at the Royal Ice Cream Parlor and were arrested and found guilty of trespassing. This precipitated the six-month-long-sit-in at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, which was a turning point in the fight to end racial segregation. Durham has a proud history of fighting for inclusivity that continues today, adding to the strong character of this beloved city.

Downtown Durham

Durham is a city with a vibrant cultural presence that can be seen throughout the downtown area, from the colorful murals adorned on the sides of buildings to the many award-winning restaurants to the lively entertainment scene encompassing the city. The American Tobacco Campus is easily the most popular spot to visit downtown, with sports and performance venues, restaurants, bars, shops, and more. The headquarters for Burt’s Bees is also located on the campus. Brightleaf Square is another trendy spot downtown, occupying two former tobacco warehouses and the outside area between the two buildings. Today, the former turn-of-the-century industrial complex is a bustling hub in the city with office spaces, restaurants, a brewery, shops, and more.

One of the highlights of the city is Durham Bulls Athletic Park, home to the Triple-A Durham Bulls, a minor league baseball team, as well as the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Central Eagles college baseball teams. This retro brick ballpark harkens back to the old-time baseball parks at the turn of the 20th century, and it was designed by the same architect that built Camden Yards where the Baltimore Orioles play. Tickets to see the Bulls are extremely affordable and the games are always lively and entertaining, even between innings with t-shirt cannonballs, base races, and more fun activities for the fans to enjoy featuring the team mascot Wool E. Bull.  And of course, the minor league franchise was made wildly popular with the hit 1988 movie, Bull Durham, featuring Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon.

Located down the street from the Bulls stadium, you will find the cultural hub of the city… the Duke Performing Arts Center (DPAC). People travel from all over the Triangle to catch a show at this remarkable venue, which consistently ranks in the top 10 theaters in America. This modern, contemporary theater features 2,700 seats, state-of-the-art sound, and offers a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. There are a wide range of performances to see, including award-winning Broadway shows like Hamilton and Wicked, as well as other plays, musicals, concerts, comedians, orchestras, special guest speakers, and more. DPAC offers such an array of performances that there is always something for everyone to enjoy.

Shopping & Dining: 

Southern Magazine has hailed Durham as the “Tastiest Town in the South,” and with a lively restaurant scene featuring many award-winning chefs at the helm, it’s no wonder Durham has become a culinary destination. Vin Rouge is a lovely French Bistro featuring a Provençal French menu created by James Beard Foundation Award Semi-finalist chef, Matthew Kelly, that offers delectable traditional French cuisine like escargots, moules marinière frites, poulet rôti, et fruit de mer. Saltbox Seafood Joint serves up delicious seafood prepared by another James Beard Award semi-finalist, chef Ricky Moore, who frequently has people lined up around the block waiting for his delicious fried catfish and trademark Hush-Honeys. The Durham Hotel offers a beautiful rooftop bar where you can enjoy the sweeping views of the city while sipping a cocktail before heading downstairs to the hotel’s restaurant, The Durham, featuring an inspiring menu by James Beard Award winning chef Andrea Reusing. Their menu offers pasture-raised meats, fresh seafood caught off the NC coast, and seasonal items from local farmers served in a spacious glass-walled dining room with a stunning mid-century flair. Parizade, the flagship restaurant of nationally-recognized restauranteur, Giorgios Bakatsias, has been delighting the palettes of guests for 26 years with his unique approach to serving up delicious Mediterranean fare inspired by his native Greece. The dramatic décor and delectable food are guaranteed to provide an unforgettable dining experience. GRUB Durham is a trendy, retro establishment wherein the owners converted an old gas station into a southern eatery with a rooftop bar and a restaurant below with indoor and outdoor seating. They serve a delicious breakfast/brunch daily until 3pm and also have a lunch, dinner, and libations menu sure to satisfy your tastebuds. Guglhupf is an innovative German bakery, café, and biergarten that has been serving contemporary cuisine with a nod to their southern German roots since 1998, and their attention to quality and artisanship have made this place a favorite among locals for decades. Durham has far too many delicious restaurants to name, but some of the other favorites include: Cucciolo Osteria serving modern Italian cuisine; Juju Durham, an Asian fusion and tapas bar; Local 22 Kitchen & Bar, which offers gastropub fare with a seasonal spin; The Refectory Café, an award-winning restaurant which caters to all diet options including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, keto, plant-based, raw, or omnivore; and Namu, a Korean fusion restaurant which is popular among foodies.

Durham is home to a number of interesting shops as well. Bull City Fair Trade is an inspiring shop that partners with artisans in developing areas around the world and provides them access to sell their handcrafted goods to the US market while maintaining fair trade standards, ensuring they make a living wage in their country. Indio, located in Brightleaf Square, offers a curated collection of artisan-crafted accessories, gifts, and home goods, with a focus on quality, designer items made in the US. Chet Miller is one of those special places where you never know what interesting thing you’re going to find. They provide such an eclectic, unique mix of gifts and goods that there is something for everyone to enjoy. Exotique Boutique and Art Gallery is a stunning boutique that showcases clothing, fabrics, art, and accessories handcrafted by artisans locally and around the world. The owners are originally from Nigeria and have a passion for bringing authentic, fair trade items from Africa to the US, as well as giving local artisans a place to sell their goods. Vert & Vogue is a contemporary retail store that sells mindfully-made clothing and accessories from designers in the US and Europe and offers superb, client-focused personal service. The Artisan Market at 305 is a cooperative of over 50 local artists that offer handcrafted gifts and art, as well as custom projects.

Durham is home to the Streets at Southpoint Mall, which is one of the most frequented shopping areas in the triangle. This large indoor/outdoor shopping oasis offers something for everyone, and it is home to popular stores like Nordstrom, Macy’s, Belk, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Barnes & Noble, Anthropologie, Apple, Lululemon, Lush, Crate & Barrel, Banana Republic, H&M, Williams Sonoma, Michael Kors, and much more. Additionally, the mall offers great dining options including Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Uncle Julio’s, Firebirds, and California Pizza Kitchen, as well as a food court.

Recreation:

Sarah P. Duke Gardens has been one of the most visited places in Durham for over 80 years. There are over 5 miles of walkways and paths throughout the 55 acres the gardens encompass, with stunning displays of botany, including the peaceful Asiatic Arboretum which features a wealth of floral diversity from Southeast Asia, as well as traditional elements of Asian gardens including arched bridges, water features, bamboo, stone pathways, and lanterns. They also provide visitors an opportunity to take place in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at the Durham-Toyama Sister Cities Pavilion. The Blomquist Garden houses plants native to the area including a carnivorous plant collection and an endangered species garden. The Page-Rollins White Garden highlights the beautiful simplicity of the many white-flowered cottage gardens of England. Sara P. Duke Gardens is a perfectly splendid spot to enjoy an afternoon; it provides a lovely location for weddings and photo shoots as well.

The Museum of Life and Science is located just blocks from downtown Durham and is a premier destination for families in the Triangle. Nestled on 84 acres, it provides a unique hands-on experience both indoors and out. A 2-story science center offers a variety of interactive exhibits including the Tinker Lab where little hands can use different connectable pieces to build contraptions; an exciting weather stimulating station that recreates various weather phenomena; Soundspace, where kids can run and dance on a one-of-a-kind interactive floor; Launch Lab allows kids to explore the principles of flight and gravity; the Butterfly House, which invites guests to meet hundreds of tropical butterflies floating through a lush rainforest environment; math and puzzle stations; an insectarium; a Carolina wildlife station, and much more. But perhaps the most fun at the museum can be had outdoors, with its expansive play areas and animal exhibits. Hideaway Woods is a 2-acre nature discovery area complete with 8 handcrafted treehouses connected by rope bridges, and a woodland stream the kids are free to explore. The Sound Garden is a place where children can play a variety of instruments affixed to structures and hear the different sounds each one makes. The Mist Garden is always a hit with the kids where they can activate push-button mist fields and learn how water droplets suspended in air form mist clouds. You can also find animal exhibits featuring black bears, red wolves, lemurs, and tortoises, as well as farmyard animals like alpacas, goats, donkeys, cows, pigs, chickens, and more. Some of the other play and discovery areas include the Dinosaur Trail, Gateway Park, Earth Moves, and Catch the Wind. Additionally, there is a train that can take families on a ride through the park.

The Duke Lemur Center is a fascinating one-of-a-kind experience where you can get up and close with the world’s largest and most diverse population of lemurs outside of their native Madagascar. Lemurs are the most endangered mammal on earth, and the Duke Lemur Center has been committed to educating the public about conservation since 1966. They offer a variety of educational programs, camps, and tours, and their conservation breeding program has been highly successful in seeking to preserve the vanishing species.

Historic Stagville was once the largest plantation in the state at over 30,000 acres and was home to over 900 enslaved men, women, and children. Today, a small portion of this former plantation is dedicated to educating the public by interpreting the lives, culture, and labors of the enslaved people who were forced to work the land for the Bennehan-Cameron families. What survives today is the Bennehan family plantation house, four slave quarters at Horton Grove, and a massive timber-framed barn. The staff at Historic Stagville strives to teach visitors about the lives of enslaved and free people through the well-researched history of the architecture, archaeology, oral history, and written records. Bennet Place is another Historic State Site, and it witnessed the largest surrender of Confederate soldiers during the Civil War in April, 1865.

Eno River State Park is a popular spot for hikers with nearly 30 miles of hiking trails that follow the swift, shallow stream of the Eno River. In addition to hiking, the park offers camping, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. There are numerous trails to discover from easy nature walks along the bank of the river to more strenuous hikes through the scenic hardwood forest to the top of Cox Mountain.

Real Estate in Durham

Durham real estate is in high demand due the strong economy, job opportunities, affordable housing, access to world-class healthcare, higher education institutions like Duke University, and a vibrant food and entertainment scene. If you want to live in the heart of downtown, there are a variety of condo complexes, including: The Bartlett, luxury condos in the Brightleaf district with smart-home technology, private balconies, and floor-to-ceiling windows providing fantastic views of the city ($400s to over $1M); The Brannan Condos are bright and airy, with an open floor plan and fully retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto an expansive outdoor terrace ($400s-$800s); The Baldwin Lofts feature 12’ ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, Juliette balconies, and a shared roof-top patio with views of DPAC and the Durham Bull’s fireworks ($300s-$400s); and City Port is a new condo development adjacent to the American Tobacco Campus slated for completion in August 2021 ($200s-$500s). Durham also has many historic neighborhood districts featuring single-family homes in a variety of styles and ages, including: Duke Park, Cleveland-Holloway, Forest Hills, Trinity Historic District, Tuscaloosa-Lakewood, Watts Hospital-Hillandale, Morehead Hill, Burch Avenue, and Hope Valley.

There are plenty of great subdivisions to be found in the greater Durham area as well. 751 South is an expansive new community under development and is comprised of single-family homes and townhomes and will feature 14 parks and 55-acres of open green space and is within walking distance to shopping and entertainment ($300s-$900s). Andrews Chapel is a new community of townhomes located close to Brier Creek featuring first floor guest suites, open kitchen and family gathering areas, and 1 -2 car garages, as well as a community pool, playground, dog park, and open play areas ($300s). Brightleaf is a large subdivision featuring a pool, tennis courts, nature trails, and public art installations and offers single-family homes and townhomes ($200s-$500s). Ellis Crossing is a new townhome community with fabulous amenities including indoor and outdoor pools, a clubhouse, fitness center, dog park, basketball and tennis courts, and playground ($300s-$400s). Treyburn is a lovely golf community featuring a wide array of single-family and townhomes ($300s-$1M). Fairfield is another great subdivision that offers single-family homes on large lots with mature landscaping ($200s-$800s). Creekside at Bethpage is a new 55+ community with a resort-style pool, recreation center and social clubs and features townhomes and single-family homes with open floor plans ($300s-$700s). Northgate Park is a charming community featuring distinctly styled older homes, including many craftsman bungalows from the 1920s-1940s ($180s - $400s). Cresset Overlook is a new neighborhood situation close to Duke University featuring single-family homes ($400s-$600s).

Ready to Buy a Home or Sell a Home in Durham?

Team Anderson Realty is an independent 5-star, concierge-style real estate firm that has been serving Durham and the surrounding areas since 2014. We provide superior service tailored to each individual client, whether you are looking to buy a home in Durham or the surrounding areas, or if you are looking to sell your home. You need a realtor who will work hard for you and we pride ourselves on taking the time to get to know our clients in order to best serve them. If you are looking to buy a home in Durham or the surrounding area, we would love the opportunity to show you what’s available and help you purchase that perfect home! Likewise, if you have ever thought to yourself, “What do I need to do to sell my home?” then we can help with that too! We are a top seller’s agent in Durham and the greater Triangle, and we would be delighted to put our expertise to work for you in getting you top-dollar for your home. If you’re in the market to either buy a home or sell a home in Durham or the surrounding areas, please let us help make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Call our team of Realtor® experts today at: 919-610-5126 and let us get to work for you!