Golden Belt Historic District

Rescue Mission Destroys Three More Historic Houses

bulldurhamnc — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:47:55 +0000

On Tuesday, October 18, 2011, the Durham Rescue Mission destroyed three more historic houses in the Golden Belt National Register Historic District. Last week, the Rescue Mission had allowed the Durham Fire Department to conduct training exercises which involved cutting up parts of the roofs and sides of the houses. The final destruction came today. Two of the houses were on Worth St., and one was on Franklin St.

All of these houses were already designated as contributing structures to the Golden Belt National Register Historic District when Ernie Mills bought the properties. Obviously he doesn’t care.

At various public meetings and in private conversations with Preservation Durham, Ernie Mills promised that he would let people move the houses. That didn’t happen. He didn’t even allow people to salvage the historically valuable materials in the house. It’s all just a pile of rubble now that goes to the landfill.

But one question remains: how can anyone believe his future promises when he hasn’t kept the ones he’s already made?

Cafe, Hair Salon, Insurance Agency Coming to Golden Belt!

bulldurhamnc — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:33:46 +0000

At long last a cafe is coming to Golden Belt. The space in the very front of Building #2, looking out on the parking lot, is now being remodeled to be a cafe serving breakfast and lunch. The cafe will also offer ice cream, yogurt, and smoothies. The name for the cafe has not yet been announced, but it should open in January, 2012.

Also opening is Moshi-Moshi, a well known Chapel Hill hair salon, which will establish its first shop in Durham, also in January, 2012.

Finally, a State Farm insurance agency will open in Golden Belt. With these three new businesses, Golden Belt will be 90% occupied, a great achievement considering the difficult economic climate.

Nice Rainy evening out with the family $13

DeDreana — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 03:57:51 +0000

It’s 3rd Friday again and of course that means family night out. I enjoyed a mini crab cake sandwich from Blue Sky Diner food truck and a tasty berry strawberry cupcake from a mobile cupcake van

Ending the evening with the set @ The Scrap Exchange

Wall Street Block Party – Kicks off Neighborhood Watch

DeDreana — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:48:22 +0000

With recent incidents occurring in the neighborhood, it was nice to have so many neighbors show up to speak with guest The Durham Police Department Officers about crime prevention and safety this Saturday evening. We recieved some great tips on how to make our neighborhood safer.

Such as:

Call 911 to report any suspicious activity.
Getting involved with Partners Against Crime (PAC 1) to give and receive updates and information on criminal activity. (The next meeting Aug 20th, 2011 @ 9:30am @ the Holton Resource Center on Taylor and Driver
Keeping a presents in the community with events social events to get to know your neighbors.

There were a number of suggestions made, but it would be great to have as many of the members of our community show up at the next PAC meeting. Our state representatives Mickey Michaux and Paul Luebke will be on the panel for discussion.

A special thanks to Rhonda and Dave Cates of Wall Street our gracious host for pulling folks together for a evening of community uplift, and inviting all the neighbors out to celebrate Mrs. Rhonda’s Birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MRS RHONDA!

THIS THIRD FRIDAY 6.17.11

bulldurhamnc — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:47:57 +0000

Dogstar Tattoo Grand Opening
New Neighbors Auction Party
Open Artist Studio
Bikram Durham Benefit for Kelly Cross
6 – 9 PM

This Third Friday we are excited to welcome new neighbors to Golden Belt. Join us in Building 6 to celebrate Dogstar Tattoo’s Grand Opening in their newly built out space on the West end of Building 6. Come in for live music, wine, martinis and meet and greet the Center Studio Architecture staff from 6-9pm. In the parking lot, Fullsteam will serve a variety of their local brew while Blood Red River and Beloved Binge play into the night. Also in Building 6, Bikram Durham is putting on a special donation class at 4pm for Golden Belt artist Kelly Cross. Please join and sweat it out for a wonderful cause!

Stop by Building 3 to visit our 43 talented studio artists along with the New Neighbors Auction Party in ROOM 100 from 6-8pm. Dave Alsobrooks is auctioning off his New Neighbors paintings to benefit the Durham Art Guild and Project Red. This will be your last chance to view the New Neighbors paintings before they become part of private collections- maybe even your own! Or buy a raffle ticket and enter to win a New Neighbor. Bidding opens at 6 and closes at 7:45. Raffle tickets will be sold till 7:45.

In Building 2, LabourLove is celebrating the arrival of Dogstar Tattoo at Golden Belt with a tattoo-inspired art table set up for the entire family to enjoy! LabourLove will have washable markers available to decorate your body if you so dare and if you are feeing a little shy, there will be paper too! To learn more about LabourLove Collective Gallery artists, please view all current artist profiles here.

Foodies, don’t leave hungry! Outside, Parlez Vous Crepes, Only Burger, and The Parlor will be on hand for dinner and dessert items. All of the events are Free and open to all ages!

Storm Drain Problems in Golden Belt Neighborhood

bulldurhamnc — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:57:13 +0000

This picture was taken Saturday, May 28, at the corner of Elm and Franklin Streets. This was long after the rains had stopped. Obviously, the storm drain was badly clogged because the water was not moving. Friday, there was serious flooding on Belt St. Cars parked along the street had their interiors flooded. You can see pictures of the flooding here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27215620@N06/?saved=1

The City needs to clean its storm drains.

Here’s what the City’s website has to say:

“Does the City have a map of the drainage system?

No. The City is in the process of locating and mapping stormwater drainage systems located in the City of Durham. Fieldwork for the citywide stormwater inventory project began in June 1999 and should be completed next year. The inventory will identify and catalog stormwater drainage system components such as pipes, culverts, bridges, pipe outfalls, manholes, junction boxes, catch basins, and yard inlets. The City will use the inventory data to: produce a comprehensive map of the stormwater drainage system; develop a drainage system maintenance schedule; address localized flooding and drainage problems; develop priorities for watershed master planning; and identify priorities for future capital improvement needs.”

The City has been working on a map since 1999, and it’s still not complete! Once they have a map, then they will “develop a drainage system maintenance schedule,” which suggests that they don’t have one now.

So is any maintenance ever being done? It’s time to have some answers.

UPDATE (June 30): Paul J. Wiebke, Assistant Stormwater Manager for the City of Durham, responded to an inquiry by Gary Kueber of Scientific Properties. Here’s what the city has planned:

Short term (this summer):

The drainage systems in this area will be evaluated (video inspection) to determine if there are failures/blockages in the existing drainage system. We would then evaluate the system failures/blockages and pursue corrective action.

Longer term (remainder of FY 2012):

The drainage system will be evaluated for condition (are pipes and/or basins in need of repair/replacement) and capacity (are pipes of sufficient size and are there sufficient drains). This will be completed in time to make budget recommendations for FY 2013 budget cycle so that changes or improvements needed can occur beginning in FY 2013.

For future updates on this project please contact Dana Hornkohl at Dana.Hornkohl@durhamnc.gov
or at 560-4326 ext. 30246

Golden Belt Home Tour: After the Tour

bulldurhamnc — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:50:09 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

The Home Tour was a great success: we had around 200 people come through, and the event attracted a lot of attention in the Triangle. See Jim Wise’s story in the May 2 News and Observer:

Durham neighborhood comes ‘back to life’ – Real Estate News – NewsObserver.com .

and Laura Oleniacz in the May 3 Herald Sun:

Neighborhood walk offers glimpse of restored homes and works in progress among Golden Belt’s mill houses

via golden community.

Thanks to all of the people who generously put their houses on the tour, the volunteers who helped show them, and to the businesses that helped underwrite the event: Acanthus Construction, Bikram Yoga Durham, Labour Love Gallery, Regulator Book Shop, Riverbank Custom Homes, Scientific Properties, Seagroves Realty and Urban Durham Realty.

Tour Property #8: 1211 Wall St.

The newest listing in the neighborhood