Durham, NC
About Durham
Durham, the Bull City, has turned its tobacco-town past into a creative, independent-minded city. Brick warehouses and factories from the tobacco era now hold restaurants, offices, music venues and gathering spaces, and the Durham Bulls, made famous by the movie Bull Durham, still play downtown.
Duke University and North Carolina Central University anchor the city. Duke's Sarah P. Duke Gardens, 55 acres of gardens open free every day, is one of the city's favorite places to walk. The Durham Performing Arts Center brings touring Broadway and big-name concerts, the American Dance Festival has made Durham its summer home since 1978, and the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival draws filmmakers every spring. The food scene is a draw of its own, with local chefs regularly named James Beard Award semifinalists.
The Museum of Life and Science sits on 84 acres with a large tropical butterfly house, a farmyard and a train. Eno River State Park has nearly 30 miles of trails along a rocky river, and Falls Lake and Jordan Lake are each a short drive away.
Property tax in Durham
The combined Durham County and Durham rate is $1.0163 per $100 of tax value: about $4,065 a year on a $400,000 tax value. Every rate in the county, with sources.
Durham's budget, FY2027
FY2027 (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027). Adopted by the City Council on June 15, 2026, with no change to the tax rate.
Where the city tax rate goes (cents of the 43.71) p. 13
Sources: City of Durham FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget; City of Durham budgets. Figures copied from the documents; each page link opens the page it came from.
What's coming to Durham
1,126 active projects from public records as of . Newest first.
See them all on the mapWeekly "What's coming to Durham" roundups
New Development (861)
RDU 128 Google Hut Under review
RDU 128 Google Hut in Durham is under review, submitted February 2026 and last status updated October 2026. It includes the existing Google Fiber hut and two emergency generators with gas lines.
First Presbyterian Church Columbarium Approved
First Presbyterian Church Columbarium in Durham has an approved addition of a columbarium to the existing garden. The project was submitted in February 2026 and last updated in October 2026.
The Shannon at Old Chapel Hill-Amendment Approved
The Shannon at Old Chapel Hill-Amendment in Durham was approved, with a phasing plan submitted in March 2026 and last status update in October 2026.
Strauss Drive Townhomes Under review
Strauss Drive Townhomes, a 74-unit multi-family rental project in Durham, is under review. The application was submitted in June 2026 and the last status update was in October 2026.
The Commons Under review
The Commons, a multi-family affordable housing project in Durham, is under review. Construction of three buildings is planned, with the project submitted in August 2026 and last status updated October 2026.
The light of the World Church Under review
The light of the World Church in Durham is under review, submitted September 2026, with the last status update in October 2026. The project involves a church building and parking.
Rezonings (135)
Alta 54 Under review
Rezoning request for Alta 54, a residential development of up to 350 multifamily units in Durham — under review, submitted October 2026.
Culvers Fayetteville Under review
Rezoning request for Culvers Fayetteville, a stand-alone restaurant with drive-through, in Durham — under review, submitted October 2026.
S Miami Light Industrial Under review
Rezoning request for 72,500 square-foot flex/warehouse space in S Miami Light Industrial, Durham — under review, submitted September 2026.
2405 E Cornwallis Under review
Rezoning request for 2405 E Cornwallis in Durham, changing from RS-20 to IL zoning to allow uses permitted in IL zoning. Status is under review, submitted and last updated September 2026.
Antioch Baptist Church Under review
Rezoning request for Antioch Baptist Church in Durham, under review, submitted September 2026. The proposed CN zoning district would allow low-intensity, neighborhood-serving institutional use, keeping the existing building with limited enrollment and controlled traffic.
9415 NC 751 Hwy Under review
Rezoning request for commercial development within a CG zoning district at 9415 NC 751 Hwy in Durham — under review, submitted September 2026.
Public Projects (68)
Renaissance Traffic Signal Under construction
Renaissance Traffic Signal: a Durham capital project (Transportation). Construction/Installation. Project budget: $458,727 (the city's project list).
Roxboro/monk Signal Under construction
Roxboro/monk Signal: a Durham capital project (Transportation). Construction/Installation. Project budget: $406,612 (the city's project list).
Murray-massenburg School Signals Under construction
Murray-massenburg School Signals: a Durham capital project (Transportation). Construction/Installation. Project budget: $642,206 (the city's project list).
RRFB Round 1 Under construction
RRFB Round 1: a Durham capital project (Transportation). Construction/Installation. Project budget: $995,167 (the city's project list).
Durham School of the Arts Signals Under construction
Durham School of the Arts Signals: a Durham capital project (Transportation). Construction/Installation. Project budget: $533,660 (the city's project list).
New Signal Installations Under construction
New Signal Installations: a Durham capital project (Transportation). Construction/Installation. Project budget: $300,000 (the city's project list).
Roads & Transportation (62)
HS-2005D: SR 1303 (Pickett Road) Under construction
HS-2005D: SR 1303 (Pickett Road) is under construction in Durham. The project will install a traffic signal at the SR 1116 (Garrett Road) / Luna Lane intersection, with right-of-way and construction both in 2024.
HS-2005E: US 15 / US 501 Business Under construction
US 15 / US 501 Business interchange at NC 751 (Academy Road) in Durham is under construction, installing guardrail, scheduled for 2025.
TD-5294: GoDurham Under construction
TD-5294: GoDurham is under construction on NC 98 (Holloway Street) to build access and bus stop improvements along the transit corridor.
U-5968: Various Under construction
U-5968: Various is an ITS and signal system upgrade at locations in the City of Durham, under construction since 2021.
C-5183B: SR 1945 (South Alston Avenue) Under construction
Construction of a sidewalk along SR 1945 (South Alston Avenue) from SR 1171 (Riddle Road) to Capps Street in Durham is underway, under construction in 2023.
EB-4707B: SR 2220 (Old Chapel Hill Road) Under construction
Construction of bicycle, pedestrian, and transit improvements and a roundabout on SR 2220 (Old Chapel Hill Road) between SR 1113 (Pope Road) and SR 1116 (Garrett Road) is underway. The project is currently under construction.
Information compiled from public records (City of Durham, Durham City-County Planning, NCDOT) as of 2026-10-26. Projects may change or never be built. Verify with the official source.