The leading choice would be located somewhere near the Golden Belt complex off East Main Street, near other government investments such as the new Durham County Social Services building and the Durham Housing Authority’s Hope VI projects. Although, the density of the area suggests it may increase the costs of the project.
An alternative site under consideration is the former Fayette Place apartment complex, once a Durham Housing Authority property. While the current status of this site is unknown, it is worth looking at for the size of its land area. A key to the projects affordability would be enough space for surface parking, enough for 400 to 500 vehicles, rather than a more expensive structured deck. The Fayette Place site has the most space and is the only one that can accommodate parking for 400 to 500 vehicles without having to build a deck.
However, the Fayette Place site is in an area known for raising the cackles of the neighborhoods of the former Hayti community. Located near NC Central University, Rolling Hills, Southside, Phoenix Square, Stokesdale Historic District, and the Fayetteville Street Planning Group. After having just recently gone through several city initiated planning studies, this community is sure to raise concerns about why this couldn't have been brought up sooner and integrated into the other plans.
Will a headquarters location bring increased safety to a neighborhood that desperately needs it? Maybe it needs to be looking all the way down the American Tobacco Trail.
