SarahGray Lamm ~ Chapel Hill / Carrboro / Durham Real Estate Blog ~ Agent Outlier

If you were born and raised in Eastern North Carolina, as I was, you know how we got our economic start. We were a cotton and tobacco economy, pure and simple. As the child of a cotton merchant I dove off many a cotton bale into loose samples of cotton piled high in a warehouse. I know the smell of cured tobacco in an auction warehouse before it was moved to the cigarette factory.

Durham meant tobacco. Block after block of red brick warehouses and plants, the first of which was built in 1874. The huge arched windows and smoke stacks that looked like cigarettes, the water towers bearing familiar brand logos and the railroad tracks weaving throughout told you exactly where you were. A few blocks up the road another red brick plant with palladium windows went up in 1900 so the Golden Belt Manufacturing Company could began turning cotton into thread and manufacturing the cloth pouches for all that Durham tobacco.

You have to forgive us North Carolina natives for not going easily down the road when overwhelming evidence showed that smoking was bad for our health. It had been good for our families. But that fight has already been fought and what was left in the aftermath were all those red brick buildings and railroad tracks...and a dying downtown Durham. Move along.

It was true throughout the '70s, '80s, and into the '90s...nothing to see here. Durham, NC – one half of Raleigh-Durham and one third of The Triangle Region – home to the RTP, Research Triangle Park, one of the most concentrated areas of growth in the country for healthcare, bio tech, high tech and research companies, and surrounded by three, yes, THREE, tier one universities and countless smaller ones. So why has this area of the country fared better than many during this economic downturn? Reread the last sentence.

Why, then, would downtown Durham have simply been ignored all that time? Because we were lucky. At least as viewed through the lens of a dynamic 21^st century downtown economic development team; we were lucky. Or at least we are lucky to have visionaries like Bill Kalkhof, the President of Downtown Durham, Inc., in our midst. Lucky that no one thought to come in and tear down the buildings of our tobacco and cotton heritage. I was lucky enough to spend a day in February 2010 with Carver Weaver, Director of Business Retention for the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and one of her colleagues, Matthew Coppedge, as they showed off their enthusiasm for a Durham rising once again to the top of its game.

As real estate agents committed to truly knowing the communities in which we live, work and play, a group of Allen Tate Realtors climbed into a white van for a drive through the present and future of The Bull City. After a two hour tour of the places I 'see but don't see' everyday, I'm not sure they aren't right about being lucky. Did some folks and their businesses get the short end of the stick with the rise of suburbia in the '70s when the “loop” was built to divert traffic around downtown Durham? Yes. Did Durham suffer the blight of being a decaying urban area and all the hardships which ensue because of that? Yes. Did Durham get a bad reputation and did the folks who were left behind find it tough going for too long? Absolutely. But is there a city better poised than Durham to springboard to success when all these bad economic winds abate? No!

Remember all those red brick warehouses? Block after block of buildings sporting palladium windows, massive wooden posts and beams and heart pine floors? Any guess what it would cost to build something like that in today's market? Any idea what local developers committed to reclaiming and re-purposing those buildings might be able to envision? Any clue what happens when a city partners with private business to return itself to a former glory?

For starters, think the American Tobacco Campus. Then head east to the Golden Belt art campus. On the way you'll pass the Durham Performing Arts Center and the wonderful new Durham Bulls Athletic Park. No, not the same venue as the one shown in the movie “Bull Durham” but not to worry, that one has been restored too. It's located in the Central Park area, near the Durham Farmers Market, and soon to be a venue for music events and winter ice skating.

There is Brightleaf Square, the first warehouse area reclaimed by forward thinking local business folks back in the '80s. It became a shopping and restaurant destination all on its own for many years. Once again updated in 2004, Brightleaf anchors the western edge of a revitalized Durham downtown.

The heart of downtown or the City Center area is home to Parrish Street, also known as the “Black Wall Street” and it's historic value is being preserved and honored. The City Center is home to the Durham Arts Council and to Greenfire Development, a company whose mission is to improve the overall quality of life in Durham by creating opportunities and whose very name is meant to indicate their understanding of the interconnectedness of people and communities, even forgotten ones.

There is so much more. What you really need to know though is that Durham, NC is back! It has a walkability score of 94 out of 100! It is home to world class restaurants, a thriving arts community, historic preservation and festivals celebrating everything from Civil War Re-enactment to Beer! Durham has reknowned medical facilities, music, museums, beautiful parks, Broadway entertainment and some pretty awesome sports! For a real treat check out this photo blog of A Photo Love Letter to Durham by Jessie Gladin-Kramer.

Wondering where you could go to live and work in a community poised for greatness and endless possibility? Ready to be part of building something sustainable and beautiful while honoring history? Wondering if there is a place you can afford to live yet still have infinite choices of things to do with your free time?

Call me...I think I might have a few ideas....

Click Here for Single Family Homes For Sale in Downtown Durham

Click Here for Condos & Townhomes For Sale in Downtown Durham

American Tobacco Campus photo by J S North:http://www.flickr.com/photos/joephotos/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Durham Skyline photo by Ildar Sagdejev: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2008-07-12_Durham_skyline.jpg

If you love nature and the outdoors, biking, trail running or simply strolling along listening to the birds singing, Chapel Hill and Carrboro have some easily accessible ways to get out and enjoy your passion! Part of a planned system of greenways throughout North Carolina's Triangle ( anchored by Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill) are plenty of easily accessible trails running along the streams and through the forests that are part of the Triangle's treasure. Quite a number of the trails can be reached by local residents right in their own communities.

A short stroll through my own neighborhood and I am exploring The Bolin Creek In Winter:

This map shows the area where I filmed this video:

Carrboro is probably the most walkable community in the Triangle and that is not an accident. Sidewalks, bikeways and greenways, many connecting with Carrboro's sister community of Chapel Hill and finally with the larger Triangle greenway system is a community goal. Click here for a printable map of the sidewalks, bikeways and greenways in Carrboro, NC.

If this sounds like your kind of town, give me a call! I can help you find a home with nature on your doorstep!

The Chapel Hill, NC Fire Department participates each year in a safety campaign called Keep The Wreath Green as a visual reminder to the local community of the danger posed by Christmas trees and other holiday decorations if they are not properly installed and monitored.

The wreath hangs on the Chapel Hill fire station from the first day of December until the last and starts out decked with a large red bow and green lights. For every house fire during the month of December a green bulb is changed to a red one.

Today is Christmas Eve and fortunately there is but one red bulb on the wreath. Of course the goal is no red bulbs but this year cigarettes were the cause of a house fire in Chapel Hill which completely destroyed someone's home.

There are still eight days to go until the wreath comes down. Here's hoping our firefighters have a boring end of the year and get to spend their time with their own families and not witnessing the destruction of any more area homes.

Be Safe and Merry Christmas!

Can't you feel the anticipation? The magic words were spoken yesterday, “The Raleigh Durham area is preparing for a snow event.” Yes, that's what we call it here; a “snow event.” That's because snow in the Piedmont of North Carolina is always an event.

The technical reason is that we see so little snow, and it is so infrequent, that the cities and towns around most of North Carolina don't have budgets for the equipment and manpower to stay ahead of mother nature's winter kiss. We have none of the mountainous salt hills of the north. No massive snow moving equipment or fleece clad armies ready to spread out in the middle of the night to take care of the business of erasing the effects of the latest snowfall so business as usual can go on. No, the irritating inconvenience of chipping ice off a windshield experienced by most northern dwellers is unheard of here. We aren't going to work.

Southerners know that a “snow event” means everything will stop. And I mean STOP. School will be canceled in anticipation, meetings and other less climatic events will be postponed. Parents who work will stay home, no discussions. Who would watch the kids if they went to work? But no one else will be at work either. Southerners have no “snow driving skills.” I'm not kidding. You take your life into your hands by attempting to drive in snow in Chapel Hill. Any amount of snow. Half an inch or half a foot, no matter. Ah, you're from the north you say. You KNOW how to drive in snow! Take my advice...don't do it. It is really irrelevant that you know how when absolutely no one else does. The only folks out on the road will be in a 1975 Chevy Impala with bald tires, driving around in the silence, just because they can...they CAN walk away alive from a slow motion slide through an intersection which ends in a shallow ditch.

Yet we still make sure the car is full of gasoline and we fill the extra gas cans, just in case the power goes out and we have to crank up the generator. A truly prepared Chapel Hill homeowner has a gasoline powered generator in the garage just waiting for the next “great snow event.” I've been there. Five days with no power. Blankets hanging over room openings and the biggest neighborhood party on record. For us, snow is a magnificent unplanned event. But that doesn't mean we don't plan for it. Far from it. Southerners race to the grocery store at the first hint of a snow advisory to buy up all the bread and milk available. We haul in the wood and check the pantry. We need all the fixin's for homemade vegetable soup, chili and applesauce cake.

Which brings me to the best thing about snow events. Party in the 'hood! Southerners have party skills. Skills finely honed during that other kind of weather event we occasionally endure; the hurricane. Neighbors come and go, eating together, cooking together and just hanging out by the fire. It's true what you've heard about us. We know our neighbors. On a normal day we think nothing of borrowing a cup of sugar to finish a recipe and understand that returning with a bit of the resulting treat is part of the process. A southern snow event is simply an excuse to do what we do best...take a party to another level!

Gotta run now...Greg Fischel, our perpetually reliable local weatherman, just announced that we are “under a winter storm warning” and I just realized I need some more egg nog before the neighbors arrive!

Let It Snow!!!

Living near public transportation has become more and more important for folks when considering a new career or higher education and when looking for a new home near either. That's easy to understand in California, New York, Chicago or any number of cities with reknowned public transportation systems.

Did you know that relocating to Chapel Hill or Carrboro, NC doesn't rule out the possibility of replacing some of your drive time and expense with inexpensive public transportation? How inexpensive...well, how does FREE sound?

Since 2002, Chapel Hill Transit has served the Chapel Hill, Carrboro and UNC areas with clean, attractive state of the art public buses, a comprehensive bus route and special event service...all for FREE. In fact, Chapel Hill, NC was the recipient of the first place "2009 Mayors City Livabillity Award', chosen from 200 cities. One of the biggest factors was the city's commitment to public transportation and the impact it has on quality of life in Chapel Hill. This video from the Town of Chapel Hill discusses the decision behind making the bus system free and how it contributes to a sustainable city and benefits students at UNC, residents of Chapel Hill and the folks who visit, live and work here.

Chapel Hill Transit connects to Triangle Transit allowing access to many other areas of the Research Triangle. Route planners and real time bus information are available online from your computer or mobile phone, or download this pdf of the current service area, complete with maps!

The annual Paws4Ever Dog Walk was held this past weekend at Southern Village in Chapel Hill, NC. The event was well attended on a beautiful Saturday which brought out pooches, some in costume, and their people for live music, browsing the booths of pet centric vendors, a silent auction of some unique hand crafted dog houses donated by local builders and many other unique handcrafts.

A lively demonstration by the Paws4Ever Drill Team was followed by the dog agility course demonstration and a popular round of Musical Sit! Finally, the pet parade left the village green for a walk around Southern Village.

Thanks to all who attended! We look forward to seeing you again next year!

(A Big thank you also to C Tann-Starr and her "mad" music production and video editing skills for this wonderful clip of some of our events!)

Fearrington Village, as described by Southern Living magazine, - "a unique community located on farmland dating back to the 1700s, near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. "Fearrington Village blends romantic lodging, delectable dining, great shopping, a planned residential community, and glorious gardens in a rare combination that you'll be a hard-pressed to find anywhere else."

22 available homes will be open to the public at Fearrington Village on Sunday, October 11, 2009, from 2 pm to 4 pm. This is a great opportunity to see exactly what kind of homes are available in this unique community and decide if the Fearrington lifestyle is right for you! Please come out and visit and check out this beautiful home, ready for occupancy!

Get Directions to Fearrington Village

This one level, contemporary home is located within walking distance of the Fearrington Village Swim and Croquet Club and not much further to the village center. Located on a quiet cul de sac, the home is on a wooded lot and has many features which incorporate the quiet, wooded serenity into your daily life, including a private bricked patio and screened porch.

A gently sloped ramp is thoughtfully integrated into the exterior design to allow easy access from the level drive and two car Garage to the home's front door. Inside, the open floorplan and hardwood flooring make it an inviting home for those with mobility issues.

Click the Camera icons on the floorplan below to see more photos!

Don't you just love a good survey? I mean a survey that makes you look G_O_O_D! Who knew anyone was interested in which city in America was the SMARTEST?! Seriously?!?

Actually, as I read the criteria I KNEW we were in the running...

Two main criteria:

1. EDUCATION
2. INTELLECTUAL ENVIRONMENT

I'm listening....

EDUCATION = how many degrees...oh, I know we are contenders

INTELLECTUAL ENVIRONMENT = Oh just wait....

1. # of non-fiction books purchased - "intellectual vigor" don't you know...
   
2. ratio of institutions of higher learning - pffftttt...no contest...
3. eligible voters who voted in the last election
   = political engagement

I'm sorry, I know it sounds like I am laughing or disbelieving or something. The truth is that while I am happy to find things that elevate my city (well, that, in itself, is disingenuous since we are three or more cities here) to greater stature, still, I do find humor in this sort of thing.

Don't get me wrong...I love living in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, smallish cities near a bigger city, Durham, near the state capitol , Raleigh; where I can take a college level class at UNC or have a picnic in the Duke Gardens.  I can catch the Stanley cup winning Hurricanes hockey team or the world class rock band U2 at the RBC Center.  I can see Taylor Hicks in Grease or Wynton Marsalis and Willie Nelson at the DPAC. Did I mention that 5 star restaurants abound here?

I like having an airport nearby where I can get on something other than a prop plane or even get a non-stop flight to London. I like being 2 hours to the beach or two hours to the mountains...I can spend the weekend at my family beach house or my friends mountain place and still be home for work on Monday.

Life here is pretty sweet...but "better because we are smarter"? Not so much...

This is an opportunity to help build The Mountains to Sea Trail, an ambitious 1000 mile trail across our beautiful state of North Carolina, which will someday stretch from the Tennessee state line to the Atlantic Ocean!

The trail traverses Orange County through the northern community of Cedar Grove as it follows back roads and crosses NC86 and NC57 from Bryan Park in Alamance County on the way to Durham County where the trail is close to the Eno River State Park.

From there the trail heads through Northern Durham County toward Shinleaf State Recreation Area at Falls Lake, crossing I85 and US15 on the way to Guilford County. Clicking the hot links in this paragraph will take you to the topo maps and trailheads in Google maps. You can follow along the entire trail using these maps.

Today's efforts in Orange and Durham Counties begin at 9am at the Cabe Lands parking lot and "the work involves constructing new natural surface hiking trail, and will involve clearing brush, moving logs, picking up debris, and constructing the trail surface."

If you would like to check out other work days across the state visit Help Build the Trail or you can help in other ways by visiting How You Can Help

Governor Perdue has declared October 2009 as Mountains To Sea Trail Month! This is a wonderful project that will benefit all residents of North Carolina. If you are already enchanted by our own greenway system in the Triangle, imagine how much fun this statewide system will be! Get involved!

My Carrboro neighborhood has always been friendlier than many. Most everyone knows who lives in each house and we usually wave to each other as we drive in and out every day. Our newest HOA president has taken us into the 21st century, well, at least the 20th century, by setting up an email contact list. Amazing how much easier it is to schedule neighborhood get-togethers. Just because technology is part of my daily life at work has nothing to do with how I think about communicating with my neighbors. After all, this is the south. We knock on the door, borrow a cup of sugar and then share the fresh baked goodies that result.

I know which of my neighbors have children, which are retired and which ones have local businesses. I know who goes for a walk each evening but beyond that our lives are pretty separate. After all, nobody really wants their neighbors knowing everything.

Last week I was included in a group email from one neighbor, Grey Brown, responding with her suggestions to a neighborhood project scheduled for the coming weekend. I noticed a weblink in her email signature. It simply said www.greybrownpoetry.com. I clicked.

An hour later I had read every poem on her beautiful website. I now know she has published two books of poetry and I know that writing is, for her, intensely personal and the way she copes with adversity and regenerates her spirit. Her just published book of poetry, When They Tell Me, is about her experiences “raising a child on the autism spectrum.” There are selections from it on her website. I have no words.

From her website I also listened to a radio interview she did last month at our local radio station WCOM in Carrboro and another done on NPR’s State of Things. I now know that Grey works with the Duke Health Arts Network, “one of the first arts in health care programs in the nation…integrating the arts and humanities into a variety of health care settings…” integrating her poetry with medicine in a very unique way. What a fantastic project and I didn’t even know such a thing existed.

I now know how very talented my neighbor is and also how very strange it is that a simple web link at the bottom of an email can change the way I see my own world. If Grey Brown is behind the front door of her house, imagine who else might be behind the other doors in my neighborhood.

You can hear Grey read her poetry at the West End Poetry Festival on October 17, 7:15pm at the Carrboro Century Hall, 100 North Greensboro St, Carrboro, NC. See you there.