I want to walk to restaurants... (Raleigh, Durham: apartments, condos, chapel)

[Boatdreamin]

Hello all,

I have really enjoyed this website so much in the past few days. My wife and I are looking to buy in the Raleigh/Cary/Apex/Durham area as close to 64 as possible. The most important thing is that we want to be able to walk to restaurants/retail districts. We used to live in Roswell, GA and were within walking distance to a historic district. We miss that so much here in Chatham County. Our price range is $250K to $350K and we were looking at townhouses for the low maintenance aspect, but we are open to options. Opinions? Ideas? Thanks in advance!

[InflationNation]

Originally Posted by Boatdreamin

Hello all,

I have really enjoyed this website so much in the past few days. My wife and I are looking to buy in the Raleigh/Cary/Apex/Durham area as close to 64 as possible. The most important thing is that we want to be able to walk to restaurants/retail districts. We used to live in Roswell, GA and were within walking distance to a historic district. We miss that so much here in Chatham County. Our price range is $250K to $350K and we were looking at townhouses for the low maintenance aspect, but we are open to options. Opinions? Ideas? Thanks in advance!

Near Brier Creek perhaps? Think there are plenty of them around that area and decent inventory levels (aka buyer's market). Downtown/Glenwood will cost you a lot and sellers aren't all ready to bargain, YET.

[scorp200]

Originally Posted by InflationNation

Near Brier Creek perhaps? Think there are plenty of them around that area and decent inventory levels (aka buyer's market). Downtown/Glenwood will cost you a lot and sellers aren't all ready to bargain, YET.

Yes but note that the Brier Creek restaurants are chains (and bad ones IMO except for Pei Wei Asian Diner) and I think you could probably get killed crossing those streets, esp. 70.

I would tell you to check out the 9th Street area of Durham (Old West Durham) but I don't think that's all that close to 64...though maybe not a long drive if you hop on the Durham Freeway (147)?

[IdaClaire]

Close to 64? I'd take a look at downtown Apex. I used to live right off Salem St and we walked to restaurants all the time. There are several decent places to eat on Salem St and a lot of cute little shops to explore. Apex has a nice, small town feel.

Alternatively, downtown Pittsboro, while tiny, is growing and has a few decent restaurants within walking distance. I love going to the General Store cafe for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and it even has live music. Pittsboro somehow manages to be both small town, down-home, and a wee bit crunchy, due to the proximity of Chapel Hill.

There are parts of Cary that border 64 and have restaurants, but I wouldn't really consider the areas "walkable", unless you like crossing a very busy artery road.

[Jdatlas]

I agree with Scorp. You would not want to walk in the Brier Creek area. Way too much traffic. Not pedestrian friendly at all.

I also agree that Pei Wei Asian Diner is great. I eat there every chance I get.

[Oyster07]

I used to live in Kildaire Farms in Cary. Loved the sidewalks everywhere. I used to joke that I could walk 25 miles without having to get off the sidewalk. I was within walking distance restaurants (Cinelli's, Outback, The Loop), shopping and Trader Joe's!

[rnc2mbfl]

To get what you truly want, you are going to have to find locations that are not primarily built around the circulation of cars, as is the case with Briar Creek and its vast parking lot that never seems to end. Also, if you are looking for the historic feel of your former neighborhood, it's going to make the search more narrowed. My guess is that the downtowns of Apex and Cary might give you that feel and be close to 64. Ninth St. in Durham will do the same. However, I am not sure what the townhouse housing stock is in those areas and how close you want to be to 64. The Glenwood South to Cameron Village area is a great option in Raleigh for what you want but I am not sure how much you'd expect to get for your budget. That area is really getting pricey in comparison to other areas. Small, older townhouse style condos can still be had for under 200K at Cameron Village but they are dated and need renovation. There is a smattering of newer townhouse complexes tucked in the area that are in the price range like St. Mary's Place and Governor's Point. These properties are newer and larger than Cameron Village Condos but are hard to come by and many don't have garages. North Hills is another option but there aren't really any townhouses within walking distance. There really should be! I think that they'd sell well priced condos and townhouses like mad if they built them within walking distance. In fact, as of now, there are really only single family houses and apartments immediately adjacent to N. Hills.
Good luck!

[Gurl]

Originally Posted by Boatdreamin

We used to live in Roswell, GA and were within walking distance to a historic district. We miss that so much here in Chatham County. Our price range is $250K to $350K and we were looking at townhouses for the low maintenance aspect, but we are open to options. Opinions? Ideas? Thanks in advance!

To you want to be able to walk to one or two good restaurants, or do you want to be walking distance to a plethora of options?

[NewUser]

Originally Posted by Jdatlas

I also agree that Pei Wei Asian Diner is great. I eat there every chance I get.

Wow. I guess I need to give Pei Wei another chance. I've been twice and thought the food was marginal at best. Not much better than Chinese take out IMO.

[rnc2mbfl]

Originally Posted by NewUser

Wow. I guess I need to give Pei Wei another chance. I've been twice and thought the food was marginal at best. Not much better than Chinese take out IMO.

Pei Wei is essentially faster, cheaper PF Changs. It's the same company and they share at least some menu items like the lettuce wraps.