Next up in today's series of Durham photos: the Brightleaf Square, West Village and American Tobacco districts.
Brightleaf Square was one of the US' first tobacco warehouse renovations in the early 80s; recently updated, it is the home of many fine restaurants and unique locally-owned shops.
West Village's phase-one dates back a few years and is the home to popular (fully-leased) loft apartments; phase two has just begun (I've included some photos of the demolition/construction) and represents a $140 million investment for housing, retail and office space in Durham.
American Tobacco is a very hot property in downtown Durham; the first phase is office and dining and is 98% leased, including the headquarters of ad agency McKinney+Silver, administrative offices for GlaxoSmithKline and Duke University, and the world headquarters of Motricity, a mobile phone content provider. It's across the street from the Durham Bulls' new ballpark. Phases two and three (photos included) include about 70 condos/apartments (with a 300-person wait-list), Durham's new performing arts center, and more office space and retail.
First up: Brightleaf Square...
The main shopping and dining arcade
Corner view
Across from Brightleaf, the popular new bistro Alivia's. The Federal and the James Joyce are also popular bars/taverns. This whole area is tremendously alive in the evenings.
A view of the neighboring Peabody Place complex, with a view towards part of Durham's skyline.
The Durham School of the Arts, a popular high school with a strong fine-arts magnet, is adjacent to the Brightleaf district.
Durham's old Studebaker dealership, being renovated as the new regional office for the international ad agency Ogilvy:
Next up: West Village. Here's phase one, the loft-apartments.
Another view; on the right hand side is where further renovation (including a new parking deck) are coming in.
More of phase two of West Village, now under construction...
(The bridge from the old Liggett & Myers factory will be removed.)
Last up: the American Tobacco Historic District.
Here's phase one...
The Durham Bulls ballpark across from the ATHD:
And here's phase two under construction:
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