PAC 2 MINUTES Regular Meeting January 13, 2020
The regular meeting of Partners Against Crime, District 2, was held on January 13th, at 6:00 p.m., at the DPS Training Facility, 2107 Hillandale Rd. Durham, NC 27705. Co-facilitators: ; Zion Tankard Treasurer: Gerri Stanczyk; and Secretary: Keni Church, being present. Co-facilitator Rebecca Redd-Jolly was absent.
Call to Order 6:00 PM Introduction of Attending Members (reported by Zion Tankard)Members introduced
House Keeping
1st Time Guests; Birthdays
Format of Meeting (includes history of PAC)Christmas selection sung by -Barbara Jones Action on Agenda/Minutes (reported by Rebecca Redd-Jolly)NONE Announcements/Programs (reported by Rebecca Redd-Jolly)Ø National Blood Donor MonthØ M.L.K. Birthday- January 20thReminded attendees that LOTS of great information could be found on the City (http://durhamnc.gov/) and County (http://dconc.gov/) websites…, so be sure to check them out often! Facilitator’s Report (reported by Rebecca Redd-Jolly)NONE REPORTED Treasurer’s Report (reported by Gerri Stanczyk)NONE REPORTED Departments and Organizations Reports (reported by Rebecca Redd-Jolly)Durham Police Department(reported by Capt. Robert Gaddy)Current Crime Trends.
Anyone with information related to these crimes is asked to call Crime stoppers (919-683-1200) or investigations (919-560-4582).
Crime statistics and notable arrests are available for viewing at http://durhamnc.gov/719/Crime-Statistics, District 2 Commanders Update.
Learn more about DPD: www.durhampolice.com
http://Facebook.com/DurhamPoliceDepartment
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DurhamPoliceNC For more information about crime in your area or to view it on a map visit: radisonline.com
Office of the Sheriff (reported by Capt. Keith Webster)
· No reports made
Durham Parks and Recreation (Colleen Toomey, Recreation and Aquatics Supervisor, Johnson Aquatic Center)
You can find the Play More Magazine at: http://durhamnc.gov/2786/Play-More or just log onto the Parks & Rec site at http://durhamnc.gov/753/Parks-Recreation and click “Play More” on the left – or browse through all the other tabs on that page for lots more information.
Neighborhood Improvement Services (reported by Alexis John, Community Engagement Strategist)
Alexis John provided information on the following:
➤ Neighborhood matching Grants
Visit the City of Durham NIS Community Engagement website: https://www.durhamcommunityengagement.org/ interests and complete an intake form in order to receive updates from the City and check off your specific interests such as:
Top of Form
General Updates
Equitable Community Engagement
Mayor’s Transformation in Ten
Beautification
Neighbor Spotlight
Neighborhood Matching Grants
City Hall on the Go
Bull City Play Street
Cleanups
Urban Avenue (Development Proposal)
South Ellerbe Stormwater Project
Belt Line Trail Project
I want to volunteer
Bottom of Form
For information on NIS programs and services, attendees were encouraged to contact Alexis John, Community Engagement Strategist, Districts 2 and 3 Coordinator, via telephone or email at 919-560-1647, ext. 34245, alexis.john@durhamnc.gov. To see the PAC Newsletters from NIS, click or copy/paste the hyperlink into your browser: http://durhamnc.gov/570/Neighborhood-Improvement-Services.
Development at West Point -Tom Merrigan
· Large-scale, dense housing development has been submitted to Durham concerning 54 acres of completely undeveloped, wooded land bordering and just south of the West Point on the Eno City Park.
· The plan includes 379 dwelling units (mainly townhomes), surface parking lots with new streets connecting to Roxboro and to the end of Stadium Drive.
· The development increases the impervious area from .012 acres to 24.8 acres.
· The development is in conflict with the current Comprehensive Plan of Durham, which asks these areas be developed at 2 dwellings per acre (current proposal is 3 times that).
· When will there be a chance for the public to weigh in? There is none. This development is based on a 48-year-old plan that supposedly gives the land owners the ability to build it by right.
· If you want the City to let the public be involved, email the planning director, Patrick Young:
patrick.young@durhamnc.gov
A website is https://www.blackmeadowridge.org/ and will show the development plan and give the complete history of the site and how the development disagrees with the current laws.
If you want to be included in our email list to find out more email: merrigant@gmail.com with the subject line West Point Development and I will add your email to any news on this matter.
Northwood Raven ( Northgate Mall Renovations) – Jeff Furman
· Jeff Furman was the representative from Northwood Raven real estate company who has purchased the 50-acre property that is currently known as Northgate mall. Northwood purchased the property about a year ago.
· Northwood Ravin is a leading full-service development, construction and property management firm. NWR blends the nimbleness of a small business, with a long legacy of success from its history at Crosland. Northwood Ravin develops and manages signature apartment communities and mixed-use venues with a singular focus: to create communities that foster healthy lifestyles, neighborhood involvement and appealing living environments.
This is the team that has earned everything from the NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry award for design, mixed-use development and creative financing, to Multi-Housing News Design Excellence Awards, to CEL & Associates’ “A List” Award for customer service. Great care is taken during the design and construction stages of every project to ensure the long-term durability and sustainability so that maintenance costs will be minimized, and the buildings will remain aesthetically appealing for decades to come. The team has also built or developed projects that are registered in LEED-NC, LEED-ND pilot program and LEED-CS programs, EarthCraft and EnergyStar programs. One of our most recent projects developed in Durham, Trinity Commons, is LEED registered and was the first multifamily rental project to achieve LEED Silver certification in Eastern North Carolina. Properties in which they have constructed are as follows:
Dobbins HillChapel Hill, NCCaraway VillageChapel Hill, NCVann Ellen ( Near the Baseball field)Durham, NCPalladiumDurham, NCTrinity CommonsDurham, NCApartments of South PointDurham, NCThe ArboretumDurham, NC
· It was confirmed that Duke purchased the Macy’s building.
· The representative shared that at this time, they are only in Phase 1 of the planning cycle for this property which is inclusive of interacting with the community to have better input on how to better serve the community.
· Representative interconnected that despite there being concrete plans for the property at this time, it is their desire to integrate a mixed-use concept to ensure the best community interactions.
· Merchants from Northgate, ( Kids Foot locker, Foot Locker, Champs, and Esmerelda’s Café’) expressed alarm about the future at the property and the ongoing uncertainty during this time.
· The representative explained , Currently, there is no Estimated time in which the property will close to all business. Deliberations with the city have gone underway to discuss businesses moving out during the renovation process and returning once the renovations have been completed. Again, A TENATIVE TIMEFRAME OF RENOVATIONS ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
· Questions from the community included but are not limited to the following:
· What is the company proposing to build in its place?
· How is the construction going to affect the surrounding communities?
· Is there a plan to build upward?
· Is there a plan to build affordable housing ?
· Response: Forthwith, there are no concrete plans on what is to become of the property. It is desired that the future use will be that of mixed-use ( retail, housing, offices, etc.) to which Northwood Raven has been working on securing a food mart ( Trader Joe’s was a community suggestion) for their future. Conversely, affordable housing has not been an approved “ fit” in imminent planning.
· More community meetings are expected to take place before development, however, dates/ times and contact are not offered presently.
· Please contact Jeff Furman, Director of Raleigh operations, Vice President , Development via email at: jfurman@northwoodravin.com or view company information at www.northwoodravin.com
Unfinished BusinessIssue: None to report MotionsNone NEXT PAC 2 MEETINGFebruary 10, 2020 (DPS Training Facility)
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Dutifully submitted, Keni Church, Secretary on 1/19/20. If you have corrections or comments, feel free to e-mail Zion Tankard, Facilitator, directly at zstankard@gmail.com.