OWDNA's positions on: Asphalt Plants Regional Rail Traffic Calming Green Space

Web Site Guide | News | About OWDNA | Neighborhood Info | Photographs of OWD | Media Spotlight | Citizen Resources | Home Neighborhood Issues Letter to Durham DOT: Neighbors have observed some unsafe areas for young pedestrians next to EK Powe and approached the school about creating a safer environment for our students. In talking with the school principal, PTA, site-based decision committee and others, we learned that a short list of safety improvements had already been submitted to the City last year. Apparently, Durham had received a DOT grant for a Walk to School program. EK Powe was the only school that expressed an interest. After meeting with the principal and parents about improvements that would make walking safer for students, the group agreed on a fairly inexpensive list (see below). We understand this request was passed on to Public Works, who agreed it was do-able. Folks assumed at the time that these elements would be handled in Engineering's rotation of construction projects. Sadly, we understand the DOT grant money has now expired. The safety improvements are not costly: * re-striping of existing Ninth Street crossing in front of school, * signs saying "Watch for Pedestrians," * striped crosswalk and curb cuts at the two ends of the curved sidewalk on Edith St (back of school), * updating the "No Parking" signs at the crosswalk on Ninth Street (to match the correct time school now opens and closes), From our discussions this summer, we have one more, low-cost improvement that would provide a safer environment for families... * establish two or three 20-minute parking spaces on the west side of Ninth Street (in front of the lower doors by the school admin offices). These new parking spaces would allow late-arriving parents to pull out of traffic before dropping off their kids (right now, parents are forced to stop in traffic and let their children out). The parking spaces would also allow parents and visitors to quickly come and go during the day, in a safer manner. The Old West Durham Neighborhood Association is willing to work with you to help secure these improvements to help create a safer environment for our children. Would you please email me a time-frame for these projects in the pipeline? Thank you so much. signed, Old West Durham Neighborhood Association Diversity, Community, Harmony Protecting retail districts near Duke The twelve Duke-Durham partnership neighborhoods recently held a series of meetings with Duke officials to discuss a proposed University-College (UC) zoning district. During these meetings, a number of changes were made to the UC district with the general agreement of all those in attendance. We then learned that Duke officials were quietly working behind the scenes lobbying the City for a significant change in the ordinance to allow large on-campus retail centers (something we clearly opposed). This lobbying was done without first informing the other stakeholders and prompted dozens of emails to Dr. Nan Keohane and City Council. Community members asked that the ordinance retain the 'limited retail' language arrived at during the neighborhood meetings. Many felt that creating a commercial center on campus would hurt retail shops at Brightleaf, Ninth Street, West Chapel Hill Street, downtown, and locally-owned Northgate. Vacant storefronts would have a negative ripple effect in the same partnership neighborhoods Duke is trying to help. On April 7, Duke informed the neighborhoods that it supported the UC ordinance 'as is' (ie. as drafted at the stakeholders meetings). That night, the Durham City Council unanimously approved the new UC zoning district -- with the 'limited retail' language intact. The coalition of partnership neighborhoods will keep a careful eye on retail plans for Duke's Central Campus. Final Word: A way that works (N&O, January 5, 2003) Our neighborhood association recently asked the Durham planning director to accelerate approval of high-density apartments in our community. Not all neighborhood-developer relationships have to be as contentious as the Coker Tower saga. Old West Durham is not your father's neighborhood association. We're pretty reasonable when it comes to new development and, after meeting early with developers, don't often oppose projects. We knew that Durham's proposed high-density ordinance, Ninth Street North, the Ninth Street regional rail station, Ninth Street Commons and the Erwin Square apartments would bring more traffic and other changes. But we also understand that we live in an urban setting and supported these in-fill projects. Erwin Square is a good example. In the 1980s (before our group existed), a vicious battle ensued over plans to build the Erwin Square tower. This past year, when Erwin Square proposed a 340-unit apartment complex, the headlines spoke of cooperation between the community and developers. What changed? The neighborhood had become more empowered. Developers (and their attorneys) know this and understand the need to contact us early in the process. They also know they can't sneak something past us. We respect them, and they respect us. So we work together and both sides benefit. Confrontational headlines over Erwin Square never materialized, and the project was approved. At the same time, many developers need to be reminded that they are not entitled to re-zonings. Folks also need to know that for every tax dollar generated by new residential development, taxpayers spend $1.50 in more schools, new parks, street improvements, additional police protection, etc (Wake County budget office, 1999). Triangle towns could learn from each other. Durham should follow Raleigh's lead setting a six-week waiting period between notification and a hearing. Bull City neighborhoods receive written notifications of projects as late as ten days before a hearing (we recently learned of a project three working days before comments were due). Frustrations mount when the community has to scramble to understand what's being proposed, discuss with neighbors and the board, reach a decision and play phone tag with the applicant. Durham's system of late notifications also frustrates developers who are contacted on the eve of a hearing -- creating unnecessary problems. This year's successful NAACP-led fight against more asphalt plants in East Durham (where our Planning Department had begun handling the asphalt industry's measure at least six months before residents knew of the proposal) resulted in two improvements: 1) neighborhoods are now notified of any proposals to change the county-wide ordinance and 2) County Commissioner chair Ellen Reckhow asked the manager to set up a "Durham Neighborhood Planning Institute" (where residents can take free Saturday classes to learn more about the planning process). After all, who would want to keep neighborhoods in the dark? The development industry could learn a thing or two from this emerging, smarter school of developers in Durham. More old-guard developers may eventually realize that they'd benefit more if they'd truly partner with the community. John Schelp president, Old West Durham Neighborhood Association [includes text deleted by N&O] Letter to County Commissioners: County to donate two lots on Lawndale Avenue for move of one or two historic houses Dear County Commissioners, As you know, the Historic Preservation Society of Durham and the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association asked the County to donate two lots on Lawndale Avenue to move one or two historic houses from LaSalle Street (and save them from demolition). We ask for your support at Monday's meeting. Without spending a dime, the County will help play a major role in revitalizing the western side of one of Durham's oldest neighborhoods. The historic homes would become a focal point at the western gateway to Old West Durham and stop commercial creep from coming into the residential area. Residences also would produce less traffic than a commercial use at a dangerous intersection that has a significant blind spot. Thanks for listening and have a great weekend. signed, Old West Durham Neighborhood Association [Update: the Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the measure.] East End Connector: Letter to the Editor Dear Council and Commissioners, The board of the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association joins a rising chorus of neighborhood voices in support of a less-expensive alternative to Eno Drive. The East End Connector would provide a rapid connection for folks who live north and east of Durham and work in RTP. Much of the traffic traveling from I-85 to the Durham Freeway wouldn't have to clog neighborhood streets. Alston Ave gets backed up every day. To avoid the back-ups, cars and trucks are cutting through neighborhoods around Alston, Holloway, Geer and Angier. We've talked with folks in East Durham who said fair compensation is due to the homeowners to be displaced. But that traffic is terrible in the Alston/Avondale corridor and would support anything to help get cut-through traffic off the streets. (While more than 100 houses would be demolished for Eno Drive, the connector would affect six houses.) The back-ups on Alston and the long route through downtown up Roxboro Road, result in many drivers taking exits farther west on Rt. 147 (through Trinity Park, Walltown, Old North Durham and Duke Park). This one-mile connector could help improve traffic congestion on several Durham streets (thereby improving the safety of our pedestrians). We join others in the community in asking you to carefully consider the East End Connector. Sincerely yours, Old West Durham Neighborhood Association Asphalt Plants and OWD: Letter to the Editor Unhealthy compromise (Herald-Sun, 12 February 2002) The board of the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association voted unanimously to oppose the proposed zoning ordinance amendment that would reduce buffers between asphalt plants and nearby houses. Asphalt fumes contain at least six known carcinogens. Asphalt plants have no business going near houses anywhere in Durham. We are concerned that while planning officials have stated they don't understand the public health and environmental justice implications of asphalt plants, the early information they have about the public health implications seems to have been provided to them primarily by asphalt industry representatives. If this proposed amendment were to pass, one of the 10 potential asphalt plant sites would run west behind the Hillsborough Road Visart Video store to the area around Cole Mill Road and Interstate 85. Why would planning staff and elected officials allow construction of an asphalt plant upwind from the Crest Street, Old West Durham, Walltown, Duke Manor and Watts Hospital-Hillandale neighborhoods? The “compromise” reported in the Feb. 7 Herald-Sun (“Asphalt company backs off on buffer”) that would reduce the 1,500-foot buffer the zoning ordinance currently requires around asphalt plants to 750 feet is hardly a compromise. Asphalt plants could still be built at all 10 proposed sites with a 750-foot buffer. We urge all concerned citizens to contact the City Council and planning officials and ask them to oppose the proposed zoning ordinance amendment. Kelly Jarrett & Mark Dessauer Old West Durham Neighborhood Association. "Paving the Way" article from The Independent Weekly on the asphalt issue (February 20, 2002). Green space for OWD: OWDNA's Letter to Nick Tennyson, Mayor, City of Durham and the City Council OWDNA President John Schelp and Vice President Betty Greene met on Green Street (near Ninth) with Mayor Nick Tennyson and Mayor Pro Tem Howard Clement to discuss the conversion of this land into green space for Old West Durham. January 5, 2000 Dear members of the Durham City Council, The Old West Durham Neighborhood Association would like to make you aware of the need for a community park across from E.K. Powe Elementary School. The purpose of this letter is to update the multi-term City Council members of our activities and to let the new members know of our ongoing efforts to create a park near Ninth and Green Streets. Old West Durham is a neighborhood in transition. We are densely developed and there is little open space available for a community greenspace. Home to some 800 households and the Ninth Street Shopping District, our neighborhood stretches from East Campus to Hillandale Road and from Englewood Avenue south to the railroad tracks. Having already lost two parks to road construction, our neighborhood remains without a park. The support we have received so far from the City has been outstanding. We are delighted that we were able to show the site of our proposed green spaceto Nick and Howard. Everyone we have encountered in City Hall has been positive and supportive. In fact, you should soon be receiving the CIP which will include an item for green spaceacross from E.K. Powe. There are a number of reasons why the proposed Green Street site would make an ideal location for green space. With the expanded development of Erwin Square on the horizon, establishing a green space now is a proactive opportunity to provide a wide buffer along South Ellerbe Creek for the neighborhood and the elementary school (before new development plans are submitted). A community green space would also help attract visitors and customers to Ninth Street and allow ensuing generations of E.K. Powe students to continue their outdoor biology and ecology lessons. Our community has a long history of having and losing neighborhood parks to development. According to "The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory," the West Durham community had a park before Durham had any City parks. This first park was built more than one hundred years ago (in 1895) in the large grove across the railroad tracks opposite the Erwin Textile mills. The park was equipped with swings and benches and "almost instantly became the social and recreation center of the community's life." In 1922, Erwin Auditorium was built in the park. But, West Durham lost this park when the Durham Freeway was pushed through. Later the West Durham got another park when the West Durham Community Center and park was built at Hillsborough Road and Hillandale. But, we lost that park when Hillandale Road was widened and extended to Duke Medical Center. After we lost the West Durham Community Center, our good friends in Watts Hospital- Hillandale were able to add yet another park to their neighborhood. They now have four City parks while we remain with none. All we're asking for is our park back. We are asking for your help in seeing that the promise that our neighborhood would get a green space to replace the last park we lost is fulfilled. According to the Planning Department, the Erwin Square project did not have to have a development plan when it was initially proposed, since the project did not require a rezoning. So the site plan was approved based on the zoning ordinances in effect at the time. An approved site plan is good for two years -- anything on the approved plan not built within two years of approval is no longer valid. If the developers want to come in with a new site plan for an unbuilt section of the Erwin Square project, it will be subject to the existing ordinances, including the Resource Protection Ordinances (RPO). Our friends in the Planning Department have indicated that Durham's RPO offers buffer protections along South Ellerbe Creek (which runs through the middle of the green space site). Since the creek is clearly designated on the official US Department of Agriculture map and since it has a drainage basin that is greater than 25 acres, the RPO calls for a significant buffer on either side of South Ellerbe Creek. Old West Durham is a historically significant neighborhood and is listed as a National Historic District. The archaeological significance of the area closest to the mill site is specifically mentioned in the National Park Service documentation granting West Durham National Registry Historic District status. West Durham's earliest worker homes were built next to the mills. Thus the 1986 National Park Service report states that there are significant historic and archaeological reasons why this site should remain undeveloped. Creating a green space on Green Street would help us build community and improve the quality of life that we all desire. Watts-Hillandale, E.K. Powe, the Friends of South Ellerbe Creek and a number of other community groups will be sending you letters in support of the proposed green space. We are grateful for all the information provided by the Planning Department. And, special appreciation must go to Guillo Rodriguez and Parks & Recreation for their leadership. Throughout City Hall, we've found civic-minded professionals working to improve the quality of life of Bull City residents. We urge you to support the CIP item for the Green Street green space. Sincerely yours, John Schelp, president Betty Greene, vice-president cc: Lamont Ewell, City Manager South Ellerbe Creek Natural Area in the 1920s: Hillsborough Road is in foreground while Green Street crosses at top. Note the old Erwin Mill houses on "Hillsboro" and the use of any open space to grow vegetables (photo courtesy of Jim Eubanks). Back to top High-Density Development Coming to OWD Architectural drawing of the proposed Erwin Square apartments in Old West Durham. The developers were provided a link to our neighborhood history site and the results show some of the Erwin Mill's architectural features in the design: elongated windows, roof lines, red brick, and arched doorway (facing Hillsborough Road). The use of two colors is to make the building look smaller. After dozens of meetings and phone calls hammering out the details with the developers, OWDNA and Watts-Hillandale spoke in support of the apartments at the 11/13/01 Zoning Committee hearing, resulting in a 7-0 vote for approval. Dear Zoning Committee, The Old West Durham Neighborhood Association strongly supports the proposed Erwin Square apartments (P10-47). We ask you to approve the re-zoning tonight. This residential project is a model of neighborhood-developer cooperation. We've held dozens of meetings and phone calls with Wood Partners and the Planning Department (not to mention all the meetings hammering out the details on the high-density zoning ordinances). We have reached a level of understanding with the developers that is satisfactory (Wood Partners has provided notes that will accompany the development plan). Working together, we've created an attractive product that we're looking forward to seeing in our neighborhood. Please approve the re-zoning and forward to Council. thank you, John Schelp, president Old West Durham Neighborhood Association OWDNA Position on High-Density Zoning and Regional Rail (August 2001) Note to City Council, Late last night [8/14/01], the Zoning Committee voted 7-0 to incorporate the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association's recommendations into Durham's newly proposed high-density zoning category (see letter below). The Zoning Committee requested staff to: 1) explicitly link the high-density category to regional rail station sites approved by the TTA Board of Trustees (to prevent high-density development from cropping up all over Durham), 2) create a new 60 unit/acre category (mid-range zoning category that falls between 40 units/acre and 80 units/acre) and 3) require "Urban Design Plans" for areas like Erwin Square (so elements like open space are not left out). We are encouraged our recommendations were unanimously endorsed by the Zoning Committee. It is our hope City Council will also support this reasonable language in Durham's proposed high-density zoning categories. Sincerely, John Schelp, president Old West Durham Neighborhood Association cc: City Manager Planning Department , Neighborhood leaders , Local media =================================== Dear Zoning Committee Members: The Old West Durham Neighborhood Association enthusiastically supports TTA´s Regional Rail Project - Phase One. We also believe that it is appropriate to develop lively, intense, mixed-use areas around the stations. Thus, OWDNA supports the creation of new zoning categories that would allow for the development of such vibrant areas. However, we have a number of recommendations which we feel would improve the categories under consideration. Requiring prior completion of Urban Design Plans in target station areas As a neighborhood, accepting high-intensity projects without without the context of an overall plan for the station area is disconcerting. As existing residents and business owners, we should be able to participate in planning for the area as a whole. In this way, we can work with the city and landowners to create a vision for all the types of buildings, activities and infrastructure that will be needed. Then, all parties could decide whether a specific project proposal fits into that vision. The urban design plan would need to include plans for new streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, bus service amenities, parking, parks, plazas, and major systems like stormwater control and transportation capacity. Designing these elements in advance will result in a better functioning place than if each issue is raised on a piecemeal basis, property by property. Particularly because the new zoning categories exempt any requirements for open space, it is important to plan early for any parks, plazas, or other public spaces that would be desirable to make these station areas vibrant, welcoming places. Without prior design for these places, very intense development could occur on the parcels within the station area, without any accommodation for these important public spaces. For these reasons, we believe that requiring an urban design plan for the station areas prior to granting rezonings for high-density residential uses is essential. Requiring prior approval of Regional Rail Station site  Since these new zoning categories are intended to support increased activity around Regional Rail Stations, rezoning to a high density residential category should be predicated on the approval of the station site by TTA´s Board of Trustees. Creating an additional high-density residential zoning category We believe that a fourth category should be considered which would allow up to 60 units per acre. We believe that this category is more appropriate for a neighborhood like Old West Durham, than an 80 unit per acre category. We believe that the 80 unit per acre category is appropriate for Downtown Durham and RTP. Requiring apartment units to be built “condo-ready” As residents and business owners in Old West Durham, we are concerned above the long-term health of our neighborhood. We want new buildings to have a productive life well beyond the typical 20-year mortgage life of apartment developments. By requiring apartment units to be “condo-ready,” this improves the chances that the apartments can be converted to owner-occupied condominium units if the local housing market should change. Requiring inclusion of universally-accessible designed apartment units in all apartment projects For reasons similar to those stated above for condominium conversion, ensuring that units are designed to be universally accessible would make them more flexible units. An increasing elderly population would be well-served by this approach. Requiring urban design features We commend the proposed requirements related to making the project designs transit- and pedestrian-oriented. It is important that projects within walking distance of a rail station have complete sidewalk and bicycle access. Buildings should be brought up to the back of sidewalk and parking should be accommodated in the rear or in decks. Street level floors should be required to have windows, forbidding a “blank face” to the street. As OWDNA Board members, we appreciate your consideration of our recommendations. We believe that these changes will make the new zoning categories work better in creating transit-friendly neighborhoods. Sincerely, Board Members Old West Durham Neighborhood Association Back to top OWDNA Letter to the Editor: Next stop, Ninth Street [Herald-Sun. 15 July 2001] From the beginning, the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association has been a strong proponent of regional rail in general and of a Ninth Street station in particular. Regional rail will benefit neighborhoods across Durham and around the Triangle by helping to alleviate traffic in one of our most congested highway corridors and improve air quality. The Ninth Street station, near the site of an old railroad stop serving Erwin Mills, will be ideally located between downtown Durham and Duke University. The Ninth Street shopping district is one of the most bustling in Durham, attracting customers from throughout the Triangle. With the planned expansion of Erwin Square and the Duke Medical Center research complex along Erwin Road, even more businesses and residents will be reached via the Ninth Street location — creating jobs, increasing ridership and boosting Durham´s tax base. The advantages of locating regional rail stations near shops and homes can be seen clearly in the Georgetown area in Washington, D.C. This popular shopping and residential neighborhood originally opposed being on Washington's Metro rapid transit line. Today, folks have a difficult time reaching Georgetown because of traffic and parking problems. An expensive extension of the Metro line into Georgetown is now being considered. The Old West Durham Neighborhood Association condemned Duke University´s past reluctance to embrace regional rail near its hospitals and medical center. Today, Duke is to be commended for supporting a rail station at the medical center. Mark and Betsy Dessauer Durham The writers are board members of the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association Back to top OWDNA Statement on Regional Rail (2000) The neighborhood of Old West Durham stretches across the northern boundary of Duke University (from East Campus to the doors of the Medical Center) and is part of the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership Initiative. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Districts, our community was first settled along the railroad tracks before the arrival of Trinity College, before the arrival of Erwin Cotton Mills, and before Dr. Bartlett Durham donated land to create Durham Station. Today, the board of the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association is disappointed at Duke University's public comments regarding the long-planned regional rail stop at Duke's medical center. We urge Duke to be more flexible in its approach to this important regional effort. We have a number of concerns: 1. Several neighbors living close to Duke are frustrated at the university's two-sided policies. On the one hand, Duke says it is important to reach out to the community while, on the other hand, it is turning its back on an important regional effort that will help neighborhoods across Durham and across the Triangle by helping to alleviate our congested roads and improve air quality. 2. As Durham's largest employer, Duke's opposition to the medical center station will result in lower ridership and could irreparably harm the system as a whole. 3. For Duke University to claim that regional rail would create a "wall" is unfortunate. Many in the Bull City already see many walls at Duke (both literally and figuratively). And for Duke to express concerns about noise is perplexing considering that the state's largest heliport is located at the medical center (leaving nearby neighbors living under the copter-jet flight paths to deal with the resulting noise pollution). 4. Opposing the medical center regional rail station is short-sighted. In the 1970s, Georgetown (an elite neighborhood in Washington, DC) opposed the building of a metro station in its "back yard." Today, Georgetown is a sea of clogged traffic and impossible-to-find parking. Merchants and neighbors suffer from customers and visitors complaining that they no longer go there due to the twin crises of parking and traffic. 5. Duke is closing the door on the thousands of employees who could take advantage of transit options (for economic reasons or simply to get to work faster and more efficiently than fighting increasing traffic on Triangle roads). Not everyone who works at Duke, or who needs medical attention there, can afford a private car. 6. Parking is a big, expensive problem at Duke. Regional rail would help alleviate the university's parking crunch. 7. Efforts to build a regional rail system will ease smog problems by providing an attractive alternative for commuters who now drive cars to work. 8. According to the AAA Life Insurance Company, every 13 minutes one American is killed in an auto accident. Regional rail would offer a safer alternative. 9. Why wait until late in the game for the announcement opposing the medical center site? The planned route, with a stop at the medical center, has been public knowledge for a considerable amount of time. And, the last-minute alternative site proposed by Duke (trying to squeeze a station on a steep incline next to the Durham Freeway) would also have harmed ridership because commuters would be more reluctant to take regional rail if they had to transfer to buses to get to work. The site was hastily chosen -- Duke didn't even have the time to check with the NC Department of Transportation for their input before announcing its alternative site (DOT quickly rejected the location). Much effort went into the planning for regional rail -- efforts and resources that would be wasted if Duke is not more flexible in its approach. The Old West Durham Neighborhood Association is troubled by Duke's intransigence on regional rail. We feel strongly that supporting viable regional rail is important. Regional rail is good for Durham, and Duke should be at the forefront of encouraging its swift development. Regional rail will bring visitors from other Triangle communities to the Bull City; increase commercial opportunities for downtown, Brightleaf and Ninth Street businesses; and spur the development of revitalized housing, additional shopping and new employment opportunities for Durham residents living and working near the rail corridor. Regional rail would benefit everyone -- including Duke University.   Slowing down traffic in Old West Durham With our neighborhood in the bull's eye between the growing number of residential developments to our north and west and with the growth of employment centers to our south and east, the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association is concerned about traffic speeding through our neighborhood. In an attempt to slow down traffic in our community, the OWDNA has been working with the City to develop a neighborhood traffic calming plan. While we have discussed various traffic calming measures in recent newsletters, below is an update from the plan that we developed with the City of Durham (following a traffic analysis by the Durham Department of Transportation). OWDNA has historically opposed shifting traffic or blocking off streets. We feel strongly that when you start to block off streets, you shift the traffic burden to the folks living on nearby streets (and you fall into the trap of having to block off even more streets). While we will not try to unblock any streets (especially with the development of Erwin Square in our future), we have not and will not take any action to block any neighborhood streets. For these reasons, we are advocating the use of traffic circles and, if neighbors agree, the possibility of one speed hump on Green and one on Iredell. Traffic circles are working well in Trinity Park (where you can see them on Englewood and on Knox). Small circles in the intersection do not touch the existing curbs. A landscaped traffic circle would encourage a motorist speeding through Old West Durham to slow down and realize that he/she is in a neighborhood with homes, kids and pets. Traffic measures like traffic circles and speed humps would require the signature of 75% of the property owners within a one-block area of the site. If you live near Hale and Green or on Iredell (south of Knox), you may be visited by someone from OWDNA asking you to sign the petition. (The City requires property owners to sign valid petitions). Our traffic calming plan is the result of resident feedback, work by the OWDNA board and input from the City of Durham. Please call 541-5723 (day) if you have any questions. Traffic Calming Measure & Location Oakland Avenue (at West Knox) Traffic Circle (as the only straight shot through the heart of OWD between Club and Hillsborough, this intersection was our initial priority). Lawndale Avenue (at Hillsborough Rd) Small Channelization Island (the problem is that eastbound vehicles on Hillsborough Road do not slow down when turning left onto Lawndale Avenue). Green Street (at Oakland) Curb revision (make intersection more like an "X" shape). The objective is to reduce confusion and the speed of traffic turning from northbound Oakland Avenue onto eastbound Green Street. Green Street (at Hale Street) Traffic Circle (Both Green and Hale are major cut-throughs) Green Street (maybe -- depends on resident input) Speed hump between Virgie & Edith Iredell Street (maybe -- depends on resident input) Speed hump between Knox & Green According to the City, the low volume of traffic on streets like Virgie, Carolina, and Edith would not qualify those roads for traffic calming measures. Our focus here is on the major roads cutting across the neighborhood. Since this is a neighborhood approach to traffic calming, the City supports establishing a 25 mph speed limit on those streets within the study area which are not already 25 mph: Golf Street, Lawndale Avenue, Knox Street, Virgie Street and Edith Street. Back to top   Successful Cleanup of Vacant Lot on Green Street: OWDNA Seeks Site for Urban Greenspace Fourteen OWD neighbors spruced up the greenspace on Green Street (near Ninth St) in March, 1999. Neighbors and friends came and filled four pickup trucks worth of debris. The refuse was hauled away by the city's Impact Team, which also provided the pickers, bags and yard tools to help with the clean up. When you push through the brush, the rolling, gentle hills and winding paths around the clearing hint at the possibilities for a wonderful urban space for Old West Durham. However, there are questions about a large "dye pond" surrounded by a screened fence near the creek. The dye pond is left over from the Erwin textile mill -- when run-off from the mill operations used to flow away from the mill (apparently, in the past, the neighborhood often smelled like a big laundry mat from the warm water that flowed out of the mills). We don't know if the dye pond is something to worry about but, are checking with local and state contacts. Its placement next to an elementary school and near many homes should be a concern. Potential risks associated with the dye pond include possible residues in the water or leaching into the surrounding soil and creek bed. If nothing else, it is a huge breeding place for mosquitoes. Back to top