The artificial river may be turned off at American Tobacco, but the construction work continues apace throughout the winter. Phase II of American Tobacco, the renovations of the north side of the original factory area, have continued over the past couple of years in stages. The Hill Building, home to Motricity, wrapped up first and delivered to its tenants in 2006; the Lucky Strik building delivered to Duke Corporate Education in 2007.
The Noell and Old Bull buildings, which will primarily contain residential apartment units along with a few commercial spaces, remain under construction and are likely to wrap up in February, according to a story in the Triangle Business Journal earlier this month. (The H-S also reported this weekend that the first tenants have moved into apartments and office space in American Tobacco's Noell building.)
For all this, the Power Plant building at the center of the complex, right behind the water tower, has remained closed and hasn't been touched by the development work elsewhere on the campus. All that looks to change in the coming weeks, however, as tenants in the complex have been alerted that construction fencing will be erected around the building as renovation work is about to get underway on the space.
About 27,000 sq. ft. of space are available in the Power Plant facility, and leasing agent CB Richard Ellis notes "this highly visible building would be ideal for high-end restaurants or office users who want maximum exposure." Dining is a new suggestion for the Power Plant space, which had to our knowledge previously only been mentioned as commercial office space.
Initial plans had called for the coal shed at the north end of the property to be enclosed and turned into a high-end restaurant, but there's not been much discussion of that space in recent months. We expect plans there may firm up once the project's second phase renovations are complete.
The Power Plant would be a good location for a Dave & Busters type facility. Or... Hard Rock Cafe - Durham?
Posted by: Toastie | January 17, 2008 at 11:56 AM
I've always thought the power plant would be a great location for a dance club.
Posted by: Celeste | January 17, 2008 at 01:03 PM
How about a Chipotle or Barnes & Noble?
Posted by: peanutbutter | January 17, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Let's get a little more upscale than a Dave or Buster's, Hard Rock. We've already got that with Tyler's. I wish someone would open an upscale/stylish Indian restaurant.
Posted by: Carol | January 17, 2008 at 01:52 PM
Coal. It's what's for dinner.
Posted by: LSMFT | January 17, 2008 at 02:34 PM
library and coffee shop/internet cafe!
Posted by: durhamwalkingdog | January 17, 2008 at 04:03 PM
I think Old Bull would make a dandy boutique hotel and don't understand why it's not going that route.
Imagine the coup for Goodmon...captive clients of Motricity and Duke and McKinney and whatever...they'd make big deals there, sleep there, eat there, use the Y there, shop (as if) there.
Posted by: Yurlinda Higginbotham | January 17, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Old Bull was originally slated for that, but CBC didn't want to operate it, and they couldn't find an operator.
The Hill Building (CCB/SunTrust) is going to be a boutique hotel, so all is not lost.
Posted by: Michael Bacon | January 17, 2008 at 06:42 PM
I'm with celeste. i was peering into it's windows just last week and thinking that it would make a pretty stellar live music venue.
Posted by: Alicia | January 18, 2008 at 04:22 PM