Patheon moves global HQ to RTP, jobs to Durham

Some good news in tough economic times: Toronto-based contract pharmaceutical firm Patheon is moving its global headquarters to Durham and will additionally be setting up a research facility within Research Triangle Park.

The company, with more than 4,700 employees worldwide, will be adding at least 100 jobs from local hires according to a quote in the H-S this morning. Only a few executives are expected to relocate from Toronto, according to the N&O. Up to three sites in the Park are reportedly under consideration for the HQ operations while a site for the laboratory has been selected.

The laboratory is expected to open by the end of summer, and the headquarters by the end of the year.

Amusingly, while the H-S, WRAL, TBJ and even Patheon's own press release expressly note that the company has chosen "RTP and Durham" as the site of the relocation, the reporter for the Raleigh-based N&O, David Ranii, sticks to denoting this as a move to "the Triangle" -- and mentions the D-word only once in the article, when he runs a quote from the VP for economic development from the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce.

Comments

[Spencer Dempsey]

Thank you for shedding light on this atrocious media coverage. This is an exciting opportunity for our entire Triangle community, but for Durham specifically. Patheon chose Durham over Raleigh and the rest of the Triangle to locate its headquarters. Any time a company chooses to locate their headquarters or other facilities here in Durham, they are making a major investment in our community because of ALL we have to offer, especially our people. Some Triangle-wide recognition of Durham's assets is long past due!

[Tom King]

I'm certain that Durham has a lot to offer and is a great community. It is unfortunate that crime in Durham is what it is. For a city of Durham's size, the crime index is off the charts. Many folks won't go th Durham for fear of being a victim or worse yet a statistic. City fathers need to work with the Police Department to give the city the resources it needs to make Durham a SAFE city.

[Mike Woodard]

1) Late Breaking News: Merck plans 150 more jobs at Durham vaccine plant (N&O)

Merck for the second time in two years has expanded plans for a vaccine manufacturing plant in Durham.

The New Jersey company has agreed to invest an additional $300 million in the facility and create as many as 180 more jobs than earlier promised.

2) I'm not sure what source Mr. King is relying on, but I'm hard pressed to find an objective source that shows "the crime index is off the charts."

Of southeastern cities Durham's size, Durham has fewer property crimes per 100,000 residents than Chattanooga, Columbia, Richmond, Savannah, and Winston-Salem and is statistically tied with Fort Lauderdale. Durham's rate is higher than Greensboro and Norfolk's.

When it comes to violent crimes, Durham has fewer per 100,000 residents than Chattanooga, Columbia, Richmond, Fort Lauderdale, and Savannah and is statistically tied with Winston-Salem. Again, Greensboro and Norfolk have fewer (but only slightly in GSO's case).

This information is based on the Uniform Crime Reports filed with federal agencies.

Mr. King is correct that the City government needs to provide more resources to the Police Department and other agencies to mitigate crime and its root causes. Twenty new police officers were placed in the upcoming City budget as well as a significant increase in officer pay.

3) I too was struck by the N&O's clear bias in its story, but Mr. Ranii is based in the Raleigh bureau. Look for more uninformed reporting as the N&O relies more and more on Raleigh- and Charlotte-based reporters.

[DBP]

Hey Tom King: Can you provide me with a link to the stats about crime in Durham where it shows that for "a city of Durham's size, the crime index is off the charts."

Thanks in advance.

Edited to add: Oops, looks like Mike Woodard has already busted you on your Durham hysteria/misinformation. Nevermind.

Didn't I just read that Raleigh's murder rate has tripled this year? If it had been Durham, it would've been a BIG SCARY STORY. Since it's Raleigh, not so much. Wonder why that is? Oh I think I know.

[Joshua Allen]

This name play with using the Triangle for anything positive about Durham is nothing new. The N&O especially has been doing ever since I've lived in Durham. This word play advances the notion that Durham is unsafe because the media focuses its Durham stories on crime. When the media only reports crime stories about Durham and positive Durham stories as The Triangle, it's no surprise that people have a skewed sense of reality.

I can say that I've been in Durham for 10 years. I've lived in South Durham, North Durham, and West Central Durham and I've worked in South Durham and have not experienced crime in all 10 years. It is true that there is violent crime in Durham; however, much of it occurs in a small area. Unfortunately, all of Durham gets a bad rap.

It's also funny that I work in the southern part of Durham (in the City limits of Durham; we are not in RTP proper) but all of my coworkers refer to our workplace as being in Raleigh. They are all scared to go to Durham, yet they work in Durham and don't even comprehend it. These are the reasons Durham has an undeserving bad rap.

[Michael Bacon]

Credit where credit is due...

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/wake/story/1113093.html

I will note, though, that this is the first time I've seen the "murder counter" broken out in a Raleigh story, whereas it's usually standard issue in Durham stories. If the homicides in Raleigh tragically continue, it will be interesting to see if the murder counter continues to appear.

[AR]

The story about the spike in Raleigh homicides was buried on page C4 of the NandO today. Also, according to the NC Attorney General's crime statistics, Durham's violent crime rate was lower than Raleigh's in 2006 and 2007. Our murder rate per 100,000 was only slightly higher than Raleigh's (26 vs 23). What am I missing?? check out the crime report here

http://sbi2.jus.state.nc.us/crp/public/2007/ASR/2007%20Annual%20Summary%20.pdf

[iceman]

"It's also funny that I work in the southern part of Durham (in the City limits of Durham; we are not in RTP proper) but all of my coworkers refer to our workplace as being in Raleigh. They are all scared to go to Durham, yet they work in Durham and don't even comprehend it. These are the reasons Durham has an undeserving bad rap."

Not only do Raleigh, Cary, and Chapel Hill folks all too often mock Durham, yet work there (most of what they call RTP or the Park is Durham), but they probably shop there (Southpoint Mall, etc..) and entertain there (DBAP, new performing arts center) as well.

[Will]

I would love to rent a billboard on the beltline with that N&O headline "Raleigh Homicides Nearly Double...Durham looking better every day" :)

@ Tom clearly you must have gotten lost on your way to the WRAL.com Golo comments section.