Downtown Durham, from the top of the Hill
September 19, 2007
Last week, Greenfire Development hosted a fundraiser for Durham Central Park at the top of the Hill Building (nowadays carrying the flag for SunTrust at its peak). The fundraiser, part of the Meals from the Market series benefiting the Park and its supporting non-profit, gave patrons a chance to try some of Chef Jim Anile's cooking in advance of his opening his new downtown restaurant, Revolution -- and also provided one final chance to get a birds-eye view of downtown Durham before Greenfire begins renovation of the structure, which is set to become a boutique hotel and spa by 2009.
BCR reader Joshua Allen attended the dinner and brought along his digital camera for good measure. He's been kind enough to share his photos from the top with the blog and with everyone on the web in this online photo gallery. Here's a few of my favorites--
The top-down view of the CCB Plaza below shows how the concrete-and-brick pattern continues on both sides of Corcoran St, and how the grassy areas interact with the plaza. Obvious to others, perhaps, but folks like me need to be hit over the head with things like this.
Next up -- so many people ask what's behind the Sturdivants' call for Oprah to come to the Bull City. We can now all know, definitively -- it's an empty swimming pool behind that sign. Literally speaking, that is, as you can see the Jack Tar Motel heritage of downtown's architectural oddity:
How about a top-down look at Five Points, showing the realigned intersection, SouthBank and West Village, and the NC Mutual Life building, all at the edge of dusk.
Remember this view of American Tobacco under construction. Today the density on the western side of the site meets with the barrenness of construction to the east. But when the Performing Arts Center, Diamond View buildings, and Phase III residential construction is complete there north of the ballpark, it's easy to imagine how different the view will be.
I'm also intrigued by this view up Foster St. towards the DAP district, which is notable as much for the contrast between the Durham Centre and the older buildings to its north as it is for the sight of Durham Regional Hospital looming on the horizon, far bigger than one might think...
Or historic Parrish St., with Trinity Methodist and City Hall rising in the background.
Let's close the excerpts with a look at W. Main St., including the Kress and Baldwin projects, with the rehabilitated streetscape visible along Main:
Thanks again to Joshua for sharing these. He has dozen more posted over at his web site.
I know most folks don't like the Jack Tar Motel (the We Want Oprah building), but with that rooftop pool the building could be such a cool hotel. Wish Greenfire would make the Jack Tar their boutique hotel.
Posted by: Jen | September 19, 2007 at 10:07 AM
the hotel pool/balcony area would also make a good location for a restaurant looking down at part of the city. Think of it on new years with a crowd of people in the square.
Posted by: seth vidal | September 19, 2007 at 10:55 AM
I agree! The "We want Oprah" building reminds me so much of The Standard hotel on the Sunset Strip in LA. (It is one of Andre Balazs's hip boutique hotels.) I used to stay there and love that place!
Posted by: Arthur | September 19, 2007 at 11:54 AM
The images are awesome, too bad the sun was not out. I can only imagine what the sky line will look like 10 years from now. However I can rest assure that Greenfire will have a big say in it.
Posted by: Dillon | September 19, 2007 at 12:18 PM
Excellent collection of photos, which will undoubtedly entrigue future historians and cultural geographers.
Two things:
(a) With those rooftop chairs and sound sytsem, Ringside looks even cooler than I thought, and
(b) The CCB plaza needs a more fitting name, especially if those CCB letters never make it onto display. I've been calling it "Major Plaza", in honor of the bull.
Posted by: ASE | September 19, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Wow, awesome!
I often park in the We Want Oprah lot. Now and then, aft the end of the day, I'll drive to the top of the lot to make phone calls and enjoy the view. Notwithstanding the many problems of the building and its ownership, I enjoy the oasis when I visit.
Posted by: Phil | September 19, 2007 at 01:31 PM
"The See, Say, Be Plaza"
(naming credit to Jim Kellough)
Posted by: Hovercraft | September 19, 2007 at 04:15 PM
durham needs more towers so that they can attract more people and it needs to knock down the building across from the building. so that a 8 floor tower can match the blue city skyline and durham needs a downtown that has entertainment all over.durham has more people than winston-salem and there downtown looks nicer than ours.there buildings is taller than ours + there skyline is beautiful.thats how the people of durham feel about our city.the government is so happy about our city but were not.thank-you
Posted by: floyd harwell | June 16, 2008 at 10:47 AM
tear down the "we want oprah building" it needs a 8 foot glass tower (blue)it needs to consist of the we want oprah building and eating places durham will look nice then.people dont look at low buildings they look at towers (skyline) thats what attracts people.(really)
Posted by: floyd harwell | June 16, 2008 at 10:58 AM
floyd that is ridiculous. The We Want Oprah building is eccentric. I say it stays. You must not be from Durham. No?
Posted by: don rin | April 06, 2010 at 07:29 AM