For the second time in as many months, the Durham City Council has approved an incentive laden deal to convert a languishing downtown building into a hotel. The Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve $605,000 in tax incentives for the redevelopment of the former Mutual Community Savings Bank at 315 East Chapel Hill Street. […]
Vernal Coleman
Bio: Staff writerTwitter: http://twitter.com/colemantron
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Outlaw Hot Dogs vendor says commissary rule is unconstitutional
To the list of unlikely challenges to the state constitution, you can add Steven Pruner and his controversial hot dog cart. Pruner is the 60-year-old owner of Durham’s aptly named Outlaw Hot Dogs. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on most weekdays, he can usually be found hawking Nathan’s-brand hot dogs outside the Duke University […]
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University officials urge confidentiality in search for new NCCU chancellor
The search for Charlie Nelms’ successor has officially begun. Representatives from 19-member committee met for the first time yesterday on the North Carolina Central University campus to discuss what could be a months-long process of finding a replacement for the university’s outgoing chancellor. Among the topics of discussion: How long the search process could potentially […]
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Liberty tenants sue Greenfire
Andrew Preiss and four onetime residents of the Liberty Warehouse are suing Greenfire Development for alleged negligence related to the collapse of the building’s roof in May 2011. Preiss of ARP Design Studio, Donna Sutton of Southern Portico, Inc., Deborah Pratt, Adelaide Banks of Read Seed, Inc. and James Nuss were renting studio space in […]
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Union says Raleigh Police Department’s new evaluation system is “quota-based”
About 200 union and non-union Raleigh Police Department employees have filed grievances and complaints over a controversial new performance evaluation system. The Performance-Based Management System, which Donald Van Meter, a police management consultant, helped design, became a permanent feature of the department last month. But representatives of the Raleigh Police Protective Association (RPPA), a union-backed […]
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Former Liberty Warehouse Tenants Sue Greenfire
Five one-time tenants of the Liberty Warehouse in Durham are taking building owner Greenfire Development to court in what may be the most predictable lawsuit ever. The plaintiffs—Andrew Preiss of ARP Design Studio, Donna Sutton of Southern Portico Inc, Deborah Pratt, Adelaide Banks of Read Seed Inc. and James Nuss—were all renting space in the […]
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Xscape Lounge escapes the rent
The nightclub’s official Twitter account hints at the story: The Xscape Lounge, one of just a handful of nightclubs in downtown Durham, has changed hands. “So to all the new followers of the @TheXscapeLounge, we appreciate y’all and value your business. #UnderNewManagement,” reads a recent entry. Frank White, owner of the building at 119 W. […]
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The Pit, Greg Hatem and the fate of food trucks
Food trucks, and what the future is for them on Rigsbee Street in North-Central Durham, Greg Hatem isn’t sure. Earlier this month, Hatem’s Raleigh-based development company, Empire Properties, announced its purchase of the old 7Up bottling plant on the corner of Rigsbee and Geer streets, property that includes Fullsteam brewery. The plan is to convert […]
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Philip Cousin can serve on county commission and Durham Committee on Affairs of Black People
Philip Cousin says there is no conflict of interest in his leading one of the city’s most powerful political advocacy groups and his appointment to the Durham County Board of Commissioners. Cousin will remain chairman of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People after committee members affirmed their support of him at a […]
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Will new Pit push out food trucks?
About food trucks, and what the future might be for them in Durham’s Rigsbee street corridor, Greg Hatem isn’t sure. Earlier this month, Hatem’s Raleigh-based development company, Empire Properties, announced its purchase of the old 7UP bottling plant on the corner of Rigsbee and Geer streets, property that includes Fullsteam brewery. Hatem, through Empire, owns […]