1,880-unit community is coming to historic former brickyard in East Durham
The former Borden Brick & Tile Co. brickyard in East Durham is set to be redeveloped into a massive, mixed-used community.
On June 16, Charlotte-based urbanist design firm Space Craft closed on 95 acres of mostly wooded land at 2801 Angier Ave. for $13.35 million. The property is near Interstate 885, which connects the Durham Freeway and U.S. 70.
It now plans to build up to 1,880 housing units and 49,500 square feet of commercial space after securing a rezoning earlier this year. Construction could take five years.
In a nod to its industrial past, it will be called Brickworks.
“This transformational project helps fill a unique void in the residential market,” said Karl Hudson IV, a partner at Foundry Commercial, which facilitated the land transaction.
In the 1930s, family-owned Borden Brick supplied bricks for Liggett and Myers and American Tobacco Co., as well as homes, businesses and schools around North Carolina.
Today, the developer says one-third of the site is slated for development. Restrictions include a maximum building height of 100 feet, under 10 stories.
During the rezoning process, some residents opposed the project over environmental concerns. But on Wednesday, Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams stood firm.
“The Brickworks development is an example of what responsible, innovative, and creative housing solutions look like when we partner with our development community,” he said in an email.
Homes will range from studios to three-bedroom layouts and will feature a mix of rental apartments and townhomes, with some townhomes available for purchase.
The developer also promises that 5% of the apartments will be rented at rates affordable for those making below 60% of the area median income, on average, for the next 30 years.
That could mean anything from five to 89 affordable units, depending on the mix of apartments and townhomes.
In addition to the buildings, plans include 5,000 feet of walking trails, a concrete bike path and a bus stop along Angier Avenue.
Space Craft has said it plans to expand the roads with new turn lanes and possibly a roundabout.
This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 9:56 AM with the headline "1,880-unit community is coming to historic former brickyard in East Durham."
