A highly-anticipated development in north Durham has broken ground more than a year behind schedule.
Drone 5 flew over Latta Park, now under construction, on Wednesday. The project will include almost 200 townhomes, restaurants, retail space and a Publix grocery store.
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Construction for the 30-acre development at the intersection of Guess Road and Latta Road expected to begin in 2022. Rumors began circulating last year on social media that the project had been canceled, but developer Austin Williams assured the community the project was only delayed.
"Following our rezoning approval in late 2021, we expected to be under construction much more quickly, within 12 months," Williams said. "Frankly, it took longer than expected to capitalize the project due to cost escalations and high interest rates."
Latta Park will feature 10 acres for retail space and 20 acres for residential space, including walking trails for cyclists and pedestrians and an open space for gatherings and food trucks.
"It’s getting harder than ever to put the shovel in the ground, given the costs," Williams told WRAL News back in March 2023. "But Publix is a great partner, committed to the project."
WRAL News asked the developer why north Durham was chosen for the project.
"We view the market to be underserved with retail," Williams said. "We connected with a number of neighbors through the rezoning process that agreed with us."
Williams said the mixed-use space will create community.
"We made over 50 binding commitments in our rezoning process that cover green space development, public art, a food truck terrace and lots of other things that the community thought was going to be very good for us," he said.
North Durham resident Jeffrey Given told WRAL News he is looking forward to Latta Park.
"I know it’s been in the works for a while," he said. "A lot of people are against it, because I guess all the traffic it’s going to cause on this side of town, but if it benefits that side of town then I’m all for it."
Khadija McNair, a lifelong resident of north Durham, is looking forward to new shops closer to home.
"I am excited and I think it’s needed because it’s nice to have more options," she said.
Another highly-anticipated Durham development is also facing a hurdle -- Heritage Square on Fayetteville Street. Developers of that 10-acre site in the Hayti District said the site now needs to be rezoned after bedrock prevented underground parking.
Heritage Square is one of many residential and mixed-use projects underway in Durham.
The old Durham Police Headquarters property is being transformed, and private projects, such as the Novus and the Gregson, are ongoing. East of downtown Durham, the Wheels Roller Skating Rink is set to open this fall, and the redevelopment of the Northgate Mall site is still in the works.
Plans for the site have changed over the years since the mall closed and are still in discussion.