Durham City Council voted 4-3 to rezone 12.25 acres on Ellis Road for 102 townhouses despite Planning Commission opposition and resident concerns about flooding and traffic.
Council members sparred over how to spend $249,000 in federal pandemic relief funds before a December 31st deadline, with the mayor proposing "Baby Bonds" savings accounts for kindergarteners but staff raising legal concerns about distributing cash to minors.
Durham City Council approved a $250,000 immigration legal services grant and a contested 58-unit townhouse development despite resident concerns over environmental damage.
Durham City Council approved a $1.25 million downtown parking subsidy for low-wage workers while confronting 80 percent home value increases that will sharply raise 2025 property tax bills.
Durham City Council approved Duke University's rezoning of 154.5 acres around central campus in a 5-2 vote, despite objections that the decision prioritizes development over planning discipline.
A feasibility study recommends building a $540 million convention center and hotel complex instead of a $93 million expansion, though council members raised concerns about funding and community benefits.
Durham City Council approved a 432-unit mixed-use project despite DeDreana Freeman's solo dissent over inadequate affordable housing and developer fees.
Durham's City Council confronted a homelessness crisis with 90 unsheltered people waiting for beds in a system with only 93 total emergency shelter spaces.
Durham City Council rejected a mixed-residential rezoning for Lee Valley's 310-unit development in a 4-1 vote, with Council Members Baker and Cook objecting to insufficient non-residential components.
Durham City Council allocated $280,917.73 in pandemic relief to reduce public housing rent debt for 172 families, though the funds cover less than a third of the $1.8 million owed.
Durham City Council voted 5-1 to advance the downtown 505 West Chapel Hill Street redevelopment only after imposing stricter affordable housing requirements and a ground lease option over the developer's resistance.
Durham City Council paused a $505 million downtown development deal to negotiate more affordable housing units, environmental standards, and whether the city should retain property ownership.
City Council approved a contested 100-unit Southeast Durham townhouse development in a 4-3 vote despite resident concerns over water pollution and insufficient affordable housing commitments.
Durham City Council unanimously approved a $200 million bond for November's ballot—$85 million for parks and $115 million for streets—despite resident concerns about lead contamination at East End Park and bond financing costs.
Durham City Council halted appointments to its Homeless Services Advisory Committee after discovering applicants were never asked whether they met ordinance requirements for faith community or lived-experience representation.
Durham City Council unanimously approved introducing $85 million in parks bonds and $15 million in street bonds despite resident concerns about lead contamination in proposed park sites.
Mayor Leonardo Williams called gun violence Durham's primary crisis during an impassioned statement, but the council took no immediate action despite requests for $25,000 in violence prevention funding.
Durham's proposed $667 million budget would raise property taxes 3.85 cents per $100 of assessed value, driven primarily by $28.5 million in employee pay increases including 14.35 percent raises for police officers.
Durham City Council approved over $10 million in federal funding for Fayetteville Street redevelopment and a Carolina Theater roof renovation while clashing over youth programming priorities and federal spending deadlines.
Durham City Council approved a 320-unit apartment complex rezoning 4-3 despite Planning Commission objection and neighbor concerns about traffic and creek pollution.
Durham City Council approved a $28.5 million employee pay restructuring to address wage gaps while debating a contested $41,000 summer camp request for gun-violence-exposed students.
Durham City Council voted 5-2 to reject a proposed 218-unit apartment complex, citing environmental damage risks, inadequate infrastructure, and overcrowded schools.
Durham City Council approved $3.2 million for affordable housing at a historic East Umstead Street development, but clashed over park requirements in new neighborhoods.
Durham City Council unanimously approved a contested 350-unit apartment complex on NC-751 despite neighbor concerns about traffic and insufficient affordable housing.
Durham City Council advanced a $5 million annual destination tourism plan starting in 2026 while committing $2.2 million toward a watershed study addressing water quality across three local creeks.