🌳 Littler to Close After Nearly a Decade

In this issue:

• Littler to Close After Nearly a Decade

• Snake Knocks Out Power in Downtown Durham

• Novus Tower Now Preleasing in Downtown Durham

• Affordable Apartments Open on East Main

• BOCC Highlights Affordable Housing, EMS Tribute, and Budget Preview

Approx Read Time: 3 mins

Littler to Close After Nearly a Decade

Littler, Gray Brooks’ intimate 36-seat bistro on East Parrish Street, will close on June 21 after nearly nine years in downtown Durham. Known for its warm, minimalist vibe and seasonal New American menu, the closure marks the end of a beloved small-format dining experiment.

• Size Wasn’t Sustainable: Brooks said the space was too small to operate profitably while offering fair wages and a full kitchen staff.

• No Reboot Planned: Brooks says the restaurant “did what it was supposed to do” and plans to focus his energy on expanding Pizzeria Toro.

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Snake Knocks Out Power in Downtown Durham

Roughly 10,000 customers lost electricity last week when a black snake slithered into a Duke Energy substation. The incident briefly shut down large sections of downtown, including traffic signals, offices, and homes.

• Unusual Culprit: A snake made contact with equipment inside a power station, causing a citywide outage.

• Widespread Disruption: Traffic lights went dark and businesses closed temporarily during the morning outage.

• Restored Quickly: Power was restored within a few hours, and Duke Energy confirmed the reptile was the cause.

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Novus Tower Now Preleasing in Downtown Durham

Prospective renters can now apply for apartments in The Novus — a 27-story skyscraper in Durham’s Five Points district. The glass tower is part of a major downtown development combining rental, ownership, and retail options.

• Prime Location: Built at 400 W. Main Street, the tower sits at the edge of the Downtown Loop near one of Durham’s busiest commercial hubs.

• Mixed-Use Design: The Novus includes 188 rental apartments and ground-floor retail, with for-sale units planned in a future phase.

• Luxury Price Tag: One-bedrooms start around $2,150/month, with top units reaching over $8,700/month.

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Affordable Apartments Open on East Main

Applications are now open for The Renegade, a 110-unit affordable housing development on county-owned land in downtown Durham. The project marks a major milestone in an eight-year effort to build housing for low- and moderate-income residents right in the city center.

• Deep Affordability: 22 units are reserved for households earning up to 30% of the Area Median Income — about $32K for a family of four.

• Public Land, Public Good: Durham County provided the land and financing, keeping long-term control through a ground lease.

• Central Amenities: The complex includes a childcare center, fitness room, retail space, and is walkable to transit, health, and city services.

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BOCC Highlights Affordable Housing, EMS Tribute, and Budget Preview

At Monday’s meeting, Durham County Commissioners celebrated major progress on affordable housing, previewed a billion-dollar budget proposal, and honored frontline EMS workers. No major votes were taken, but the meeting set the tone for critical decisions ahead.

• $1.05B Budget Previewed: County Manager Kimberly Hager proposed a $1.05 billion FY25–26 budget, including a 3.5¢ property tax increase and $10.3M in new school funding.

• Affordable Housing Milestone: Commissioners marked the opening of The Renegade — a 110-unit affordable complex on county-owned land, years in the making.

• EMS Hero Honored: The board paid tribute to Lt. Kevin O’Connor, a 25-year EMS veteran who passed away in April, and recognized EMS Week with a county resolution.

Watch the Full Discussion >>

AfroFuturism Fest
Durham County Main Library
Saturday, May 17
Panels, authors, and a book fair celebrating visionary Black futures and alternate realities.
Details >>

Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival
Rock Quarry Park, 701 Stadium Dr.
Saturday, May 17
Family-friendly celebration of African and African American culture, history, arts and traditions hosted by the City of Durham.
Details >>

Artsplosure: The Raleigh Arts Festival
Fayetteville Street, Raleigh
Saturday & Sunday, May 17–18
Sprawling art market with 175+ artists, live music, interactive installations, and Kidsplosure.
Details >>

Preservation Durham Home Tour: Golden Anniversary
Orchard Park & various locations
Saturday & Sunday, May 17–18, 12:00–4:00 PM
Explore nine historic homes across two days celebrating 50 years of Preservation Durham and Durham’s architectural heritage.
Details >>

No Other Land – Documentary Screening
The Carolina Theatre, Durham
Monday, May 19, 7:00 PM
A rare U.S. screening of this acclaimed, risk-filled doc from Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers documenting the destruction of Masafer Yatta.
Details >>