🌳 N.C. State Fair Returns

Plus: Durham Rail Trail Nears Final Design Stage

Author

Jordan Parker
October 16, 2025

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Read time: ~5 minutes

Hey Durham! This week’s news hits all corners of the Bull City. The long-awaited Durham Rail Trail moves closer to reality, City Council remains split over a major southeast development, and Duke finds itself in the political crosshairs of Washington. Plus, the State Fair opens in Raleigh, and Durham’s housing market starts to cool after years of record heat.

Here’s what to know this week:

  • Durham Rail Trail enters final design phase

  • Duke investigated over diversity programs

  • City Council narrowly approves 117 new townhomes

  • The N.C. State Fair kicks off Oct. 16

  • Durham homes taking longer to sell

-Jordan

Durham Rail Trail Nears Final Design Stage

After two decades of planning, the Durham Rail Trail is entering its final design phase, with construction expected to begin in January 2027 and completion set for June 2028. The 1.8-mile trail will follow an inactive railroad corridor from Avondale Drive to just northeast of the Durham Amtrak Station on West Chapel Hill Street, curving around downtown.

  • Project Scope: The roughly $45 million project includes a Gateway Plaza with micro-retail, native landscaping, and public art, plus new access paths connecting to the Ellerbe Watershed and surrounding neighborhoods.

  • Community Impact: Council members raised concerns about gentrification, while designers emphasized equity and community engagement, highlighting the Stagville Memorial Project to honor enslaved people once held nearby.

  • Next Steps: Final designs will go to NCDOT in March 2026, with permitting beginning in spring 2025 and planners aiming to expand access to parks and bike routes for Durham residents.

Trump Administration Targets Duke Over Diversity Programs

Duke University is facing a federal investigation from the Trump administration over alleged racial preferences in its law school and medical programs, despite the university having already scaled back several diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

  • Federal Probe: Officials froze $108 million in research funding while investigating the Duke Law Journal’s editor selection process and alleged “systematic racial discrimination” in Duke’s health system.

  • Political Undercurrent: The move has drawn attention because Stephen Miller, a senior Trump adviser and Duke alumnus, has long criticized the university’s approach to diversity and campus speech.

  • Muted Campus Response: Duke leaders have avoided public confrontation, with President Vincent Price emphasizing fiscal caution after staff buyouts and budget cuts, while faculty and students have remained largely quiet.

N.C. State Fair Returns October 16–26

The 2025 North Carolina State Fair opens this week in Raleigh, offering ten days of food, rides, animals, and local culture. Nearly one million people attended last year’s event, which celebrates North Carolina’s agricultural roots and small businesses.

  • Dates & Location: October 16–26 at 4285 Trinity Road, Raleigh. Gates open at 9 a.m. (noon opening day) and close by midnight on weekends.

  • Tickets & Travel: Admission ranges from $10–$13 for adults and $0–$7 for kids, with discounts before October 17. Visitors can drive and park in free lots or take Amtrak directly to Gate 1.

  • What’s New: The fair added 88 new foods this year, from Flaming Hot Cheetos pickle pizza to jalapeĂąo popper donuts. Popular features like the Village of Yesteryear, thrill rides, and nightly fireworks return.

Divided Council Approves 117 Southeast Durham Townhomes

Durham City Council narrowly approved a plan for 117 new townhomes in southeast Durham after a heated debate over housing needs and environmental protection. The 4–3 vote allows developer Ardent Building to move forward with the Heartland Park project on 13 acres along Doc Nichols Road, following annexation and rezoning.

  • Council Split: Mayor Leo Williams and council members Caballero, Middleton, and Rist supported the project, while Baker, Cook, and Freeman opposed it, citing concerns over sprawl and limited amenities.

  • Environmental Concerns: Residents and advocates from Preserve Rural Durham warned of runoff into Hurricane Creek and Falls Lake, calling for stricter limits on impervious surfaces and tree loss.

  • Developer Concessions: Ardent Building pledged stormwater controls meeting a 100-year event standard and said 7% of homes would be priced as affordable at 80% AMI, with market prices near $300,000.

Durham Homes Taking Longer to Sell

Homes in Durham County are staying on the market longer this fall, reflecting a regional cooling in the Triangle housing market. According to new Redfin and Doorify MLS data, the median home spent 30 days on the market in September, up 58% from last year.

  • Regional Comparison: Homes in Wake County averaged 33 days on the market, while Orange County hit 37 days — both major increases from 2024.

  • Market Shift: Rising mortgage rates, high prices, and economic uncertainty have slowed buyer demand. Some sellers are pulling listings rather than lowering prices.

  • Big Picture: While homes are still selling faster here than the statewide median of 53 days, the slowdown suggests the Triangle is entering a more balanced market after years of rapid growth.

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