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💙 BRIEF: A $1.4B Campus Is Coming Near RTP
Published 17 days ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday, Triangle!
May is here, and this is when the Triangle really starts showing off.
The evenings get warmer, the weekends feel fuller, and all of a sudden there’s something happening in every direction.
I pulled together this week’s updates, local finds, and a few things worth keeping on your radar before you head into the weekend.
And yes, there’s more.
Grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let me walk you through them.
Here’s your D&M BRIEF:
[B]est Weekend Plans: Curated events to fill your Saturday and Sunday [R]ealty Pulse: A quick answer to "How's the market?" [I]n the News: AbbVie to build $1.4B manufacturing campus in Durham [E]xclusive Listing: What does a $1.1M home look like in Cary? [F]riday Favorites: 11 new nonstop flights coming to RDU in 2026
Scroll down and enjoy!
—Brette
[B]EST WEEKEND PLANS
EVENTS
BEST THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TRIANGLE
FESTIVAL
Holly Springs International Food Festival
📅 May 1 | 5 PM - 8 PM 📍 Holly Springs Cultural Center
What it means: Inventory is continuing to climb, giving buyers more options, but the market is still leans slightly in the seller’s favor. Prices are still strong, so well-priced homes are getting attention while buyers finally have a little more room to breathe.
[I]N THE NEWS
MANUFACTURING
AbbVie to Build $1.4B Manufacturing Campus in Durham
Durham is landing a $1.4 billion investment. And honestly, this is one of the biggest announcements we’ve seen in a while.
AbbVie is building a 185-acre pharmaceutical manufacturing campus near RTP, bringing hundreds of jobs and cutting-edge technology to the area.
Let me break down what this actually means, because this project impact reaches far beyond a single corporate relocation.
▷ A massive new campus
The new site will span 185 acres and focus on producing medicines in areas like immunology, neuroscience, and oncology.
Construction is expected to start in 2026 and wrap up by 2028.
This will be AbbVie’s largest-ever single campus investment.
▷ Jobs and economic impact
AbbVie plans to hire 734 employees, including scientists, engineers, and manufacturing roles.
And during construction?
The project is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs.
▷ Why Durham was chosen
Here’s where it gets interesting.
AbbVie selected North Carolina for its strong life sciences ecosystem and skilled workforce, especially around RTP.
This will also become a center of excellence for injectable drug manufacturing, using advanced technology and AI.
▷ Why this matters for the Triangle
Here’s the big picture.
This is part of a larger $100 billion investment plan in U.S. research and manufacturing, and it puts Durham even deeper on the map as a major hub for biotech and innovation.
And if you’ve been watching the Triangle grow?
This is another signal that it’s only accelerating.
IN CASE YOU MISSED...
HOUSING
1,500-home development in booming North Carolina town hits key milestone
One of the largest mixed-use developments in the region will soon begin work on the first homes in the project.
As children's hospital moves forward, Duke and UNC battle for beds in Durham
While they team up on a multibillion-dollar children's hospital in Apex, Duke and UNC Health continue to compete for hospital expansions in Durham County.
Novartis rounds out $23B US investment push with plans for North Carolina API plant
Novartis is adding to its presence in North Carolina as it plots designs on a new API facility in Morrisville. The 56,200 square-foot plant marks the 7th announced as part of the company's $23 billion U.S. investment pledge last April.
This isn’t just a 4-bedroom home with over 3,100 sq. ft. It’s a private 2.66-acre estate in the heart of Cary with no HOA, no city taxes, and over $150K in upgrades.
You’ve got a main-floor primary suite with its own screened porch, a peaceful wooded setting, professional landscaping, and an unfinished basement with massive storage potential.
And the location? You’re in the Green Level High School district, just 15 minutes from RTP, RDU, shopping, and dining.
Downtown Durham is getting something really special. Dosirak founder Kristine Suh is bringing a Korean convenience store concept to Main Street with grab-and-go triangle kimbap, Korean snacks, and yes, a cup ramyeon wall.
It’s a tiny 300 sq ft shop with pantry staples, cookbooks, and a whole lot of personality.
May is when the local calendar gets packed, so don’t wait until Saturday morning to make your move.
Some of the best events happen on Friday nights or in smaller town calendars before everyone starts talking about them. Check Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Holly Springs, and Wake Forest earlier in the week, pick your favorite, and build the rest of your weekend around it.
We had the best experience buying our new home with Davis & Main! We primarily worked with Brette who was thorough and always in our corner. We were coming from out of state and she worked to use every available visit minute to show us homes and pointed out pros and cons we would never have thought of. She was professional and a great communicator and I highly recommend her! I've relocated many times in my life and can honestly say I've never had a more pleasant experience with a realtor!
—Tina S.
Thanks for reading the D&M Triangle BRIEF. See you next Friday!
—Brette Davis
Want to stay in the loop between Fridays? Follow me on Instagram for real estate insights, local events, and what’s happening around the Triangle.
I’m a Raleigh-based agent who’s passionate about real estate, local life, and making homeownership feel easy (and fun!). Subscribe and join 2,000+ readers who get the inside scoop every week!
