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💙 BRIEF: Raleigh just got named #1 in NC
Published about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Happy Friday, Triangle!
If you've been anywhere near a TV, in a bar, or around anyone wearing red this week, you already know what's going on.
The Canes are one win away from the Stanley Cup Final.
Tonight is Game 5 at Lenovo Center, and the whole Triangle is locked in. Playoff hockey in Raleigh is its own thing, and right now, the energy is real.
With Memorial Day officially behind us, summer is here, and Saturday has a packed lineup across the Triangle.
Grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let me walk you through it.
Here’s your D&M BRIEF:
[B]est Weekend Plans: Curated events to fill your weekend [R]ealty Pulse: A quick answer to "How's the market?" [I]n the News: UNC picks the team behind Carolina North [E]xclusive Listing: Open House this Saturday in Efland [F]riday Favorites: A James Beard chef is opening in Raleigh
Scroll down and enjoy!
—Brette
[B]EST WEEKEND PLANS
EVENTS
BEST THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TRIANGLE
CULTURE
Dix Park Inter-Tribal Powwow
📅 May 30 | 11:30 AM – 6:30 PM 📍 Harvey Hill at Dix Park
What it means: The market is holding steady. The Market Action Index is sitting at 38, exactly where it was last month, so nothing dramatic is shifting.
Inventory keeps climbing (now up to 1,113 active listings) which gives buyers more breathing room than they've had all spring.
Prices are still strong near that $600K median, so well-priced homes are still getting attention. Sellers keep their slight edge, but buyers finally have a little more room to make a move.
UNC's Board of Trustees has officially picked a master plan designer for the 228-acre satellite campus near Chapel Hill.
The pick? Ayers Saint Gross, a Maryland-based firm that beat out 17 other proposals in a unanimous selection.
That's a big deal. This is the team that's going to translate the Carolina North vision into an actual layout.
▷ Why this firm
Ayers is no stranger to UNC.
The firm created UNC's 2019 physical master plan and has worked with the university since 1998.
Beyond UNC, its portfolio includes Duke's School of Nursing, Clemson's student activity center, and major campus expansions at Ohio State, Tennessee, Missouri, Pittsburgh, and Purdue.
There is no learning curve here; they already know how UNC operates.
▷ What they'll actually do
Ayers will handle the long-term visioning and land-use plan for the entire 228-acre site, the former Horace Williams Airport off MLK Jr. Boulevard.
That includes a traffic impact analysis, a drainage study, concept master plans for all utilities across the site, and sustainability benchmarks.
Two early priorities? Figuring out how the land fronting MLK Boulevard can best be used, and how Carolina North connects back to the main UNC campus two miles south.
A separate master developer, who hasn't been picked yet, will handle the specific building designs.
▷ What comes next
The full master planning process is expected to take 12 to 14 months.
By then, UNC will likely be ready to select its master developer to actually design and construct the buildings, housing, retail, and academic spaces that make up the new campus.
The funding for Ayers comes from the $8 million UNC allocated for Carolina North's early planning stages back in January.
Trustees said they're aiming to keep the contract at $3 million or less.
▷ Why this matters for the Triangle
Carolina North is UNC's largest expansion since 1793.
It's set to reshape Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the broader Triangle with new housing, research space, retail, and transit connections.
And now there's a real team behind it.
If the next 12 months go as planned, this could be the project that defines how Chapel Hill grows for the next generation.
IN CASE YOU MISSED...
RANKING
Study: Raleigh named best city to live in North Carolina, Durham ranks 2nd
A recent study named Raleigh and Durham the top two cities to live in North Carolina.
The Reserve at Evergreen Farm sits in a quiet pocket of the Piedmont that is only minutes from everything.
Located right on the I-40/I-85 corridor, the community is perfectly centered between the Triangle and the Triad.
That means Duke Health, RTP, and RDU are all an easy commute.
Downtown Mebane is just down the road.
And when you want to escape, you've got the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Saxapahaw, lakes, and golf courses all within reach.
This isn't a finished home; it's a build-to-suit opportunity with Drees Homes. That means you choose the floorplan, the front elevation, the finishes, all of it.
Sprawling ranch? First-floor primary? It's your call.
The featured plan checks every box buyers are asking for right now: 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, 3,953 sq ft on private acreage, zoned for the top-ranked Orange County Public Schools.
Stop by this Saturday between 12 and 2 PM to walk the lot, see the plans, and talk through what's possible.
Curious? Click here to see the photos + full details 👇🏻
Raleigh Iron Works is hosting one of the most anticipated openings of the summer. Botiwalla brings Indian street food from chef Meherwan Irani, the James Beard award-winning mind behind Asheville's Chai Pani.
Expect kebab rolls, lamb burgers, okra fries, plus fizzy drinks, slushies, hot chai, and lassis.
With Memorial Day behind us, the Triangle officially shifts into summer mode this week.
If you've got outdoor projects on the list (painting, pressure washing, landscaping, deck work, anything with a contractor involved) book it now. Schedules fill up fast through June and July, and the good crews get locked in weeks ahead.
The reality is, waiting until you "really need it done" usually means waiting six to eight weeks. Get on the calendar this week and save yourself the stress.
I had a wonderful experience working with Davis & Main Real Estate for my recent move to the Raleigh area! Brette and Emily were professional, knowledgeable and incredibly personable, she made me feel confident in all the decisions that were made along the way. Grateful for such a smooth, enjoyable buying experience, I cannot recommend them enough!
—Kali 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!
