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Please support the work to preserve Black Meadow Ridge and the environment of the West Point on the Eno park.

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We think it's wrong to build 400 condos next to
West Point on the Eno.

The city of Durham is reviewing a proposal for a large development just south of the West Point on the Eno park in an area known as Black Meadow Ridge. The development includes almost four hundred townhomes and densely packed single family homes. Learn more about the development on this page.

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West Point on the Eno is Durham's premier city park and is listed in the National Register of History Places. Visitors to the south side of the park, including the popular trail to Sennett's Hole, will look up at the backs of several dozen townhomes. The experience of being in nature will be forever compromised. The stormwater management planning is based on data that doesn't take climate change into account. Flooding in the park is likely to become worse and could affect the water quality of the Eno river.  

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The two before-and-after images below show the location and the density:

 

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As shown above, construction of the proposed Westpoint development would clear-cut and demolish over fifty-four acres of trees and vegetation, then blast and grade the rocky granite areas of Black Meadow Ridge which overlooks the Eno River and West Point Park. The forest ecosystem will be replaced with large areas of hard surfaces like roadways, sidewalks, and rooftops so that stormwater runoff during heavy rains could end up in creeks that feed the Eno river.

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A bad plan for commuters and neighbors

 

We are concerned about the added traffic from four hundred new homes. A traffic study was done in 2019 without including the impact of the new Northern High School being built now one block south on North Roxboro Street. We think a new traffic study is needed to fully understand the impact of hundreds of additional cars moving in and out of an already congested area. And by connecting N. Roxboro over to Stadium Drive, this development would also cause a dangerous flow of heavy traffic onto small neighborhood streets in Horton Hills and the surrounding neighborhoods.


 

A bad plan for a unique environment

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Black Meadow Ridge contains old growth forests that sit high above Warren Creek and Black Meadow Branch Creek, both of which flow directly into the Eno River and are already prone to heavy flooding.  The large sprawling and densely packed development would devastate habitats, exacerbate stormwater flooding, disturb federally mapped wetlands, and degrade the region's key watershed that flows into Falls Lake.  See more details about those severe impacts throughout this web site. 

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Say NO to this development in this location

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Durham needs new housing, but not this development in this unique environment. The risk of the severe impact on the West Point Park and the Eno River is too great. The best outcome would be for the city to find a way to acquire the land and make it part of the West Point on the Eno park, and we are hoping to convince the city to look into that.

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About Us

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The Save Black Meadow Ridge organization is a group of neighbors, homeowner associations, and environmental organizations working together to educate the public about the proposed WestPoint development and its impact.  We need your help and support! Read more on this site to learn additional details about Black Meadow Ridge and the proposed development. Read the take action section to see what actions you can do to help preserve Black Meadow Ridge. 

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Can you help with Save BMR legal fees?


We created a GoFundMe page to raise money for our legal fees. Currently there are THREE APPEALS challenging the proposed "Westpoint" development that are pending before the Durham Board of Adjustment.   It has been necessary to pay extensive legal fees and retain expert witnesses, so the expense of fighting to prevent this ill conceived development is steadily growing.   We have retained TC Morphis at BROUGH LAW FIRM, one of the state's preeminent firms specializing specifically in zoning and land use matters. Funds received from contributions will go to the Brough Law firm for legal fees that are specific to our BMR appeals cases.  Alternatively, you can contact the Brough firm to submit a payment directly to them designated to the "Save Black Meadow Ridge" matter. 

​Sign the Petition!

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Please take a moment to sign the PETITION collecting signatures of community members concerned about the

proposed Westpoint development.  The petition advocates for protection of the Black Meadow Ridge parcels through

a comprehensive full development plan review process, including hearings with public input, and votes of the Planning Commission and City Council. Can you spread the word and help us get more signatures?

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SIGN IT HERE:        https://www.change.org/SaveBlackMeadowRidge

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The "TAKE ACTION" page has been updated to show ways you can help. Find specifics on writing letters to place your concerns on the official development case record, and share them with key decision makers in the Durham city government.​

News and events:

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December 12, 2021: The Duke Chronicle publishes a story about the efforts to preserve Black Meadow Ridge.

October 27, 2021: WRAL does a story about the concerns related to the West Point on the Eno park. See it here.

September 26, 2021: The link for the site plan submission now provides the most recent submission,

from August 2021. The link is found on the Westpoint page.

September, 2021: The INDYWeek publishes an article about the effort to save Black Meadow Ridge.

October, 2020 - July 2021:   Adjacent property owners, HOAs and environmental groups with legal standing have appealed specific key issues relating to Black Meadow Ridge parcel zoning and the proposed development. 

(This process is ongoing)

September 10, 2020:   Citizen concerns shared with Mayor and Durham City Council at their work session meeting.

August 20, 2020:    The Spring Magazine published an article highlighting our work to preserve the West Point on the Eno Park as it currently exists.

February 11, 2020:    CBS17 talks with Christy Benson about the project (more...)

February 10, 2020:   We've hired an attorney and created a GoFundMe page for legal fees (more...)

February 6, 2020  WRAL visits West Point on the Eno to talk to Tom Merrigan! (more...)

February 5, 2020:   We held a very successful kickoff meeting on Tuesday, February 4th (more...)

Want to hear about future updates?

 

Sign up for future updates using the form below. You can also contact us directly at saveblackmeadowridge@gmail.com

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