Save Durham

Only We Can Save North Durham

  • SaveDurham.com is dedicated to the open spaces, farming, woods, wildlife, and waterways and lakes in north Durham County.

    Rampant and irresponsible development has already decimated southeast Durham. We admire the tireless efforts of our friends at PreserveRuralDurham to protect the little remaining open spaces of southeast Durham and, especially, the critical waterways and lakes on which we all depend. For a great deal of information about existing damage and threats to the entire…

  • Critical Reminder to Be Heard on New UDO

    Maybe this is a done deal. However, my thinking is that if enough of us show up we may be able to reduce the harm. We may be able to save some of Durham, some of north county. It’s like the lottery – the odds are against us but if we don’t play we absolutely…

  • Speech Police Running City Hall

    PS: Good news. The city manager finally did rescind the tresspass order against Amanda Wallace. It’s still a good idea to read my open letter below. Hostility to citizen comments is increasing in City Hall, especially from Mayor Leo Williams and Vice Mayor Javiera Caballero. Mayor Williams and Councilmembers: I was not present at the…

  • Honor Our Boundary – NO on Hamlin Reserve – PS: We Won

    And it was a unanimous “NO” vote. Let this be an inspiration for all of us to remain involved and fight on in 2026. Here’s my original post and open letter: Tonight the City Council will decide whether to allow the Urban Growth Boundary to be violated by annexing to Durham 43 acres of land,…

  • Election Over – Our Just Desserts Coming

    North County neighbors, the Durham municipal election is over. The results are a mixed bag. One of the best defenders of our environment and open spaces both within and outside the city limits was defeated.  Given the fact that DeDreana Freeman was ruthlessly targeted by proponents of massive development and subjected to accusations ranging from…

  • VOTE!!! Follow the Money and Then Vote Opposite

    City Mice, your County Cousins (who live outside the city limits and can’t vote) sincerely hope you all will vote to change the majority on the Durham City Council. You have today, Friday and Saturday left of early voting. Then, the official election day is Tuesday, November 4th. All polls are open from 6:30 AM…

  • Vote or Forever Hold Your Peace

    VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN: That’s the old joke.  Sadly, 80 to 90 percent of registered Durham voters don’t vote early, often, or ever.  Non-voters just coast along, wondering why their neighborhoods are being ruined by unwelcome development, why they are being priced out of their homes, why all the trees are being bulldozed, why construction…

  • Hey, City Council, Don’t Shut Us Out!

    Citizen’s Rebuttal of Caballero/Ritchie OP-ED: Ramsay Ritchie, who is employed in the building industry, and Javiera Caballero, a city council member who has voted for developers in over 95% of the development applications decided by the council co-authored an opinion piece in INDY week, published September 25th.  The title of the OP-ED is “We Can’t…

  • Vote This Way!

    For those of us who are concerned that Durham is sacrificing its natural environment, its historical neighborhoods, and its very soul, for the benefit of developers serving anonymous, mostly foreign, LLC investment companies, this municipal election is crucial.  Three councilmembers have been fighting an uphill battle to make sure development is responsible and to protect…

  • Housing “Crisis” beyond solved Update

    On September 2, 2025, Durham’s City Council approved a massive 1750 unit development of townhouses, apartments and single family residences plus 150,000 square feet of commercial space. Gateway at Brier Creek will consume 308 acres of forests and open space. One of the few remaining forested areas in the once lovely southeast Durham will be…

  • The good guys won but that’s not the important point

    Spoiler alert: While the win described here is notable, the real point is the win wouldn’t have happened without a public hearing. The pending UDO revision threatens to upzone Durham to allow greater density up to the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). Since rezoning is the most common reason public hearings are required, an across the…

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